Super sonic.... Smashed it!!!

 The title says it all. It's just soaking in now... with the Champagne.

Calling friends, team members... all are family tonight.

I'm sitting here with great French champagne all around and smiling people. VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sits outside on the lawn shivering lightly in the decreasing breeze. She has the noble composure of a race winning horse that struts around wondering what all the fuss is about.

We are downloading the TRIMBLE data now. The great thing is that the GPS we use out there is set for a 18 second average... but at 59 knots we might not need that long. It said we did a 59.01 knot average... The TRIMBLE should be higher. I will let you know here when I know.

I think I'll drink some more Pol Roger... and wait.

Christ... I'm buzzing and I know it is just going to get better. I will have this for life now. 

There it is 59.23 knot average fresh off the TRIMBLE. 62.53 peak.

Records subject to WSSRC ratification.

I'm signing out.

I have too many people to thank I don't know where to start.

I have to call mum and dad.

The happiest days!

Still more to come.

Paul.

Comments

Absolutely Brilliant!

Hi Paul and Team
What brilliant news!! Truly deserved by you and the whole team!

From those days in Totnes with Team Philips through the days at Weymouth with SailRocket Mk1 alongside Cherubs and Moths on their first "flying" UK Nationals to VSR2, I and many others have followed your progress and now we're all right there with you, in spirit if not in body and toasting such a fantastic achievement!!

All the hard work and belief "against the odds" finally paid off so enjoy the Pol!! Who knows you/we may yet have more to celebrate before you leave Walvis Bay..

Cheers mate!

Ripper Mate!

Congratulations all round Paul...you and your team deserve all the glory and accolades that this record brings with it. I'm going to to have another BIG RUM and COKE for you tonight....Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.
Best Regards
Phil Bender
Phuket

WELL DONE Paul , Helena and

WELL DONE Paul , Helena and the team
We are so proud of you to have pulled this off ! You guys must be blown away and beaming like never beefore ! We will toast you in a few hours here in New Zealand and sorry that we aren't there to celebrate with you in our home town Walvisbay ! big hugs Toya and Steven

You people rock.

That is all.

You fu**ing legend!!!

Ingram

congratulations

All my congratulations for you and yout team.
Much respect for your endurance al those years, and walking after the facts of Luderitz. You got them.
(and I like your sportmanship with all the other record-hunters)

Gerhard (netherlands)

Bloody brilliant

So pleased. Keep on smashing it further

awesome, well done team,

awesome, well done team, great effort.....
Dave

What a journey!

Congratulations Paul to you Malcolm and all of the team. The best bit of news I've had for ages as I know the effort that's gone into this. It's been a very long but brilliant journey to follow. Hats off to you, Ben R UK

Congratulations!

Congratulations to all the team - fantastic news. It has been a lot of hard work from you all over the years, so enjoy the very well deserved celebrations. You even made it onto the TV news here on Meridian tonight this evening!
Cheers,
Mark

Overjoyed

Pure bliss my friend... You have earnt it and you deserve it. You are proof that great things don't just land in your lap, you must work your guts out and then great things come... Congrats to all of your team both there and all those behind the scenes who have stuck with the programme.. Yee haaa......

You're head hurting???

I hope so... You bloody deserve it.... Just noticed my comment above from earlier missed my name.. So here it is.. Cheers, BOLLER.. You bloody ripper..

Fantastic day

Paul and team

Huge congratulations to you all. What a phenomenal achievement!
I am so happy that all the work paid off in such grand style.
You have created a game changer. Enjoy the party (and then let's see how far she can go...!)
All the best
Simon

Record

Well done vestas team. All the hard work and beliefpaid off.
That's massive!!!! Love from Di, Dave Broadbent from MOCRA in UK

Fan Bloody Tastic

Beauty Newk.....And about bloody time!

Not only have you caught that monkey, but you have twisted its tail into a pretzel, now for 60.....

You guys never gave up.....

Russell Moore

Eleven years ago . . .

When I first met you aboard Tempest for the 2001 Transatlantic, you told us about your idea for a boat that would be faster than any sailboat ever built. We sort of nodded our heads and thought, "Is this guy for real?"

You are for real! What persistence. Marvelous. You pulled together a terrific team, but it would't have happened without you at the core of it all.

Joan sends you and Helena her amazement, delight, and love.

Bugs

Millenium Falcon Indeed!!

Absolutely Incredible!

Hearty Congratulations and my profoundest respect to the entire team! A new era has started.
Thank you for the incredible ride from that first video of the model in the tidal pool to over 62 knots.

Jim L.

72mph peak on water....that's

72mph peak on water....that's quick! :-) :-) :-)

Bravo Paul !

Congratulation, you finally did it.. Windurfers are now looking at you in front of the 'race'...
Hope to hear more good news in close future... You deserve it !!
Steph

ABSOLUTELLY, FANTASTIC!!!

Paul, this is awesome, congratulations!!!

This is more-than-well-deserved by you and all the team!

And I am also sure you will go higher!

Enjoy!!!

Chees,

Jose

Supersonic indeed !!!!

Paul and team : RESPECT !!!!!

Congratulations... well deserved!

