Eind juni heeft Dennis de Pauw in 24 uur een afstand van 617 km gewindsurft! Daarmee heeft hij een nieuw Belgisch record neergezet en is hij 2e op de wereldranking.
Lees hieronder zijn verslag (in het Engels).
My goal was to do 500km, so really happy with the result!
I started on friday around 13:50. Rigged my NeilPryde Racing 7.8m, 7, 6.2 and 122 (Select Rhino 42) and 112 (Select Rhino 36). Started immediatly with the best combo for distance, Fanatic Falcon 112-7-36.
The wind was perfect and I did a one hour of 45 and 44km/u. Had a short 5min break, with my best caddy ever (my dad), bringing food to me on the water!! At 16:30 I had a little break and at 19:30 I came to shore (first time) for a big break. Surfed till 22u20 together with my dad, Paul and Dirk, thanks guys!!
After this my dad cooked a nice meal and we had a cosy evening together with the four of us (my dad, Paul, Fabian and me), ready for a short night. Sleeped from 00:30 till 4:30.
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When I woke up, saturday, the wind looked really light. Started at 5:15 (together with Paul) with Fanatic Falcon 122-7.8-42 and couldn't plane at the inside dams. Only when I reached the outside dams I could plane. The wind rapidly increased and I couldn't keep this set on the water. After 45min I had to go back to take my smaller set again. I noticed a big scratch on my harness hook. Didn't want to take the risk so Raf lended me a hook, I'm really thankful for that!!
So after some time loss I went on, again not planing till I was at the ouside dams, but there it was nice cruising with Fanatic Falcon 112-7-36. Came to shore at 8:30 to have a good breakfast. Pat and Tania specially came down to ZM support me, really appreciate that!
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Surfed from 9:15 till 13:40 without coming to shore. It would take too long to go to the car again non-planing. I did take some short 5min breaks together with Paul and/or my dad at the outside dams. The wind wasn't as good as yesterday, and often too light for this combo, but kept sailing with it. Planning gibes were difficult with the decreasing wind, so to compensate this I made a lot of long strokes true the chop, to Hompelvoet (where there was more wind).
At 13:40 I turned of my gps and returned to the car. Feeling really satisfied right now.
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Ofcourse I would not have achieved this without some people/things. First of all, my dad was really pushing me, and providing me with all the food and drinks I needed to keep me focused on windsurfing and not on my needs.
Paul, what a guy, what an achievement!!! Hope I'm half as fit as you are at that age!! Ellen and my mum, for making the best food and always supporting me when I need it!
All my friends that were around to cruise with me and pushed me; Dirk, Raf, Koen, Pat E, Hans, Tim, Frank, Koen en MP, Thomas, Eric, Paul L, Jeroen, Brahm, Benjamin, ... Would have been boring, but you guys made it fun to do this amount of distance!!
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You know I always thank my sponsors, but this time I really have to. The NeilPryde 7m has such a HUGE range, we had gusts of 30 knots on friday evening and lulls of 13-14 knots on saturday. This sail just takes it all.
Unifiber provided me with a very good boom with ajustable outhaul (which a used a lot), the waist harness was very supportive and comfortable (which is imortant when you do so much km).
The Rhino of Select fins is just fast and secure. Only one little spin out in a upwind run with (too) less wind, on a total of 617km!! And reaching speeds from 60-65km/u without bearing 1m off.
And last but not least Pacific Boardshop, a top shop, which supports me in every way possible.
De Belgische long distance ranking.
Zijn sessie op GP3S.
De facebook pagina van Dennis de Pauw Bel-19
De 20 jarige Dennis is nu 2e op de wereldranking vlak achter zijn naamgenoot:
