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Sailing boats in Portland Harbour, seen from The Verne. The WPNSA clubhouse is on the far left.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is a centre for the sport of sailing on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England, United Kingdom. The Academy building is located in Osprey Quay on the northern tip of the island, and the waters of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay, adjacent to the site, are the main areas used for sailing. Local, national and international sailing events have been held at the site since it was opened in 2000. In 2005 the WPNSA was selected to host the sailing events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The National Sailing Academy was formed as a not-for-profit company in 1999 and officially opened on 1st April 2000.^[1] It occupied converted naval premises until a new clubhouse was built, which was opened in June 2005 by the Princess Royal.^[2] Funding for the £7.85 million project^[3] was donated by charities, individuals and local councils; the National Lottery donated £3 million in 2003, and the South West Regional Development Agency added £3.34 million.^[1] The Academy's stated aims were 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 worth around £10 million.^[1] The Academy continues to promote sailing to local schools, offering benefits such as free boat hoist and storage. Use of the facilities and access to training is open to anyone in return for an annual membership fee.^[1] On 6 July 2005, London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the WPNSA was chosen to host the sailing events.^[3]

The clubhouse in Osprey Quay.

Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay are the main areas used for sailing at the Academy. The 8.6-square-kilometre (2,125-acre) harbour^[4] is ideal for sailing as it is exposed to reliable winds from most directions, but is sheltered from large waves and currents by Chesil Beach and the breakwaters.^[5][6] The Academy's clubhouse houses facilities on two floors, including a gymnasium, seven lecture and meeting rooms for 260 people, an event hall with kitchens and a bar, VIP meeting rooms and offices, a lounge bar and cafeteria seating for 350 people and two balconies.^[7] The outside of the Academy complex has a 40-metre (131 ft) slipway and two deep water slipways, 30 pontoons with disabled access, cranage and boat hoists, boat storage and parking areas.^[1][7] The Academy also operates Boscawen House, formerly an admiral's residence, which offers accommodation for a maximum of 47 people.^[8] The clubhouse generates 15–20% if its electricity from solar cells, and rainwater is collected from the roof to wash boats.^[5]

As part of the South West of England Regional Development Agency's plans to redevelop Osprey Quay, in which the WPNSA is built, a new 600 berth marina and an extension to the clubhouse will be built within the next few years. New facilities will include a restaurant and bar, a fuelling area, boat hoists, a chandlery and yacht brokerage, and new marine engineers.^[9] Construction commenced in October 2007 and is scheduled to finish before the end of 2008, making Weymouth and Portland the first in the United Kingdom to completely build a venue for the Olympic Games.^[10] The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £21 million, which involves using 200,000 tonnes of Portland stone for the breakwaters and reclaiming 0.8 hectares (2 acres) of land.^[11]

In November 2007, the Regional Development Agency signed a deal with Sutton Harbour Group to construct a 3-hectare (7-acre) year-round tourist and leisure complex in Osprey Quay, between Portland Castle and the WPNSA. The £30 million scheme called Castle Court is to include a hotel, apartments, public areas, a restaurant, shops and other employment space, and is expected to create 300 jobs. A permanent base for the Royal Yachting Association's senior, youth, junior and paralympic national sailing squads is also expected to be provided.^[12]

Topper dinghies racing at the 2006 National Championship.

Since opening the Academy has hosted national and international sailing events, including the J/24 World Championships in 2005, staging trials for the 2004 Athens Olympics, the ISAF World Championship 2006, the BUSA Fleet Racing Championships, and the RYA Youth National Championships.^[13] Local events are also held at the Academy; nearby schools have extra-curricular sailing lessons, and in October each year the Academy hosts Weymouth Speed Week.^[14] The British Olympic Sailing Team train at the WPNSA, as well as beginner and intermediate sailors.^[15]

In 2005 the Academy was chosen as the host venue for the sailing events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.^[3] The main reason that the WPNSA was chosen to host these events was because it had recently been built, so no new venue would have to be provided. Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour have also been credited by the Royal Yachting Association as the best sailing waters in Northern Europe.^[16][17]

Olympic sailing events are scheduled to take place between 28 July to 11 August 2012,^[18] and Paralympic events will be between 31 August and 5 September.^[19] It is proposed that one course will be in Portland Harbour, and three in Weymouth Bay.^[17] Four hundred sailors from 61 nations are expected to compete for 54 Olympic medals, with more competitors expected for the Paralympic Games. For these events, a cruise liner berthed at Portland Port would be used as accommodation.^[17] The Sailing Academy is around 190 kilometres (120 mi) from the Olympic Zone in central London.^[20]

• Official site of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
• Weymouth & Portland 2012 Olympic Blog
• Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's 2012 Sailing Guide
• Weymouth's Windsurfing and Watersports Forum