Weymouth Speedweek
Weymouth Speed Week
09/10/06
The signs for Speed Week were clear months ago, the entry was full months ago, and enquires kept coming. Over a hundred and thirty sailors took to the water during the week, the majority were windsurfers, but we saw a few boats sailing the deeper waters while the kites skimmed the shallows by the bank. While the kite took the honors, it was speed that won the week.
I got out on the water quickly on Monday, and after a short lull in the wind the week was under way. Once I had my fair share of the course I hit the shore and got the camera out to shoot the second session. I caught most in my lens only to find out the weather had messed the camera around for the last lot of pix, so I headed home to get to get it serviced, a big thanks to Colchester Camera repair for the quick turnaround.
Luck was with me as the wind backed off for a couple of days, and then returned with me on Thursday. With a building forecast I stayed behind the lens for the first session to make up for Monday, plus I wanted to catch some pix of Bjorn Dunkerbeck who had missed the Monday session. Bjorn’s been coming to Weymouth Speed Week for years, thought it hasn’t had the prestige he’s used to, we’re been trying to build it up over the years and Bjorn’s been a big bonus.
I swapped the camera for a board in the second session, and latched on to a gust that would give me my best run of the week. After the third session was underway I retuned to the camera as the wind proved forecasts haven’t got it right yet. The camera proved a good excuse to give my knee a rest, but it was my GPS that let me know it was ok to get off the water.
I kept up the routine for Friday, but was tempted on the water quicker as the wind increased. Actually I would have been better off staying on the beach, the tide had dropped so much fins were catch the bottom. Being bigger than the rest, I couldn’t get a good start struggled to get going, eventually everyone but the kites had to give up, or sail in the chop which wasn’t quick.
The second session was all but un-sailable, so it wasn’t until the third before windsurfers return to the course. My luck ran out, I caught my 7m Vapor on a rock and the 6.5 wasn’t enough to get me really going.
Saturday and Sunday were easy days, still with wind, but not enough to up the speeds of the week. Bjorn, Nigel Bowely (kite) and myself had taken it in turn to record the days fastest speed, while the times were close it was Nigel’s speed from Monday that took the top honors overall in for the kites.
My run on Thursday kept me marginally ahead of Bjorn, but with the timing still done by hand it doesn’t feel quite fair, but then that’s all set to change next year. I’m sure we’ll next years event will be even bigger and better, but until then I’ve got a few pix to go through.
Along with the gallery below there are many more pictures in the photography section, and to make it easier to find your pic its possible to search by sail make for all the Weymouth pix
Read More09/10/06
The signs for Speed Week were clear months ago, the entry was full months ago, and enquires kept coming. Over a hundred and thirty sailors took to the water during the week, the majority were windsurfers, but we saw a few boats sailing the deeper waters while the kites skimmed the shallows by the bank. While the kite took the honors, it was speed that won the week.
I got out on the water quickly on Monday, and after a short lull in the wind the week was under way. Once I had my fair share of the course I hit the shore and got the camera out to shoot the second session. I caught most in my lens only to find out the weather had messed the camera around for the last lot of pix, so I headed home to get to get it serviced, a big thanks to Colchester Camera repair for the quick turnaround.
Luck was with me as the wind backed off for a couple of days, and then returned with me on Thursday. With a building forecast I stayed behind the lens for the first session to make up for Monday, plus I wanted to catch some pix of Bjorn Dunkerbeck who had missed the Monday session. Bjorn’s been coming to Weymouth Speed Week for years, thought it hasn’t had the prestige he’s used to, we’re been trying to build it up over the years and Bjorn’s been a big bonus.
I swapped the camera for a board in the second session, and latched on to a gust that would give me my best run of the week. After the third session was underway I retuned to the camera as the wind proved forecasts haven’t got it right yet. The camera proved a good excuse to give my knee a rest, but it was my GPS that let me know it was ok to get off the water.
I kept up the routine for Friday, but was tempted on the water quicker as the wind increased. Actually I would have been better off staying on the beach, the tide had dropped so much fins were catch the bottom. Being bigger than the rest, I couldn’t get a good start struggled to get going, eventually everyone but the kites had to give up, or sail in the chop which wasn’t quick.
The second session was all but un-sailable, so it wasn’t until the third before windsurfers return to the course. My luck ran out, I caught my 7m Vapor on a rock and the 6.5 wasn’t enough to get me really going.
Saturday and Sunday were easy days, still with wind, but not enough to up the speeds of the week. Bjorn, Nigel Bowely (kite) and myself had taken it in turn to record the days fastest speed, while the times were close it was Nigel’s speed from Monday that took the top honors overall in for the kites.
My run on Thursday kept me marginally ahead of Bjorn, but with the timing still done by hand it doesn’t feel quite fair, but then that’s all set to change next year. I’m sure we’ll next years event will be even bigger and better, but until then I’ve got a few pix to go through.
Along with the gallery below there are many more pictures in the photography section, and to make it easier to find your pic its possible to search by sail make for all the Weymouth pix
