Windsurfing world championships begin at Olympic venue

Up to 250 of the world's leading windsurfers, representing more than 40 nations, are competing for the iQFOiL World Championships.

The six-day competition, which starts on Monday, is being hosted by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Dorset.

A fan zone next to Weymouth Pavilion, with a big screen, commentary, athlete interviews, music and medal ceremonies, will open on Saturday from 10:00 BST to 18:00, with racing from 12:00.

The zone will run alongside Weymouth Water Fest on the beach, where there will be opportunities to try free, bookable activities including kayaking, paddleboarding, beach yoga and sea swimming.

iQFOiL is the Olympic windsurfing class, with hydrofoil boards that lift clear of the water, reaching speeds of up to 35 knots (65kph).

Competitors include British Sailing Team athletes Emma Wilson and Andy Brown, who will both be defending their 2025 world titles.

Wilson, who grew up in Christchurch, is also a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, winning medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Event director Niall McLeod said: "The championship will bring together the very best iQFOiL athletes in the world, but its success will also be measured by the connection it creates with Weymouth, Portland and the wider Dorset community.

"We would love to see Weymouth Pavilion and the harbour-side full of local support as the world titles are decided."

Weymouth Town Council leader David Civil said: "We are proud to see an international event of this magnitude come to our shores."

Weymouth and Portland were hosts of the sailing and windsurfing events for the London Olympic Games in 2012.

The world championships series is the first major iQFOiL championship to be held in the UK and the first world championship in an Olympic windsurfing class on British waters since 2009.

Weymouth Water Fest will take place on Saturday 12 September from 10:00 to 15:00.