A dispute has broken out in the sailing scene. Do the kite surfers now have the sailing speed record over the 500 meter route or do they not have it? The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) has ratified the attempt by the French kiter Sebastien Cattelan (50.26 knots), but the ISAF wants a differentiation.
In fact, Cattelan is no longer even the fastest who has ever let himself be brought up to speed by sails (or, as the ISAF complains, a kite with only one line connection). His compatriot Alexandre Caizerguez was even faster with 50.57 knots shortly after Cattelan's attempt (but not yet ratified by the WSSRC).
However, on the side of the WSSRC, the kiters are no longer listed as a sailing record. The surfer Antoine Albeau from France is now at the top of the list with 49.09 knots. The reason for this, according to WSSRC's John Reed, is that "in accordance with an ISAF decision, kite boarders cannot be recognized as sailing record holders." You are now listed in an extra category of the Council
The tempers are now reasonably upset in the speed sailing scene. Because the ISAF has not only accepted kiteboarders into its association, it is also the rule maker and decision maker in the last instance. And - this is also what the kiters get upset about - so far, and that means decades, they have always been recognized, only now that they were the first to pass the 50-knot barrier, they should suddenly stay outside, on the sidelines.
This decision of the ISAF and consequently that of the WSSRC can at least be described as quite unfortunate. Somehow it smells like false ambition and a little unfairness.