World Sailing Speed Record Council facts for kids

The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) is a group that checks and confirms speed records for sailing crafts. These crafts include boats, windsurfers, and kitesurfers that move on water. The WSSRC was started in 1972. Its first job was to confirm records at the very first Weymouth Speed Week. This event has happened every year since then in Portland Harbor.

The WSSRC is the official group chosen by World Sailing. World Sailing is the main organization for sailing around the world. At first, the WSSRC only looked at speed records over a short distance of 500 meters. But since 1988, they also check records for longer ocean voyages. This change happened because there were some arguments about how long certain long trips took.

Some of the first records confirmed in 1972 were:

• Sir Timothy Colman's boat, Crossbow, which went 26.30 knots.
• Icarus at 21.6 knots.
• Mayfly at 16.40 knots.
• Lief Wagner Smitt on a windsurfer, reaching 13.6 knots.

The WSSRC holds meetings every year. Since 2001, they have had a permanent office to help with their work. Experts from countries like Australia, France, Great Britain, and the U.S. review all the record claims. They keep a list of all the record holders and their amazing times. The WSSRC also gives out "Performance Certificates." These are for sailors who want their speed officially timed over certain courses, even if they don't break a record.

See also

• Speed sailing record
• Passage sailing record
• Transatlantic sailing record
• Around the world sailing record