Fine weather is expected to bring out crowds for Zapcats

Days of prolonged sunshine are expected to mean a welcome boost to the tourism industry this weekend, as the thrilling Zapcat Powerboat Championships kicks off.

The glorious conditions are expected to draw out day trippers in droves, as holiday businesses welcome a positive start to the season.

Many hope the good weather, coupled with widespread exposure of volcanic ash-induced travel chaos at airports, will mean many more visitors are lured to the Westcountry this summer.

This weekend, Newquay will play host to the Zapcat racing off Fistral Beach for the first time. The event is expected to bring around £750,000 in to the local economy.

It will feature around 40 teams over 16 heats of racing, will take place culminating in two divisional finals each day.

Alan Taylor, managing director for Blue Chip Newquay, which is sponsoring the event, said: "Over the last three years late April has been a belter for warm weather and so an event such as this should appeal to visitors and encourage them to stay during weeks that they might not normally consider."

So far, this April has exceeded expectations in terms of conditions. Michael Smith, of the Venus Company, which runs five organic beach cafes across Devon and Cornwall, said the glorious weather was the ideal start to the season in what he expected to be a record-breaking April for the award-winning business.

He said: "Last week was good, and we're hoping for a repeat of that. It wasn't too crowded – there was a really nice number of people, mostly engaged in activities like building sand castles, kayaking or paddle-boarding, or having a meal on the sand.

"This weekend, the weather's going to be great again, and the beaches will look fantastic."

He said the weather, not the economy, would play a major factor for companies which were at the lower end of the price point scale, and said: "We've had a proper winter and a proper spring – now let's hope for a proper summer to keep it going."

James Lewis, who runs PointBreaks surf and watersports school and hire in Braunton, North Devon, said surf had so far been flat, but reported strong interest in coasteering and canoeing. He voiced hopes that the fine period would entice people to take their holiday in the UK. "If it's sunny, then we're in one of the best places in the world here."

But yesterday, the Met Office said the sunshine would not beat down all weekend.

After a fine start today, rain is expected to drift in from the west, with more cloud tomorrow.

Temperatures are expected to linger at around 16C.

Malcolm Bell, head of tourism for VisitCornwall, said the fine weather up to now could have positive repercussions for the busier summer season. He said: "There are anecdotal reports of lots of people, including honeymooning couples, whose flights abroad were cancelled and instead they came to the Westcountry. It may not have been their first choice, but they've had glorious weather and a great time. Now, around the water coolers in Birmingham and London, while others are sharing tales of travel woe, those people are talking about a fantastic holiday here. That may well have a knock-on effect in the summer."