Weymouth Speed Week 2004

Weymouth Speed Week 2004
When:	2-8 Oct
Where:	Weymouth, Dorset
Winners
Men:	Bjorn Dunkerbeck (36.18 kts)
Women:	Lucy Horwood (27.44 kts)
No. of Competitors:	60

THE NEED FOR SPEED: Report by Clyde Waite

36 knots: that is all!

It is a 'speed' that doesn’t really seem to be particularly significant by modern day standards, when we are mostly concerned by the 50 knot barrier. Whilst the world speed record has fallen many times, the 36 knot record set by the tri maran Crossbow II at Weymouth Speed Week in 1982 has stood proud, laughing at those trying to challenge it’s superiority. Until now, that is.

Or to be specific on Tuesday 5th of October, at some time in the afternoon, a legendary, super hero esque figure of a windsurfer took to the water for his last efforts of the day, and in a blur of of orange and silver crossed the official 500metre course in a record time for the week, smashing the existing record by a whopping 0.6knots. That figure is Bjorn Dunkerbeck, and it has taken a man of his stature to finally bring the accolade back to windsurfing (just).

The Eccentric and the Barmy

This year’s speed week was particularly successful, with 4 days of strong winds at excellent angles to the speed course complimented by blazing sunshine: it was the perfect set up. It is a week famed for the wild and wacky inventions and inventors. Eccentrics that conjure up images of super sonic, gin and tonic sailing crafts in their head and then some how find the wonga and the time to build them.

It is like an obsession. Some craft looked like rocket ships powered by kites. Some catamarans powered by sails looked suspiciously similar to a windsurfer. How they thought they might break the record I will never know. Still good on them for trying and putting their lives in the hands of the unknown, as they sort of sped down the speed course with gritted teeth.

The Windsurfers

This year was also a sell out for windsurfers, with a record number attending. Not only was windsurfing supremo Bjorn Dunkerbeck present with his entourage, but Production Board world record holder Dave White was on hand to lend kit and offer very much needed advice on how to go fast. (It is harder than you think you know!). Also present, current British wave champion John Skye alongside ex British Champions Dan Ellis, Guy Cribb, Lucy Horwood and Zara Davis also made a showing to a discipline that is suddenly becoming trendy again. Not that going fast really EVER went out of fashion.

The Clyde .v. Clyde Interview

OK, I am going to be very honest with you all. I am in Tiree at the moment, a week before the infamous Triple Crown Championship. I am also quite tired. Yesterday I was in Weymouth, chasing Bjorn around for information. Last night I drove 600 miles from Weymouth to Oban to catch the early morning ferry to Tiree. whilst a comedy of errors chased me around. The Editor (a hellish boss) is now waiting for me at the Tiree Buisiness Centre for my completed report so to make things easier, I have decided to interview myself, kind of an auto interviewography. So here goes:

Clyde Waite: What happens at a Speed Event then?

Clyde Waite: Well, it is pretty simple really. You sail for about 700 metres one way, turn around (or stop and rest depending on your preferences) and then sail for 700 metres the other way. Pretty similar to normal windsurfing I hear you say. The only difference is that for a speed event you should use a sail that is one and a half times bigger than what you would normally use on a board that is one and a half times smaller than a board you would normally use. Then you will get the feeling, although (and I say this from first hand experience) you will probably think that you are going a lot faster than you actually are!

Q: Who is fast?
A: Bjorn is.

Q: Anyone else?
A: Well OK, quite a few people went pretty fast. The conditions at Weymouth are very gusty and variable, even when it was gusting 30 knots, you would often get slowed by a lull or other water users. Dan Ellis in particular was absolutely flying on a 6.4 North Warp and a Fanatic Falcon 90. Allan Cross, of the Army, clocked some very fast runs on a Tushingham Lightning 7.0 meter and a Starboard Sonic 90. Pretty much equal with Allan was Rob Stack from Solent Sailboards on a 2005 Naish Stealth 6.5 and the Naish Hybrid. The Ladies maintained speeds just below the 30knot barrier. Zara Davies, Lucy Horwood and teenage Amy Carter all put in respectable times. On the Tuesday, 800 runs were made with 180 over 30 knots. (None of them mine!)

