WEYMOUTH windsurfer Kevin Greenslade is leading the gold fleet at Weymouth Speed Week.

The 35-year-old dad-of-two has achieved a top speed of 32.75 knots at the world’s longest-running speed sailing competition, held in Portland Harbour.

Amateur windsurfer Greenslade, of Westham, who works for Agusta-Westland helicopter company in Yeovil, beat more than 70 competitors by one knot on Tuesday, when 895 speed runs were made.

Greenslade said: “I was hoping to do fairly well but to be leading is great. I used to come down and watch the guys when I was about 10 and now I’m doing it, which is quite cool.

“I started racing in 1989 and used to compete internationally and nationally but in the latter years I’ve been completely amateur, although I managed to get a sponsor this year – Puravida boardriders.”

A total of 110 competitors have been racing in this year’s international event, including speed sailors from Sweden, Germany, Spain Guernsey, Belgium and Switzerland.

Record-breaker Zara Davis, 44, who has a holiday home on Portland, is leading the women’s fleet with 26.67 knots of speed.

In order for the results of Weymouth Speed Week to count on the International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) World Tour there needs to be enough wind for 25 per cent of the competitors to reach speeds of 28 knots or more over the 500m course.

The same criteria stands for the United Kingdom Windsurfing Association (UKWA) but the weather has been “stunning” and organisers are looking forward to crowning a British Speed Champion today.

Speed Week spokesman Pete Davis said: “We have had a fantastic week, with racing every day and the weather has just been stunning.

“To qualify for the International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) we had to hit certain speeds. We did that in strong winds on Monday.

“Local man Kevin Greenslade is top of the leaderboard, he’s a very good sailor. He hit a speed of 32.75 knots when there was only 14 to 18 knots of wind, so he virtually doubled the knots, it’s just amazing.”

He added: “We’ve had numerous wacky boats, including an 18ft hydrofoil boat by Swiss sailor Thomas Jundt, turn up and compete with kitesurfers.

“Former winner Peter Young from Weymouth is also competing.”

A strong wind forecast for this afternoon looks set to end the spectacle of speed on a high. The prize-giving ceremony is expected to take place around 4.30pm.

* On Tuesday evening at The Royal Dorset Yacht Club, the Weymouth and Portland Cruising Association will host a talk by Neville Copperthwaite on the proposed sinking of a ship in Weymouth Bay for divers entitled ‘Wreck to Reef’.

The talk starts at 8pm as usual, and all are welcome.