WINDSURFING star Bjorn Dunkerbeck has broken Portland Harbour's 24-year-old speed sailing record.

In near-perfect conditions, the Dutch superstar notched up 36.18 knots - equivalent to 42 mph - breaking the mark of 36.00 knots set by the famous yacht Crossbow in 1980.

He is sailing in Weymouth Speed Week, which started at the weekend and has attracted a record number of entries this year.

Dunkerbeck, 35, vowed to break the record this year and spent five hours making 30 runs along the festival's 500-metre course parallel to Chesil Beach yesterday.

He was joined by more than 60 sailors on windsurfers, yachts and kiteboards making full use of 25-knot cross winds and flat water.

After receiving confirmation of the new record Dunkerbeck said: "This is the first goal I have achieved in the bay - now I want to break 40 knots.

"The fact that this record is 24 years old makes it even more amazing."

He added: "If the wind had been 10 or 15 degrees further behind, it would have given me three or four more knots. Let's hope it blows tomorrow."

Dunkerbeck, who was born in Denmark but now lives in the Canary Islands, is a 12-time professional windsurf world champion.

He won his first title in 1988 and went on to dominate the world scene.

He is now attempting to break the world speed sailing record, which stands at 46.52 knots, and is making his second appearance at the speed festival.

The event's co-organiser Nick Povey said the record-breaking day had been the busiest ever in Speed Week's 32-year history.