Spirit of the Sea festival

Spirit of the Sea

The coastal town of Weymouth and neighbouring Portland in Dorset host 200 magnificent events and festivals throughout the year.  The fantastic summer weather is attracting a large number of tourists to the scenic beaches and The Outdoor Store is expecting a large influx of visitors for the popular Spirit of the Sea festival.

3rd July 2010 to 16th July 2010

The Spirit of the Sea is a unique multi event maritime festival and showcases the best Weymouth and Portland has to offer as it prepares to host the sailing and windsurfing championships for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last year’s event attracted an extra 35,000 visitors to the town, looking to sample the areas rich maritime history and links with the sea. Weymouth & Portland’s third Spirit of the Sea festival promises to be even better with a bumper programme of cultural events, entertainment and taster sporting activities.

Try your hand at Powerkiteing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Scuba Diving and Sailing

At The Outdoor Store we have created a sample list of some of the water sport taster session you can try throughout the maritime festival:

Powerkite Lessons & Kitesurf taster Days from £25

If you’ve never had a go at powerkiteing or kitesurfing then this is your chance to give it a try. Paracademy Extreme Sports Centre located in Victoria Square, Portland will teach you the basics on how to use, and get the most from, the Powerkite and Kitesurf equipment.

The Powerkite session costs £25 for 2 hours and is available on Friday 2nd, Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th July. The Kitesurf Taster Days are priced at £74.25 (25% discount off the normal price of £99) and take place Friday 9th to Sunday 11th July.

Windsurfing taster sessions £10

This is a prefect opportunity to have a go at windsurfing with expert guidance from The Official Test Centre, ideally located in the UK’s national sailing academy at Osprey Quay on Portland – it overlooks the most prominent water sports arena and resource in the world today. Windsurfing taster sessions are available for just £10 on Saturday 3rd, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th to Sunday 11th and Wednesday 14th thought to Friday 16th July. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Sea Kayak Demo Days Free

Secondwind Watersports, situated at Overcome Beach, Preston, Weymouth are offering free Kayak Demo days on both weekends of the Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival at Preston Beach. There is no need to pre book, just turn up and the expert assistants will provide all the information you need to get kitted out for this popular water sports activity.

Scuba Diving & Snorkelling Tasters £10

Planning to go scuba diving on holiday this year? C-Waves Diving will be offering scuba diving and snorkelling tasters in the heated swimming pool at the Riviera Hotel, Bowleaze Cove from 4th to 6th July only. Each session is 30-40 minutes in duration and will cost £10 per person including equipment. Places are limited and booking your time slot between 6pm and 8.30pm is essential to avoid disappointment.

Sailing on the 2012 Olympic waters! £20

On Wednesday 7th July SailLaser, Weymouth and Portland’s National Sailing Academy, are giving you the opportunity to try sailing in the venue that will host the sailing events for 2012 games. A qualified instructor will help you to master the basics and you will get a chance to experience a competitive race. Both regular sailors and complete novices are welcome. The cost is £20 per person,  £60 for a team of three, or only £45 for a team of three or four if no skipper is required.

At the Outdoor store we always say, “what are you waiting for”! Make a date to visit Weymouth and Portland during the two week Spirit of the Sea maritime festival, to enjoy the atmosphere, the events, and the opportunity to sample a new, and perhaps life changing skill.