The 40th Anniversary of Weymouth Speed Week was the host to the UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) British Speed Championships. There were light winds for the first few days but they gradually built towards the end of the week. The conditions were tough on the first four rounds with winds from the east meaning a course set in the harbour and the inevitable chop!
The final two rounds on the last day were the best with winds from the traditional SW and a flat course along the beach. Racing was very close between Ant Baker and the winner from the last two years Kev Greenslade, keeping them honest with some great speeds were Martyn Ogier and Nigel Spiggs having their own tussle for third and fourth places. After four rounds, both first and second and third and fourth were tied on points and only Ant's top speed gave him the overall lead. Kev, Nigel and Martin needed more rounds.
The last day held the best conditions and provided two more rounds and we were joined by the cream of British Slalom riders arriving early for the UKWA Slalom final on the weekend. Kev also had the added pressure of running the OTC centre and teaching in between races so added riders were not good news; Ant on the other hand was looking cool. The fifth and first round was completed in fantastic conditions and the fastest speeds of the week were being laid down. As no one knows everyone's position, the inevitable 'how did you do?' started on each other’s GPS displays with most people playing it close to their chests not wanting to give too much away.
Kev thought he had done badly and missed the final session, but little did he know that he had come first in the morning, matching Ant again on points! With only one discard, he dropped to fourth place and lost his title. This left Ant with a clear lead and the title of 2012 UKWA speed champion. Martyn and Nigel came second and third respectively and Zara Davis had little competition to win in the ladies fleet and claimed the title for a record sixth time. This should stand her in good stead as she is off to Namibia in November for a month to try and break the outright 500m women's windsurf record.
WSW was a big success on this 40th Anniversary year with over 120 riders and some very close racing - combined with fantastic equipment and gear on display from the last four decades of speedsailing and to cap it all off, even Johnnie Walker made reappearance.
See you all next year; dates are set 12th to the 19th of October.
