Weymouth & Portland plans on course as construction work sails towards finishing line

The Olympic and Paralympic sailing events in 2012 will be hosted at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) which offers world-class facilities and some of the best small boat sailing conditions in the world. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and its contractors Dean & Dyball began construction work in March to enhance the existing sailing facilities with the construction of a new permanent 250m slipway and new race-boat parking, lifting and mooring facilities.

Construction work is now well over the halfway stage with 70,000 tonnes of Portland stone put in place to reclaim 18,000m2 of land in front of the sailing academy to form the new slipway. Work has also been completed on a 200m breakwater to protect the enhanced facilities, and work is well underway on a new pier offering two yacht lifting cranes, and a new pontoon to provide 70 berths for race-boats.

The progress means the project is expected to be completed in November, keeping Weymouth & Portland on track to be the first venue ready for the 2012 Games, delivering an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local community to use.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'Weymouth & Portland was the first venue for 2012 to start construction work so reaching the final stages of the project is another important milestone. The huge progress we’re making at Weymouth & Portland means we’re on course to finish work ahead of schedule, helping us deliver an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local community to use well ahead of 2012.'

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee said: 'The success of our sailors was one of the highlights of a fantastic Beijing Games for Team GB so I’m delighted that we’re on track to deliver enhanced sailing facilities at Weymouth & Portland for our sailors to train well ahead of 2012. Our plans are driven by legacy and these enhanced facilities will also provide new opportunities and facilities for people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities to experience the thrill of sailing for many years to come.'

The construction work carried out so far at Weymouth & Portland has been delivered with an impressive safety record, with no reportable accidents on site, mirroring work on the Olympic Park construction site in east London where the ODA this month achieved another million hours without a reportable accident.

Together with the ODA’s enhancement works at Weymouth & Portland, Dean & Reddyhoff, developers for the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), are also well underway on work on a new 560-berth commercial marina at Osprey Quay of which 250 berths will be used during the 2012 Games. The marina will include retail and industrial development bringing enormous social and economic regeneration to the local area.

Notes to editors:

1. An image of construction works at Weymouth & Portland is available from the ODA press office on 020 3 2012 700

2. Further information on Weymouth and Portland’s preparation as a sailing venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Legacy it is achieving, can be found on www.weymouth.gov.uk

3. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy  is a world class sailing venue. WPNSA promotes the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, whilst supporting and working closely with the local community. WPNSA hosts a number of high profile regattas throughout the year with conference and event facilities. For further information contact Cailah Leask on 07785 294 321 / 020 7593 5268

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

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