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Ropes at work on Pegasus!
Ropes at work on Pegasus!

World Speed Sailing Record Council

The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) was established by the International Yacht Racing Union (now renamed the International Sailing Federation) in 1972. The object was to provide impartial results for increasing numbers of claims to high speed sailing craft (on water: never on ice nor land!). Early on the decision was made to base such speed ratifications on a one-way leg of exactly 500 metres. Meetings were held every year, often several meetings a year, in various suitable places in the world and speeds climbed with boats of various configurations and with sailboards.

In 1988 following several controversial claims about the times and status of long voyages, WSSRC was asked to take over additionally offshore sailing records.

Now in 2001 the organization has a full time Secretariat. Hardly a day goes by without some form of activity in what is now a separate and increasing branch of the sport of sailing. The undoubtedly expert council draws members from Australia, France, Great Britain and the USA. Its most immediate duty is the ratification, or otherwise, of timed claimed records, inshore and offshore, which have been achieved in accordance with the rules of WSSRC. Certificates are issued to record holders and their times are listed. WSSRC has a facility for issuing Performance Certificates to sailors who wish to be officially times over accepted courses, but are not expecting to beat a record. Another service is a continuous coordinated list of best elapsed times of offshore racing events in all parts of the world, accepting the times of the race committee.

WSSR PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES

The WSSR Council awards Performance Certificates from time to time. These officially recognise the time of a passage over either recognised or non-recognised routes, but which do not necessarily break an existing world record in one of the recognised WSSR categories.. The conditions for the award of a Performance Certificate are as rigorous as those for a World Record.

When a new route without any "benchmark" time is recognised as a world record course, the yacht posting the initial speed will be awarded a Performance Certificate. Performance Certificates may also be awarded for an outstanding achievement, (but which does not break an existing WSSR World Record), over the 500 metre distance.

Thanks is extended to the WSSRC secretary John Reed for his assistance in the early stages of this project.