HUNDREDS of people have been inspired to take up watersports after enjoying taster sessions at a world-class Sailing regatta.

More than 250 people tried their hand at dinghy sailing, yacht sailing, powerboat lessons, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, power kiting and model boat racing during the seven-day Skandia Sail for Gold event.

The community initiative, organised by Weymouth Charters, was inundated with enquiries for the scheme, which enabled people to experience the activities for free or for a small contribution from each participant.

Organiser Roy Griffiths, of Weymouth Charters, said: “We’ve had more than 250 people out on the water in sea kayaks, keelboats, having powerboats lessons, windsurfing and sailing with SailLaser.

“It’s been about 60 per cent residents and 40 per cent visitors which is quite nice.

“All age groups took part, the youngest was seven-and-a-half and the oldest was 55.

“It’s been good and there’s been a good take-up of people taking on future lessons.

“Everybody asked ‘Where do we go from here?’ which is really exciting.”

Second Wind Watersports put on an extra day of events last Friday to keep up with enquiries, SailLaser was booked out and Roy said there could have been hundreds more participants but the sessions were limited to certain times to fit in with the racing at Sail for Gold.

Roy said: “One man who did a taster session at the Spirit of the Sea Festival last year came down to have a go on powerboats.

“He joked ‘I hope I don’t like it because it cost me last time’ - he had tried windsurfing and loved it so much he bought a windsurfer for him and his son and now they come down each weekend from Chippenham.”

Holidaymaker Steve Davies, from Newport, Wales went overboard and had a go at dinghy sailing and windsurfing, and tried powerboat lessons and sea kayaking with his family.

He said: “The kids have just loved it.

“We’ve considered the taster sessions to be a really big success.

“It’s been great.”

Visitors to Sail for Gold not only got to see the elite sailors in action on the big screens at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

But participants in the taster sessions were also given a tour of the academy and were all impressed with the record 973 boats from 57 countries taking part in the world-class sailing regatta.

Roy added: “They were impressed with the level of organisation.”