Paul,

That is great news.

It is clear that this result has been achieved as a result of a lot of dedication, patience and hard earned experience. That makes it all the more rewarding.

All the best.

PS: Why stop here. I am curious what further you can eek out if VSR2!!

Congratulations!!

Does this mean you are cooking the Barbie and sharing the Bundy rum ;) x Way to go guys

Congratulations

Congratulations to all the team.

The boat sails just like the model from all those years ago!.

cheers

Mike

Speecheless

You broke a lot of records / barriers.
Sailing will never be the same from now on :)
Cant wait to see the footage :)
Can't wait to see the smile on all your faces.
Great team. Great spirit. Strong believe in what you could achieve.
Happy for all of you :)
Congratulations from Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
Remko van Dokkum

Higher Than Kites!

Way to set the bar higher than even kites can't reach! But don't stop now - keep pushing to tap the full potential of VSR2 to 60+.

FANTASTIC!!!

You are truly an inspiration in perseverance, stamina and never letting go of the dream. Congratulations to you, Helena and all the team who have worked long and hard to achieve the record. Today you have made history!

Word has it...

...that Rob Douglas was seen shedding a tear into his beer tonight.

Life's sweetest moments

To all involved - a lifetime achievement doesn't come around often, but when it does, we can only stand back and admire and appreciate those that got it done. And so I stand, beverage in hand - a toast to you'all for hanging on to your dream and blowing us all away with the accomplishment of that vision.
Cheers,
Jay

congratulations!!!!

Brill!
Now you need to go out again and put it out of reach for a few years...

Great work. Congrats

Well done guys. I have been following you since 2007 when i joined Vestas. Well done to everybody and more especially to Paul and Malcom. You showed great commitments and remained motivated all through those years and crashes... and you were right! This boat concept is the fastest in the WORLD!!!

BRAVI!

Yes, the title says it all, great job guys, you deserve it!!!

FAN-BLOODY-TACTIC

Hey Larso, massive congratulations to you and the team.
You so deserve it after years and years of hard work and dedication. You've achieved what you've been after for so long.
Enjoy tonight mate, breath it all in bud and definitely have a fair few. I'll raise a glass in rainy Torquay.
Awesome simply awesome.
Cheers Matty! :-)

Supercsoni

Fantastic achievement followed you from your model through all the trials and tribulation to achieve the Goal brilliant now what is the next challenge 70knts
!! Drink your champaign cheers !!

Sailrocket 3

Anyone wondered what the progression to Sailrocket 3 will look like / be capable of?!?!

(Too soon?)

Great Work!!!

Hats off, Paul !

You are a true artist !

Words are hard to find,

Words are hard to find, awesome acchievement, I think anyone who has followed you since the first model flew across a pond has believed this day would come. You've come a long way from looking for a windsurfing fin to use as a rudder on VSR1, and althought the second boat is the one to do the business, you wouldn't be here without the learning curve. Just before VSR1 became airborne and tried to kill you, it showed the potential of the concept, the acceleration was mind-numbing.
Now you have quite some time before the WSSRC observer goes home, go out there every day as if there is a record to break ! 60 knots average over 500m is within your reach, If you had a longer runway I think the true potential of the boat would be seen.
I am in awe. Well done all involved.

Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant. Well done Paul and the whole gang.

Fantastic! Congratulations!

Science, Engineering,sheer determination and a boatload of guts have paid off.

And I expect it may go up another notch or two before this session is over.

Great Work all!

Holy crap - 62.5 Max! you are

Holy crap - 62.5 Max!

you are going to have to describe what that feels and sounds like

well done

Congratulations! It was no

Congratulations! It was no doubt that you eventually would take it

Peter Seacart 30 "Truelook"

You did it !!

From the day you started at our WBYC, and after many conversations I new that the concept was good and that you were totally committed!!
Congrats for this wonderfull achievment!!
You and your team have placed Walvisbay on THE map!!
Helmuth

Awesome

Glad to see this coming together after all those years. I am raising my glas to you.
- Congratulations -

Awesome!

After all the effort over the years, this fantastic news for the team and all your avid followers. Hearty congratulations to you all! No one can take this moment away from you, so soak it all up...

Done it!

Yeeeeeeeeeees!
Punching the air all 'round.

Awesome

Great effort, and persistence, to all involved

Would it be possible to go out and add a couple more knots to the record to keep those kiters at bay?

Congratulations doesn't even come close...

Inspiring is more like it. Thanks for letting us follow you along the way.

Now get that average over 60 knots, and work on that 62 knot barrier! You're not done setting the bar for the rest of the WORLD just yet.

Gonna buy some Coke to mix up a Sailrocket tonight, complete with a cherry on top!

Best to you all, you all earned it!

CONGRATS

Congrats from the USA!! I've been following you guys for a long time now, and I could not be more stoked that you have finally succeeded in the outright record. You are truly living the dream. Best wishes to the whole team. If anyone has ever deserved to reach their goal, it is you guys!!

Well done

Congrats to all involved.

I drink to your success now bring the boat back to Weymouth so I can have a go ;+)

Matt B

record

Well done to you all, we beleived in you and you have done it great achievement,

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