WEYMOUTH’S Olympic and Paralympic waters will host a championship windsurfing battle.

For the first time in history, top names in the sport from across Europe will fight it out in Dorset in the European Freestyle Professional Windsurf Tour (EFTP) battling it out to be crowned King and Queen of the Wind.

The tour will hit the Official Test Centre UK at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Portland Harbour, from November 3 to November 6.

There are 66 stops in nine countries on the European Freestyle Professional Windsurf Tour, and the UK will see the first ever female-only European freestyle competition.

At the moment this is an unofficial European stop, not yet recognised by the EFPT – but organisers hope it will attract sponsors for future years to pay for official licensing.

Weymouth’s silver Olympic medallist Nick Dempsey said he hoped people would turn out to watch the spectacle and be inspired.

He said: “I’m happy that the event will be showcasing windsurfing to the public in Weymouth and Europe, I hope it inspires kids to give it a go.”

Weymouth-based Olympic Beijing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw said: “Having spent a lot of time training in Weymouth for the Olympics it is great to see the spot being used for other international events in a sport I am so passionate about.

“I hope it gets all the support it deserves and if it gets people into windsurfing along the way then all the better."

She added: “It’s great that the European Freestyle Pro Tour is finally coming to the UK, another new spectacle in Weymouth.”

Also as part of Weymouth’s bonfire night celebrations on Monday November 5, there will be a special windsurf tow-in event to wow the crowds.

One windsurfer at a time will be towed by a jet-ski, at speeds of up to 50 mph, and released to do ‘unbelievable and powerful’ combination moves in front of the spectators eyes.

For more information visit kingofthewind.co.uk or find the event on Facebook.

Timetable of the competition’s races
Saturday November 3 10.30am: Warm-up session
11am-5.30pm: EFPT Centaur King of the Wind Competition, 1
1am-5.30pm: Femi Pleasure Queen of the Wind
2pm-4pm: Tow-in qualification at Nothe

Sunday November 4 10.30am-5.30pm: EFPT Centaur King of the Wind Competition
10.30am-5.30pm – Femi Pleasure Queen of the Wind
2pm-4pm: Tow-in qualification at Nothe
6pm: Crowning of the Femi Pleasure Queen of the Wind

Monday November 5 10.30am-5.30pm: EFPT Centaur King of the Wind Competition
2pm-4pm: Tow-in qualification
6pm-7pm: Night Tow-In Super Session at Weymouth seafront
7pm-7.20pm: Lighting of the bonfire and Tow-In prizegiving
7.20pm-8pm: Weymouth Town Fireworks