WELCOME ALL
The event draws a big 100+ entry list most years, with big hitters from all over Europe, to the novice Speed week virgin and everything in between. Of course the wacky boats and now sometimes faster Kitesurfers further enrich the mix. Weymouth area is also fortunate to have some of the fastest sailors in the country living locally (nature or nurture?) like Pete Young who was 3rd fastest of the week and Scotty Stallman who won the gold fleet sponsored by Simmer Style. At age 16, Scotty has been competing at the event since he was just 12 years old! The biggest group by far is the Amateur fleet, who attract the top prizes of the week – £250, £150 and £50 vouchers sponsored by Fanatic, North and Ion. These guys are no slouches, with this year’s winner, Tim Lawes, a WSW regular achieving 33.32 knots. The top three places are moved up to the gold fleet each year to ensure fairness and give everyone a chance to win.
Its popularity is also helped by the fact that under the umbrella of ‘Weymouth Speed Week’, since 2007 it has been the host to the UK speed championships, now sponsored by Hey Dude footwear and the BKSA kite speed championships. The attraction being you get to go head to head with your fellow competitors on the same bit of water and at the same time. Unlike the GPS ladder, which runs all year and is dependent on you being able to drop work and go storm chasing around the UK, very often on your own.