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Björn Dunkerbeck is a man with a mission. His multiple windsurfing titles have given him cult status and the one remaining prize, the World Sailing Speed Record is now within his grasp. Dunkerbeck recently set a new millennium best for windsurfing on open water, hitting 44.35 knots at the Walvis Bay Speed week in Namibia. He consistently reached those speeds at Walvis Bay and he is confident that he can break the 12-year World Sailing Speed Record of 46.52 knots.

Dunkerbeck is ensconced with his team at Port-Saint-Louis just west of Marseilles, France, waiting for the perfect weather conditions he needs for the attempt during the planned 28-day cycle. He was already on the coast of Southern France at Languedoc earlier in 2004 and also in the autumn of 2003, but the conditions were not right.

"Every time we improve," he said. "The team works more smoothly with each attempt and the locals are giving us tremendous support."

The coastline in the south of France is a windsurfer’s Mecca with its Mediterranean climate and prevailing winds that whip in from the north-northeast often bringing with it tempestuous squalls.

The World Speed Record of 46.52 knots (86.16 km/h) was established in Australian in 1993 by a catamaran called Yellow Pages Endeavour. No one has touched it since. Now Dunkerbeck is determined to hand it back to windsurfers, who held the previous records.

Dunkerbeck takes his job seriously. To break the record he needs a perfect day, perfect teamwork and a faultless performance on the board. His attempt over 500 meters must also be closely monitored by officials from the World Sailing Speed Record Council and the International Sailing Federation for it to be recognized.

"Hitting 40 knots is a walk in the park," says Dunkerbeck, "but you need special conditions to go between 40-43 knots." Anything over that will give him his chance. He sits, he waits, he practices, he scans the horizon and when the conditions are perfect, he will be ready.