ENTRIES are now open for Weymouth Speed Week 2013.

The event, which has been held annually on Portland Harbour since 1972, is the oldest and longest-running speed sailing event in the world.

It challenges sailors of all abilities on a wide variety of wind-powered craft to sail as fast as they can over a distance of 500m with their speed recorded as the ave- rage speed over that dist- ance.

The current Weymouth Speed Week 500m record of 38.48 knots was set by Anders Bringdal in 2008 on a sailboard.

The 2013 competition will be held from Saturday, October 12 through to Friday, October 18, and will be hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy at Osprey Quay.

There are three options for entering the non-profit making event – competitors can either sign up for the whole week, any two days or for youth weekend tickets. The fees are £165, £70 and £35 respectively.

These fees include use of the sailing academy and all launching and mooring fees due to the Portland Port Authority.

The Weymouth Speed Week organisation provides the competitors with rash vests, buoys and anchors, result software and equipment, safety boats, fuel and crews.

Visit WeymouthSpeedWeek. com