Portland: Performance & Innovation Centre for sailing team

The permanent centre will replace the team’s current leased units at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy at Osprey Quay - which has been its home for more than a decade and was famously the focus of the 2012 Sailing Olympics.

The project is currently fundraising and will be largely funded by private patronage, with contributions from UK Sport and the RYA.  

The plans, if approved, will see a new £9 million Performance and Innovation Centre built on the site of the current sailing academy (Image: RYA)

Mark Robinson, RYA Performance Director, said: “For the British Sailing Team to continue its dominance in an increasingly challenging funding, competitive and regulatory environment it must double down on its strengths which are its intellectual capability and retained knowledge, depth of fleet and available sailing conditions in Weymouth and Portland.  

"We now have an opportunity to create a legacy for the British Sailing Team as well as reaffirm the team's commitment to a home in Weymouth and Portland.

“This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that our Olympic gold medal aspirants are afforded the greatest possible chance of success and will set up our programme to do so for decades to come.” 

Great Britain is the most successful Olympic sailing nation of all time, with 64 medals including 31 golds won since the sport made its debut in 1900.  

Team GB has also topped the sailing medal table at five of the past six Games, a feat Britain’s elite sailors will aim to replicate next summer at Paris 2024.   

Ben Ainslie famously won gold at the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and Portland

Will Carlson, a spokesman for the British Sailing Team, said: "The submission of the plans is step 1 in our grand plan for this new centre.

"Step 2 is finding the money to do it.

"We are looking to fund via patronage and external investment for the scheme.

"Our long-term lease of the existing buildings is coming to an end.

"We have an opportunity to create something new for now and not 10 or 12 years ago.

"We are the most successful Olympic sailing team of all time, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build this project.

The new performance centre is hoped to maintain that legacy for future generations of aspiring athletes and will be used to help support the development of sailors in the British Youth Sailing pathway.  

David Griffith, Chair of Directors at WPNSA, said: “WPNSA is proud to be considered the home of the British Sailing Team. Bringing the Performance and Innovation Centre onto our site will support our mission to inspire the next generation of sailors both recreational and competitive.   

“Forging ever closer links with our RYA partners will drive operational and financial benefits for both organisations and secure the legacy promises made as a 2012 host venue.”  

The plans for the Performance and Innovation Centre have broad support from Portland Town Council and have been submitted to Dorset Council.  

If approved, building will start in spring 2024 with a view to the centre being opened in summer 2025, subject to sufficient funding being secured, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the RYA.