The treasured annual event that is Weymouth Speed Week starts tomorrow, it all began in 1972 under the direction of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). It was seen as the premier event at which sailors could demonstrate their prowess, reach world-record breaking speeds and further the advancement of sailing technology. Bringing it right up to the present day and one of the events familiar faces is Chairman Nick Povey, in this weeks blog I speak to Nick to find out how watersports enthusiasts can find their own way of speeding into the record books!
Here at The Official Test Centre we are proud sponsors of Weymouth Speed Week and the event takes place infront of our centre at The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Looking for a board for Weymouth Speed Week, check out the Windsurfing Slalom Range at SurfDoctor by clicking here.
By Emma Nicholson.
Weymouth Speed Week Chairman, Nick Povey, said: "Busy times, yes sadly the event is full and we have a waiting list.
"Norman Phillips and I have both been associated with Weymouth Speed Week for 40 or so years, originally as competitors and then more recently (25+ years!) as organisers of the event. I act as the focal point for the behind-the-scenes development of the timing and results, the custodian of the equipment needed, the flags, buoys, web site etc. Norman looks after the social side of the event and organisation of the many helpers who come together each year to make the event happen.
"Weymouth Speed Week started in 1972, largely as a means by which various creators of innovative sailing boats could challenge each other and see how fast their craft actually went. The format is very simple – sail as fast as you can over a 500m course.
Over the years, innovation led to the development of foiling boats, windsurfing, kite boarding and more recently wingfoiling. All of these disciplines were trialled at Weymouth Speed Week, long before they became mainstream.
"The current Weymouth Speed Week event record is held by James Longmuir in 2019 sailing a kite board at 41.21 kt. The event welcomes anyone wishing to sail fast on the 500m course, it is popular, and places are limited. There are few events where an aspiring amateur can sail alongside, and learn from, some of the very top international riders, and as witnessed in 2023 future Olympic Gold Medallist.
"Entries open five weeks before the start of the event and close when all paces are taken, or two weeks before the start date. The first weekend feature two days of youth competition.
"As organisers we are planning two years ahead. Dates for 2025 are the 11th October and for 2026 the 3rd October. Gone are the days of manual key entry of sail numbers and timing equipment measuring the time on course. Today, each competitor carries a GPS data logger. The introduction of GPS units has revolutionised the timing and accuracy of the event.
"Results are generated daily when all of the competitors have returned their GPS units after the day's competition. The data is then downloaded from each competitor's unit by the organisers.
"The initial set of data, comprising the GPS data files from all competitors, is processed firstly by Manfred Fuchs’ GPSResults software. For each course we have GPS data to define the course positions which together with course open/close times enable us to select all of the qualifying GPS runs. The software then calculates the speed, duration and direction of each valid 500m run - and there are frequently more than a 1000 runs in a day!
"The GPSResults software we use is a professional version that includes event-specific customisation with course gate plotting and results generation features.
These individual runs, which are associated only with a specific GPS unit, are then combined with the data the competitors provided during registration by means of custom software developed by Mike George. The output of which provides the full results all sorted and categorised
"These results are published on the web. www.WeymouthSpeedWeek.com
This year we look forward especially to seeing further development of Wingfoiling, Weymouth Speed Week saw the very first “official” 30kt run over 500m and we believe that speed can be further improved.
"Speed Week has so many memorable events: the people, the craft, their performance on the water, the social events. Seeing the early days of Sailrocket’s development and having Vestas Sailrocket 2 rigged at the event after taking the World Speed record at 65.45kt, watching Bjorn Dunkerbeck demonstrate why he is a multi times World windsurfing champion, seeing how foils have enabled highspeed sailing in light winds and some of the parties!
"Weymouth Speed Week is unique in being such an open event and for the wide spectrum of sailing disciplines that take part, a large part of the event’s attraction is the chance to share ideas and develop our sport, but above all else to push your personal best and go fast!
"To see the equipment being used and talk to some of the riders then a visit to WPNSA and the OTC slipway is advised. If the desired south westerlies are blowing then a walk along the harbour side of chesil beach will bring you to the course where you will be able to watch the action and meet the kite sailors who launch there."
Click on the link to have a look at the Weymouth Speed Week Event Guide...
Looking for a board for Weymouth Speed Week, check out the Windsurfing Slalom Range at SurfDoctor by clicking on the link...
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