| Weymouth Speed
Week 2011 - Background
The event is
centred on an accurately measured 500 metre course located in Portland Harbour.
This provides the challenge for the speed sailor to pit his wits against the elements and
endeavour to raise the World Speed Record upwards from the current absolute speed of 55.65
knots set by Robert Douglas a USA kite rider.
In the 1970's and
1980's Weymouth Speed Week attracted many thousands of pounds of sponsorship money and
competitors attended by invitation. During the 1990's Weymouth Speed Week was run entirely
by the voluntary efforts of a few individuals with the co-operation of Weymouth and
Portland Borough Council and the support of the Weymouth Sailing Centre and Amateur Yacht
Research Society who assisted by donating prizes each year. In addition individuals made
their sailing boats available for use as 'course boats' during the week. The efforts of
all these organisations and individuals has ensured that Weymouth Speed Week is the
enjoyable and exciting event that it is today.
The lack of rules
provide the ideal proving ground for both experts and dreamers to build the type of boats,
which, but for Weymouth Speed Week would never see the light of day. There are NO
restrictions as to who may enter and all types of sailing craft are welcome. Weymouth
Speed Week is a unique event. In recent years we have witnessed World Champion and Record
holding professionals sailing on the same course as novices and juniors.
In the past few years
Speed Sailing has witnessed a battle between kite, boat and sailboard. The sailboards were
the first to break the record of 46.52 kt set in 1993 by Simon McKeon in his boat
Yellow Pages. Frenchman Antoine Albeau achieved 49.09 kt in 2009, the fastest speed
recorded by a windsurfer over 500m. However the kite boards sailing at Luderitz were
edging towards and then breaking the 50 kt barrier, with a highest speed of 50.57 kt
recorded by another Frenchman, Alexandre Caizergues. All the while the British designed
boat Sail Rocket sailing in Walvis Bay, Namibia was inching towards the record,
however the massive French hydrofoil "Hydroptere" regained the 500m title later
in 2009 with a speed of 51.36 kt. Since then the highest speeds have all been set by
kites. The record is now 55.65 knots set by Robert Douglas a USA kite rider. And the Sail
Rocket team are testing their new boat.....
Further information on the port can be found at:
www.portland-port.co.uk
Portland harbour is bounded on its
south western side (the direction from which the prevailing wind blows) by Chesil Bank.
Chesil Bank is a huge natural breakwater that stops the waves but not the wind. Thus
within Portland Harbour ideal speed sailing conditions of smooth strong winds and flat
water occur.
Spectators are always welcome, the
Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, the venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing
events, is open to visitors during Speed Week.
Read how the speeds are measured and how the results are produced.
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