THE seven-day Sail for Gold regatta gave a £1million boost to the economy of Weymouth and Portland.
Figures from the borough council and experiences from local business owners have found that spending rocketed during the world-class Sailing event.
A record number of almost 1,000 competitors from 57 countries took part in this year’s Skandia Sail for Gold, with the majority accompanied by support teams and family members.
In addition Royal Yachting Association officials and hundreds of volunteers flocked to the borough and stayed in local hotels, bed and breakfasts and households during the event, hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Councillor Howard Legg, council spokesman for partnerships and special projects, said: “There must have been in the region of 1,300 to 1,400 people here for the regatta.
“We work on the premise that the average tourist will bring in £47 to the economy each day, while high-level sport competitors are worth £75 a day to the local economy.
“These elite sailors are more likely to stay in hotels and to eat at restaurants than camp and use takeaways.
“They must have brought in more than £1million over the seven days – it’s absolutely amazing.
“Blue Fish restaurant and Southwell Business Park were all exceptionally busy.
“There will be a great boost to the economy in 2012 and also a significant boost to the economy in 2011 because of the number of dry run sailing events.
“The great thing about these sailing events is that they will bring sailors back for three or four years running and Weymouth and Portland will be the national sailing showcase centre.”
He added: “Not only does the borough’s role as host to international sailing competitions ahead of the 2012 Games help to raise our profile on the world stage, it also provides a massive boost to the local economy here in Weymouth and Portland.
“The economic success of this event gives us a clear picture of how local businesses are set to benefit massively from the coming of the 2012 Games.”
Eleanor Black, RYA competition co-ordinator, said they provided 350 volunteers with accommodation at Hotel Rembrandt in Weymouth, The Portland Lodge and The Venue.
Merv Turner, event and hotel director at The Venue – the newly renamed Portland Spa Hotel at Southwell Business Park – said: “During Sail for Gold all our 78 rooms were filled to the brim with sailing people, officials, judges and technical officers for the RYA. This is the start of the build-up to 2012.
“We’ve had the Italian disabled team here as well as Greeks, delegates from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil – it was like the United Nations up here we could have had a summit.
“We’ve also been showing a lot of teams around for next year and the year after.
“From a local economy point of view I went to the Cove House Inn and it was filled to the brim with sailors eating.
“The businesses around Victoria Square must’ve been absolutely thriving.”
The co-owner of Mallams Rest-aurant, Steve Gosson, said: “We’re always busy in August and have to turn a few people away for bookings.
“We had several of the teams from the sailing fraternity eating here during the Sail for Gold regatta but we are usually busy during August anyway.”
n laura.kitching@dorsetecho.co.uk
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