DESPITE a quiet start to the week, Belgian competitor Patrick van Hoof swept to the fastest time at Weymouth Speed Week.

Van Hoof clocked 34.16 knots in choppy conditions in a remarkable early effort that endured to the end of the week on the 500m course.

Simon Cofield claimed second with 33.45 knots while West Sussex man Leigh Kingaby rounded off the podium.

Women’s world record holder, and seven-time Weymouth Speed Week winner, Zara Davis was absent with injury, leaving Kent’s Jenna Gibson to lay down a speed of 32.56 knots. Her mark almost beat Davis’ women’s harbour record of 32.88 knots.

The United Kingdom Windsurfing

Association British Championships is also held during the week.

After their fastest two runs, the top three all hailed from the Weymouth area with Cofield, beating last year’s winner Kevin Greenslade into second and a very creditable third place went to rising windsurfing star 17-year-old Scotty Stallman.

Gibson was fastest lady taking quite a few of the top men’s scalps with an overall position of seventh in winning the UKWA Ladies’ Championship.

Fastest kite was James Longmuir at 32.20 knots while Dave Williams, who left early for a competition in the USA, clocked 30.9 knots and local man Martin Carter came third with 28.3 knots.

The boats struggled in the conditions, a few breaking, and it was not until the last day when the fastest speed was achieved by Vampire Project, a fully foiling catamaran, at 27 knots.

The event sponsors were: Simmer Syle, Fanatic, Duotone, Ion, the OTC, Boardwise, Flymount, F-hot fins, Hey Dude shoes, Rietveld clothing, F-One Kites and associated organisations, Natural Design, UKWA, BKSA, AYRS, Weymouth and Portland Council, WPNSA.

To check the results go to weymouth speedweek.com