About the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the home of British Sailing, has been developed to take advantage of what are widely recognised as some of the best small boat sailing waters on the planet and certainly the best in Northern Europe. The combination of clean winds, sheltered waters and weak tides in the area is unique and this new world class facility set in the centre of the World Heritage Coast provides an unrivalled venue for small boat training and competitions.

The Academy has been developed through a very strong partnership, bringing together the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England Lottery Fund and the local authorities in the area working together to bring a strong vision into an exciting reality.

The Academy provides training for all levels of ability from beginners through to the Olympic sailors, it works with the community, particularly schools and young people, to enable people to participate in the sport of sailing, and, of course, it runs events. These events range from regional and national championships, through to European and World Championships and the International Sailing Federation World Youth Championships in 2006

The Academy exceeds the standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act and has also been described by English Nature as ‘an example of best practice’ in relation to its outstanding environmental credentials.

Community Sailing Initiative

Charles Russell’s sponsorship of the Academy provides vital support for up-and-coming sailors and also contributes to community sailing initiatives.

Various reduced-rate community programs, aimed at involving as many people as possible in sailing and other watersports such as windsurfing and canoeing, are run out of the Academy. Access and affordability are often barriers to take-up, but Charles Russell’s sponsorship has helped to drive down the costs of courses for local children, encouraging more youngsters to take up sport and live an active and healthy life.

The Academy and Charles Russell, together with SailLaser, the world class sailing school based at WPNSA, began a Sail for £5 initiative in June 2007. It has proved a phenomenal success. So far, over 1,000 local children from 17 different schools have been able to take advantage of this scheme. Similar programmes are set to run for 2008, with new additions to the community programme for adults and disadvantaged teenagers.

Weymouth College and the Academy, supported by Charles Russell’s funding, are proud to be part of a nationwide initiative to tackle the number of youngsters not in employment and not in education. The E2E course, run out of the Academy, is ideal for young people with an interest in water sports, the outdoors or just sport in general, equipping them with the basic certificates they need to start a career in the marine industry. Plenty of time is set aside to develop personal and social skills and to work on numeracy and literacy levels, combined with crucial work placements with local businesses tailored to give a range of experience in this diverse industry. 

Mark Stubbings, Chief Executive of WPNSA comments, “It is fantastic that, through the support of our sponsors, we are able to provide the facilities for these young people to help them with their personal development.”

Watch the interview WPNSA’s Director of Development John Tweed and Chief Executive Mark Stubbings, highlighting how the Academy is working with regional partners to benefit the local community in terms of lasting job creation, reduced-rate sailing initiatives and increased participation in physical activity and sport. This was filmed by RISE, the voice for South West social enterprise, in conjunction with Sport England.

Part 1

Part 2