The Farr 45 yacht racing national championships are currently underway at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) running from 11 – 13 June. This is the second year that the sailing venue for the Games will be hosting the globally recognised racing yacht brand after development of the Dorset venue to cater for international yachting regattas as well as elite level dingy and windsurfing events.
The Farr racing circuit in the UK is very active since the initial model was launched back in 1996 by the world renowned Farr Yacht designers. It was manufactured with the promise of a prolonged competitive life in IMS, PHRF, CHS and One design regattas which has led to the success of the international fleet.
Media were on site to film the racing out in Weymouth Bay this weekend which has attracted some of UK’s most qualified skippers and crews to the venue shortlisted in 2010 for the ‘Sport Industry Award – Sport Venue of the Year’.
Following work by the Olympic Development Association (ODA) with final completion of the Games venue in November 2008, the Academy has increased the level of first class facilities for yacht racing events. The WPNSA has raised the benchmark for Dorset’s offering to the global yacht racing industry through inclusion of a new mini marina with a total capacity for 125 boats.
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy also offers superb on-shore facilities for crews and spectators to enjoy including; a cafe and restaurant as well as an open air deck looking out onto the future 2012 race course areas. There is ample free car parking and the venue is within easy distance of a number of hotels, making it very convenient for large yacht racing crews.
The Farr 45 National Championships competitors have enjoyed racing from the Academy for the past 2 years and the 2010 event has provided some excellent fleet racing. John Greenland, crew member on Espresso Martini chatted through his experience of racing from the WPNSA, “I’ve grown up racing a range of dinghies in Weymouth and it’s great to now come here and do an event in race yachts. The venue has moved on leaps and bounds. For one design racing it’s a brilliant area with all the ingredients that a yachting regatta requires. The access to deep water off shore courses from the marina at the Academy is the ultimate offering and the onshore facilities are becoming better quality every year. It couldn’t have been a much better race regatta, 10 – 14 knots, flat water and blue skies”.