Olympic sailing venue wins award

The WPNSA opened three and a half years ahead of the Olympic Games

A new Dorset sailing academy set to host the 2012 Olympic sailing events has won an international award for the access it gives disabled sailors.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) at Osprey Quay on Portland opened at the end of 2008.

It was the first operational site to be completed ahead of the games.

The centre received the Distinction for Accessibility 2009 award from the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS).

The new academy was created to help novice sailors and Olympic competitors ahead of and after the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Since it opened - three and a half years before the games - it has been hosting a range of sailing and windsurfing competitions.

Many Olympic and local novice sailors use the centre as a training base.

IAKS is the only organisation for sports facilities recognised by the International Olympic Committee and The International Paralympic Committee.

Many sailors preparing for 2012 are using the academy as a training base

It has been running its awards programme for 20 years.

WPNSA beat 54 entries from 14 different countries to win the 2009 disability access award.

Helena Lucas, paralympic sailor, said: "I love training in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour as they offer a wide range of sailing conditions.

"The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is an unbeatable venue for disabled sailors with new, customised facilities.

"I don't know of any other sailing venue where the needs of sailors of all abilities are so well catered for."

John Tweed, chief executive of WPNSA, said: "We hold accessibility for persons with disabilities to our venue extremely highly as everyone who wishes to experience a water based sport should feel free to do so without barriers."

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