Jenna Gibson looks to break Weymouth Speed Week record

The competition is the oldest speed event on the planet, having run since 1972, and sees sailors, kite-surfers and windsurfers gather as they attempt to break records.

It gets going today (Saturday) and lasts until Friday, October 18, with racing taking place between 10am and 4pm each day.

Competitors will then wait for the opportune moment when the wind is at its strongest to race across a 500m course and set their speed, on a daily basis.

Currently, the record is held by James Longmuir, who on his kiteboard in 2019, set the Portland Harbour record of 41.21 knots.

The record for the fastest woman on the course is Jenna Gibson with a speed of 34.15 knots. 

Jenna Gibson in Portland Harbour windsurfing (Image: Andy Stallman) Gibson is a four time ICFA world champion, in the slalom racing category, having picked up her latest title in September, in Denmark.

Now, the 27-year-old windsurfer, who trains regularly at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, is determined to break her record this week.

She said: "Yeah, I am going to try and break my record and fight it with the boys at the top.

"Because of injuries and other events, I have not competed since 2019.

"Last year I broke my ankle in training, literally just days before the event.

"But training is going well and I have already broke my Portland Harbour personal best and I have been honing my speed skills ahead of the week."

READ: Dorset windsurfer claims fourth IFCA World Title in Denmark

Gibson, who lives in Poole, regularly travels down to Portland to train and is looking forward to the week, saying it's a 'more relaxed' event than some of the other competitions she competes in internationally. 

She added: "I'm here (Portland) most days when it's windy.

"The vibe of this competition and the atmosphere is different to the slalom racing that I do.

"It's more relaxed and we are all out in the water sharing tips it's just so cool, and it is the same in the evening when we have the social events, people are chilled and sharing tips again.

She added: "Everyone will have their own schedule though, you can be on the water for ten minutes or all day, it will depend on your fitness - it's about catching the lucky gusts.

Jenna Gibson with her fourth IFCA world title (Image: John Carter) "The whole week you are trying to beat your fastest score, and then there will be competitions for fastest of the day and your average speed over the week, so there is plenty to work on - it's good."

Taking part in Weymouth Speed Week is also part of Gibson's goal of breaking the world windsurfing speed record.

For this she will have to travel to a custom built speed canal in Namibia and will need to break speeds in excess of 50 mph

Currently, the record for a woman is held by Swiss windsurfer Heidi Ulrich and was set in November 2022, with a speed of 47.06 knots (54.15 mph).

Gibson will be attempting her world record attempt in November, later this year.