Olympic Qualification & International Sailing...
Sail For Gold - June 2011
During the last few years, Portland Harbour has been fast making its name as a serious training ground for the discerning international sailor.
During 2011, Portland & Weymouth have hosted many national, European and International events but two stand out from the rest.
In June, the second annual Sail For Gold Regatta was held. With the Olympics fast approaching, the opportunity was too great for the sailing community to miss. The event was a chance to practice in the Olympic waters, whilst staking a claim for Olympic qualification. This years event attracted around 1100 competitors, in comparison, the Olympics will host around 380 competitors! It is hoped that the Sail for Gold event will become a fixture of the European ISAF circuit.
Portland & Weymouth International Regatta July 2011
July saw the main event in terms of build up and preparation for the Olympic games in 2012. "London Prepares" was a series of test events to ensure all the venues were able to cope with the trials and tribulations of staging the greatest show on earth.
Around 700 competitors took the opportunity to gain further qualification points in this truly international event. ISAF are the governing body for international events, more information can be found their web-site here.
One thing can be said, Portland is Prepared!