Actually, 19.08 - it got too dark to continue.

https://www.facebook.com/GPSSpeedsurfing/posts/3157622894327463
Edit: pics here: https://www.windmag.com/actu-premiere-mondiale-frederic-houdier-navigue-837-km-24h

Quote:

A small interview with Frederic Houdier, he has posted a remarkable session this week at GP3S, 827 KM's during 24 hours.....

GPS3: First of all , big congratulations for your amazing result, the largest distance ever posted at gps-speedsurfing.com during 24 hours. We would love to hear some background and details about this remarkable achievement.

GP3S: First question: Could you tell us something about yourselves , your background and involvement in Windsurfing ?

Frederic: My name is Frederic Houdier 1.62 cm 62kg soon to be 52 years old I live in the south of france in Méze a small town in one hour's drive north of Gruissan, near the thau pond, my usual spot.I have been surfing since the age of 12, which I did occasionally, but it was from 1996 that I really progressed by going every summer to Morocco in Moulay to wave. I discovered the discipline. Long distance by participating in my 1st wind challenge in Gruissan or by having bought a second-hand board the same day (a bic vivace 290) I managed to get into the first 100. Since then I bought some equipment and I started to compete in order to progress.

GP3S: Could you describe the start of your record attempt and the conditions during the session ?

Frederic: On Gruissan I heard that Tim had done 350km and that it was a record. So I tried to beat this distance which I did easily and I continued but the battery of the suunto being drained on Counter stopped at 399km. So I wanted to try again with 2 watches, but the friend who was supposed to lend it to me forgot it. I still did my navigation with a break of 1 hour 30 minutes to recharge the suunto and there in 14 hours I had Traveled 529 km. I posted this on facebook and there Dennis klaaijsen contacted me to tell me that he was the record holder with 728 km. 3 days later I did it again to try to dethrone him but my attempt failed At 691km in 20h because the wind died down. I was disappointed. I wanted to start again during the full moon and there Thomas Travers offered to accompany me. We therefore left Sunday August 2 him around 10 a.m. and I at 11:09 am because I had not finished preparing my equipment.

GP3S: Could you tell us something about the preparations (physical / mental / material / safety / weather) you have done to make this possible ?

Frederic: For me no physical or mental preparation just for navigation when I can free myself and the wind. I had no support I did this alone with my friend thomas. For safety during the day there are a lot of people on the water so if there is a problem we can ask for help from a boat or other.For the night I had my phone with me a flare And I sailed by the beach The weather forecast good wind 20 / 35kt and unfortunately a lot of clouds during the night

GP3S: You have been on the water for around 18 hours (correct ??), did you have any support on the water, and how did you manage to sail during the night hours ?

Frederic: No I did not stay on the water for 18 h but 21h. At 2:30 in the morning I had to stop because the visibility was zero and the wind was very strong gusts to 50 knots the sand was flying and we were in our eyes and we did not have a protective mask for the eyes at night. It is for this reason that thomas gave up at 1am. So I ended up alone. To navigate at night, I put 3 light marks on the beach on a 3km course. The 1st before a sandbank, in the middle another where there was my equipment and my vehicle and a last one where there are iron stakes coming out of the water Thomas and I had a red light on our equipment pourne At 2:30 am I passed my landmark without seeing it I took the sandbank and I fell With the sand and salt in my eyes I could no longer open them and the cold So I stopped hoping that the sky would clear which was not the case so I had to wait for dawn at 5.30 a.m. to resume

GP3S: Can you tell me something about the gear you have used (boards / sails) ?

Gun sails GSR 6.3 2016 with Starboard reflex 90 2017 32ifin nano
Gun sails GSR 5.6 2017 with exocet TB 58 2006 30 ifin nano
Gun sails GSR 5.0 2017

Gun sails GSR 7.1 2016 with Starboard reflex 97 2017 ifin nano 37 but I didn't use

GP3S: Last question , Any projects to do any new record attempts after this impressive one ?

Frederic: I have the plan to start again because physically I am able to keep 24 full hours, this time with an outside help to mark the course for me and bring me water and food, because I had to go several times To my vehicle to feed me and I had to pass 2 large sand dunes each time. I looked on the tracks I did 1.3km on foot.

We have received all data from his multiple GPS devices (GT-31's, Suunto's) to confirm this session, Frederic also provided contact information from observers who attended the spot during this session.