Weymouth Speed Week 2020

After much deliberation and many discussions, we have sadly concluded that we will not be able to run Weymouth Speed Week in 2020.

We would like to thank the WPNSA and our many supporters and volunteers for their efforts in trying to find ways in which we might be able to run the event and at the same time take the appropriate measures for everyone’s health.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2021.

Welcome to Weymouth Speed Week

Results are being published each evening during the event. Follow the activity - videos and pictures on Facebook .

Weymouth Speed Week is the oldest and longest-running speed sailing event in the world. Held annually since 1972, it has challenged sailors of a wide variety of wind-powered craft to sail as fast as they can over a distance of 500m with their speed being recorded as the average speed over that distance.

Today's competitors comprise kite boarders, sail boarders and boaters. They compete over a 500m course laid out in Portland Harbour. The number of courses and their positions can vary each day according to the prevailing and anticipated wind conditions. Each course has a start line and each competitor is free to choose their best angle to maximise their speed. Each competitor's run is now accurately measured by GPS with the recorded GPS data processed each day to generate the results for each of the competition classes. Competitors are also free to put in as many runs as they can; on a windy day, the course can be a constant buzz as the competitors relentlessly charge up and down to find the best wind.

Sailing fast is not simply about sailing in strong winds; whilst strong winds provide the basis for a fast run, a sailor's ability to sail efficiently and consistently is highly important. Sailing fast in less-than-perfect winds presents an opportunity to demonstrate a sailor's skill and judgement.

Weymouth Speed Week is a unique event. All sailors with an interest in speed sailing are invited to compete and there are no restrictions upon the craft you may sail - experimental craft are particularly welcome. There are, in fact, few rules to who can compete; so long as your craft is wind-powered, it is eligible. The event has attracted some of the world's top professional and record-holding sailors over the years. The event allows first-time competitors to compete with professionals on the same course - not something normally offered by other events.

If you're considering entering Weymouth Speed Week please sign up for the newsletter and watch out for the lastest news on our Facebook site. 

The harbour record

The current Weymouth Speed Week 500m record of 38.48 knots was set by Anders Bringdal in 2008 on a sailboard.

High speeds are, of course, dependent upon having the right wind conditions at the right time; with the event set for a single week to coincide with the best tidal conditions, the wind conditions can make or break a speed challenge. 

The world record

Competitors are challenged to beat not only the harbour record but also that of the outright World Speed Record; that currently stands at 65.45 knots and was set by Paul Larsen (AUS) sailing Vesta SpeedRocket 2 at Walvis Bay in Namibia in November 2012. Good luck!

The French trimaran, l'Hydroptère, had previously set a record of 51.36 knots over 500 meters in September 2009 and then in 2010 Rob Douglas, a Kite boarder, set and held the record for more than 2 years with a speed of 55.65 knots.

The World Record for 500m was previously set by Antoine Albeau (FRA) in 2008 on a windsurfer. Antoine has subsequently achieved 53.27 knots on a windsurfer at Luderitz in 2015 but not regained the outright record..

Please refer to the World Sailing Speed Record Council for more information about the past and current world speed records over the distance of 500m.

Portland Harbour has been the location for many of the early speed sailing world records for boats and windsurfers, with Tim Colman setting several notable records with his Crossbow proa and Crossbow II catamaran in the 70's and early 80's.

Recent years

Kite boards have recently presented serious challenges to the dominance of the sail boarders at Weymouth Speed Week:

• 2010 James Longmuir achieved 33.419 knots on a kite board with sailboarder Kevin Greenslade marginally behind on 32.753 knots;
• 2011 kite boarder David Williams achieved 36.250 knots and just pipped David Garrel at 35.742 knots on a sailboard to take the week's fastest speed.
• 2012 Swedish sailboarder Daniel Borgelind recaptured the week's fastest speed at 33.174 knots over Martin Carter on a kite board with 29.123 knots.
  
• 2013 Kevin Greenslade reached 33.242 knots on his sailboard. The fastest kiter was James Longmuir with 32.169 knots.
• 2014 French kite boarder Benoit Gaudiot achieved 36.441 knots.Patrick Van Hoof (Belgium) headed the sailboard pack with 34.567 knots.
• 2015 31.37 Simon Cofield  won on a saliboard with David Williams the fastest kite at 28.54 knots
• 2016 33.34 Kevin Greenslade won again narrowly beating the kites led by Martin Carter who acieved 32.86 konts
• 2017 Kite boarder Martin Carter won the event with a speed of 38.01 knots, just ahead of James Longmuir on a kite board with sailboarder atrick Van Hoof coming third with a speed of 36.52 knots.
• 2018 Patrick Van Hoof achieved a speed of 34.17 knots in the dififcult choppy conditions in the harbour to win the event, The fastest kite, James Longmuir achieved 32.2 knots and the Vampire Project foiling catamaran achieved nearly 27 knots hopefully signifying  a return to a more even three way tussle.

Event location

Portland Harbour, Dorset.

Hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.