Map › Lüderitz › Lüderitz Second Lagoon / Speed Spot
Spot · tier 1 · Namibia
Lüderitz Second Lagoon / Speed Spot
The lagoon west of Lüderitz on Namibia's cold, windswept southern coast hosts the Lüderitz Speed Challenge, an annual World Sailing Speed Record Council-sanctioned event held here since 2007-2008 on an 800m purpose-built canal (500m officially timed) at the southern end of a roughly 1km x 7km lagoon. It is one of the most famous flat-water speed-sailing venues on earth: French kitesurfer Sebastien Cattelan became the first sailor in history to break 50 knots here (50.26kt, October 3, 2008), and Rob Douglas pushed the kite speed record to 55.65kt by 2010, drawing the world's top speed kiters and windsurfers each southern-hemisphere spring.
flat waterbig air
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Consistent strong wind blows from the south at close to the ideal ~140-degree angle to the speed course between August and March every year; the sanctioned Speed Challenge event itself runs during a roughly six-week window in October-November. |
| avg knots | 25-40+ (event-grade days regularly see 40-50 knots) |
| wind name | South Atlantic High-driven southerly (thermal-enhanced) |
| direction to shore | cross-shore along the canal, engineered at ~140 degrees to the course |
| quality | very strong and steady for a desert-coast venue, chop reduced on the record course by temporary wooden 'chop killer' structures |
| typical kite sizes | 5-9m (speed-oriented; smaller than typical freeride kites due to wind strength) |
Water
| type | flat |
|---|---|
| temp summer c | 16 |
| temp winter c | 13 |
| wetsuit | 4/3 or thicker year-round; cold Benguela current keeps water cold even in summer |
| tides | lagoon depth is kept uniform on the record course; general lagoon has tidal influence |
| currents | engineered canal minimizes chop rather than current; open lagoon can have tidal flow |
Levels
| beginner | no |
|---|---|
| intermediate | no |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | This is a specialist, expert/pro-level speed-sailing venue with very strong wind and cold water; not a spot for learning or casual freeride. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Launch at the southern end of the lagoon where the record canal is set up; open desert terrain with space but exposed to full wind strength. |
|---|---|
| rescue | safety boats/support present during the organized Speed Challenge event |
| busy months |
|
| vibe | pro/elite speed-sailing scene during the event; otherwise very quiet and remote |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Diaz Point / Lüderitz (windfinder.com, ~6 km) — Station is Diaz Point / Lüderitz, near the harbor headland; Second Lagoon / Speed Spot is along the same stretch of coast a few km further, so this is a close but not exact match (approx 5-8 km). Annual averages: 11 kn, SSW, daytime 20 C / nighttime 15 C (gusts not stated in extracted content). SSW dominates nearly year-round with a brief shift to due S in Jun-Jul - consistent with Lüderitz's reputation for strong, steady S/SSW wind. Monthly wind-speed and Bft-probability chart is JS-rendered and could not be captured as numbers in this session.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Feb | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Mar | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Apr | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| May | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Jun | —% | — | S | — | — |
| Jul | —% | — | S | — | — |
| Aug | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Sep | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Oct | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Nov | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Dec | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
Hazards
- very strong wind (40-50kt+)
- cold water and air temperatures
- remote desert location
- canal/course infrastructure and other high-speed traffic during events
Rules
- the record canal course is purpose-built and managed for the sanctioned Speed Challenge event window; access/use outside the event depends on local arrangement
Tips
- visiting outside the official Speed Challenge event window means no course infrastructure or organized safety support
- cold Benguela current water means a thick wetsuit is essential even though the wind conditions feel like a warm-climate destination
Travel basics
| airport | LUD Lüderitz Airport |
|---|---|
| getting there | Fly or drive to Lüderitz on Namibia's remote southern coast (long drive from Windhoek, ~340km from Keetmanshoop). |
| accommodation | limited lodging in Lüderitz town |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | Kolmanskop ghost town, Namib Desert and coastal scenery, penguin/seal colonies |
Nearby: Donkey Bay
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org