THE OLDEST SPEED EVENT ON THE PLANET

After celebrating its 51st anniversary, we delve deeper into the oldest speed event on the planet from a variety of angles.

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Weymouth Speed Week (WSW) is the oldest speed event on the planet, now in its 51st year. It has become an institution among windsurfers since they were allowed in, all the way back in 1979. With regularly over a hundred participants, it is the biggest gathering of windsurfers, and now Wingfoilers, in the UK. But... what makes the WSW so special? In order to find out, we asked three groups of participants what makes the event so special to them...

FIRST UP, SCOTT HARRISON, A WSW NEWBIE

As a kid growing up in the 1980's speed windsurfing was everywhere. Every magazine had event reports and front covers of the likes of Fred Haywood, Eric Beale, and Pascal Maka charging down some turquoise butter flat speed strip.

However, for me, the call of the waves became irresistible. Later came racing. And well, speed: "That's just racing without the corners, right?". Well, how wrong could I be? I never realised how technical and tactical it could be on the one hand, but also how open, welcoming, and easy to get into it on the other. Having taken part in the event for the first time this year I have to admit to having two massive regrets. 1. Not participating before now and 2. Not having trained for it at all. (I was too busy with slalom and wave sailing!)

For me, it's the best event that I have ever done, even though I was the worst at it! The racing is superbly run by Karen Battye, and her race crew, while you have full access to the facilities of Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). Unlike slalom or wave competitions, you are competing against other, but not head-to-head, so the feeling is of everyone going against the clock, rather than each other, which creates an amazing sense of camaraderie.

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