Q: What kit did you use?
A: Ah ha, I was hoping that you would ask that, thank you Clyde. First I used a 6.2 Naish Boxer and a Thommen 105 which is basically an allround freemove type board, and very easy to sail. On this combination, I went pretty quick but not that quick, about 27 knots which is alright for a freestyle based sail. Then I went on the Mother of all kit, Bjorn Dunkerbeck’s 5.8 Neil Pryde RS4 speedseeker and a custom Thommen Speed Board. Mmm mm mmm!!

Q: What was Bjorn's kit like to sail?
A: The board was very small and low in volume. But once up and running it was very fast. Not long ago I went for a ride in a friend's Masarati. As we acclerated to 60 mph, I gripped the seat that I was being pushed backed to very tightly, mesmerized by the acceleration. This is very much how Bjorn's kit was. It was fantastic, fast and lively but so balanced with it. It just gripped the water with a seemingly limitless top speed. It was easy to lock in, and when a gust hit me I just accelerated further. I must have been going fast, because not long after Bjorn caught up with me and asked to have his board back. Bugger! Unfortunately none of my times got registered, unless of course it was the record breaker and they just mistook me for the big man.

I also tried the even bigger mans kit: Dave White. It was a 6.6m Severne race sail on the miniscule, 65 litre F2 Missile. I was very over powered on this and it was very different to Bjorn's kit. A little more unpredictable and a little raw and untamed, but blisteringly quick and exciting none the less.

Q:When you asked Bjorn how he rigs his kit what did he say?
A:He said, "The right way!" (Brilliant!)

Q: Considering the wind (17-30knots), why was it so hard to achieve 40knots?
A: I think there were a number of factors. The winds were certainly there, as were the capabilities. There were a lot of runs that did not get recorded and the course was not set at the best angle it could have been. If it had been broader then I am sure that 40 knots would have been achieved. The organisers did a fantastic job though as it was all very much an amateur set up, with limited personnel and finance, and a lot of competitors to cater for.

Q: How did the kitesurfers fare?
A: On the first day of wind they held their own. When it is gusty for windsurfers they have the advantage of being able to hold their kit high up in the constant wind where it is not so gusty. They can also make their run in the mirror flat water next to the beach. They did seem, however, to reach a limit when the wind grew.

Q: And what of the sailing craft?
A: Because of their symmetrical designs, the logistics of getting them to do a significant number of runs was a nightmare. However, I have heard that there is a design in place that has been engineered to withstand the pressures required to go up to 80 knots. It is based on a jet plane that does not leave the water so watch this space. Bjorn Dunkerbeck himself admitted that the world record will fall to whoever and whatever gets the right conditions first! Hopefully it will be a windsurfer.

Q: Finally, who is Weymouth Speed Week for?
A: Everyone, especially if you are an enthusiast. The organisation is relaxed and there are good socials. The pressure is very much on the individual, you are the only one who can beat yourself, which is unlike any other area of competition. So it is up to the individual how much they want to push themselves.

At the end of the day your 8 fastest results are posted and you are ranked by your best run. You can also check every single run completed (apparently) with the wind statistics for that run. You can use any kit and there was a vast array of fast kit from over the ages, particularly the Sputnik 270 II (still a very fast and comfortable board). However it is definitely a techno junkies dream, and going fast is very addictive.

Q: Oh, and what did Bjorn Dunkerbeck have to say for himself?
A: You will have to wait till next issue for a full interview, details on his kit, and even more video action.

For further information check out the speed sailing pages, and get your entry in early for next year because places are limited!

Results

MEN

1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (36.18 knots)
2nd Dan Ellis (33.40 knots)
3rd David MacInnes (33.19 knots)
4th = Rob Stack & Allan Cross (33.03 knots)

WOMEN

1st Lucy Horwood (27.92 knots)
2nd Zara Davis (27.44 knots)
3rd Amy Carter (26.94 knots)