Going for Gold!
The town of Weymouth, historically a seaport established in the 12th century, has in recent times developed into one of the best-known Olympic sailing venues in the world. The popular tourist town, situated on the Jurassic Coast, is a World Heritage Site and has long had connections with the sport of sailing through its seafaring past.
Long known as a superb sailing venue, and host to many National, European and World Championship sailing events over the years, Weymouth has become an epicentre for dinghy sailing, and in particular, Olympic sailing.
A National Sailing Academy was developed on the site of the former Naval Air Station at Osprey Quay on the northern tip of the Isle of Portland, opening in April 2000. In 2003, National Lottery funding for a bigger, permanent training centre was secured, and along with additional funds from the South West Regional Development Agency, a new state-of-the-art Academy could be built. With these plans in place, and the waters of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay adjacent to the site offering an unparalleled dinghy-sailing venue on the south coast, the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, along with the City of London, was chosen on 6th July 2005 to host the sailing regatta for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (www.wpnsa.org.uk) already has the majority of its infrastructure in place, and for the past two years has hosted the ‘Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta’, an Olympic-standard sailing event. Further planned development includes the building of a large launching ramp and marina, which will be complete by the end of 2008.
The Academy has long been an excellent training and competition venue for Great Britain’s top sailors. Weymouth offers a unique environment for sailing competitions, with the option of either holding events within the protected Portland Harbour, or outside in the more exposed Weymouth Bay, dependent on the weather. It is no accident, therefore, that Weymouth is the home to Skandia Team GBR (www.skandiateamgbr.com), the British sailing team preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 (www.london2012.org). Having earned five sailing medals at the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000), and five in Athens (2004), Great Britain is the world’s top sailing nation, and aims to bring home a hoard of medals from this year’s Olympic Games, in Beijing this August.
Many of our current Olympic medallists grew up competing and training in the waters of Weymouth, an unequalled venue on the UK’s south coast for world-class events. As well as providing a key training base for Skandia Team GBR and Britain’s up-and-coming talent, the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy aims to promote the sport of sailing at all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, and to contribute to the economic regeneration of the area. Since opening, it has created a demand in service and marine industries estimated to be worth around £10 million. The Academy promotes sailing to local schools and youth groups, and works to give the local community access to this exciting sport.
Several of our Olympic sailors have settled in Weymouth and Portland, giving them easy access to the facilities on offer. Olympic Gold medallist in the women’s Yngling class, Sarah Ayton, and fiancé Nick Dempsey, Bronze medallist in the men’s windsurfing class, have a house in Weymouth, as does Laser sailor Paul Goodison and 470 sailor Saskia Clark. Windsurfer Bryony Shaw also lives in Weymouth, with other team members basing themselves in the town when they are in the country.
With the news that Weymouth will host the Games in 2012, property prices in the area have already reflected demand for residences close to the action. British sailors preparing for the 2012 Games will be considered to have a home advantage over foreign competitors, as 470 Youth Champion and 2012 potential Hannah Mills points out: ‘It will be a big advantage to have the Olympics in home waters as we train here every weekend. We will have sailed in every condition possible by the time the Olympics come round. We will know it better than anyone else.’
Hannah also points out that having an Olympics on their own patch will be special as it will be in front of family and friends, a sentiment echoed by athletes in every discipline, not only Britain’s sailors. Imagine doing what you do best, in front of your biggest fans, and having your support network right there for you. This is something that excites many of the sailors, some of whom have admitted that they might have considered hanging up their Olympic sailing boots after Beijing, had 2012 not been hosted in Britain.
Ben Ainslie, who is aiming for his third consecutive Olympic Gold medal this summer is one athlete to whom this applies: ‘Previously I thought that Beijing 2008 would be my last Olympic cycle but since London was announced as the host city for the 2012 Games I thought maybe I’ll continue. Beijing will be good but London will be incredible. There is no bigger motivation for me now than to secure qualification for London 2012, as to go for gold in your home country would be the most amazing experience as it is a rare privilege for sportsmen.
‘In the build-up to London 2012, the focus of the British public will be on us like never before. The attention, the coverage and the limelight will be unprecedented – as will the rewards for glory. Britain will put on a great show and the medal winners will become household names overnight. I’m excited about 2012.’
An Olympic campaign is an expensive business, with boats, kit and travel to events generally incurring more in running costs than other sports might. Without support from personal sponsors, the National Lottery and that of Skandia, title sponsors of the team preparing for the Games, many of Britain’s top sailors would struggle to run their campaigns. The fact that 2012 will be a home event eases the pressure of funding to an extent, with travel costs significantly reduced. Another bonus in competing on home turf cited by several sailors is that sailing at home gives you a mental edge.
Bryony Shaw, who will compete in the RS:X women’s windsurfing class in Beijing this summer echoes other Skandia Team GBR team members sentiments: ‘The fact that London got the 2012 Olympics and sailing's going to be in Weymouth and Portland has brought all the talent from sailing into this area and we all love training here. Beijing this summer will be my first Olympics, and if I come home from there with a gold medal and could be the defending champion going into the 2012 Olympics in my home waters, that would be my ultimate dream.’
The Legacy of the Olympic Games
An integral part of London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is to leave the best legacy possible for sport in the UK following the Games in July and August 2012. There are detailed plans in place for The Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy post-2012, which will include the hosting of future world-class events as well as diversifying its use, already a popular location for conferences and events.