The oldest and longest-running speed sailing event in the world, held annually since 1972, challenges competitors to sail as fast as they can over a distance of 500 meters, with their speed being recorded as the average speed over that distance.

Windsurfers and kiteboarders will race over a course laid out in Portland Harbour. Each course has a start line and each competitor is free to choose their best angle to maximise their speed.

Each competitor's run is now accurately measured by GPS with the recorded GPS data processed each day to generate the results for each of the competition classes.

Competitors are also free to put in as many runs as they can; on a windy day, the course can be a constant buzz as the competitors relentlessly charge up and down to find the best wind.

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

The outright world speed sailing record currently stands at 65.45 knots and was set by Paul Larsen, from Australia, sailing the Vesta SpeedRocket 2, at Walvis Bay, in Namibia, in November 2012.

The windsurfers versus kiteboarders' battle is a must. Who will be claiming the 2013 Weymouth Speed Week?