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2nd February 2010

WEYMOUTH: Sailing races could bring big revenue

by Harry Walton

NEW hotels, high tech marine businesses and top sports facilities are needed to attract future sailing events worth up to £1 billion in revenue to Weymouth.

The 2012 Olympic Games is expected to generate many legacies for the area with future sailing events a particular target.

Weymouth and Portland economic development spokesman Councillor Geoff Petherick explained that up to a dozen top races could be attracted in future years.

He added: “The borough has to work with the likes of Dorset County Council, Portland Port and up to 20 other groups to achieve a joint approach to ensure that the facilities are there to make this happen.”

Mr Petherick said that among races which could come to the area were the Louis Vuitton Trophy, the Extreme 40 Class, the IRC Nationals, the Volvo Ocean Race, the ISAF World Match Race Tour, in which local Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie will be competing, and the Clipper Round the World race.

He added: “Huge amounts of money are involved in these races where more than £80 million can be spent on a single boat and its local support base.

“The potential advantages to the local economy if we can get some or all of these races here are enormous, but the infrastructure has to be good enough to attract such top events.

“That means Weymouth and Portland and its potential partners need to look at improvements ranging from additional four-star hotels, high tech marine businesses and a whole range of sports services from food to electronics.”

He added that the jewel in any future sailing crown could be the Americas Cup.

Mr Petherick said: “We have got to win it first so it can be defended in British waters but, once that happens, then Weymouth and Portland would be a clear favourite to host the event if we could add world class facilities to our world class sailing conditions.

“Working towards all these goals has already started, but we are confident that, given the Olympics, we can make this sailing dream a reality.”

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy chief executive John Tweed said: “We support this because we must ensure that 2012 is not just a one-off opportunity for the area but is part of a continuing series of world class sailing events. The more events we can attract, the more revenue the area will benefit from.

“Sporting events are an extraordinary catalyst for economic development and we are planning a conference in April to draw all interested parties together so that we have a coherent approach to this whole issue which will be necessary attract the major world events here.

“I have already been to Monaco for a major yachting event to discuss with race organizers the use of Weymouth and Portland for world events.”

PICTURE: John Tweed and Geoff Petherick at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy