The new £7.85m development was officially opened in June and has enabled the onshore facilities at WPNSA to match the fantastic waters of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay. The new purpose-built facilities include an event hall for measuring/rigging, lecture rooms, a race office, jury rooms, a cafeteria and excellent disabled facilities.

Funding for this was given primarily by Sport England and the South West Regional Development Agency with significant contributions made by the RYA, English Institute of Sport, Dorset County Council.

This was Stage 1 of the development process. It is anticipated that an estimated £6m will be spent on extending the pontoons and slips with approximately £11m invested in temporary facilities, from London 2012 Olympic funds.

Do you think that the 2012 UK selection will spin off into increased sailing activity in Weymouth?

Almost certainly. The successes of Team GB in Athens, combined with the fact that WPNSA is now a 2012 venue, has already led to increased interest both in the WPNSA sailing school and as a venue for events. We can only think and hope that this will continue to be the case up to and after the games.

What is Weymouth's capacity for hotels and B&Bs?

As a rough estimate, there are probably around 2000 beds. Thoughts are at the moment that a lot of temporary accommodation will be provided through cruise ships in the harbour for the Olympics.

Any problems you anticipate - such as transport access to Weymouth?

Following the announcement there have been indications that the funding for the essential infrastructure works of the new road between Dorchester and Weymouth will be forthcoming and there have been other assurances that work will shortly start on the residential redevelopment of the former naval ratings blocks on Portland. And local hoteliers have already started to receive firm bookings for 2012!

What pre 2012 Regattas at Weymouth/Portland are planned?

There will be test events in 2010 and 2011 and it is hoped that regattas for all the Olympic classes will be a regular occurrence at the Sailing Academy. We hope to bring back an annual event similar to Weymouth Olympic Week, possibly even starting next year.

These events will bring large numbers of competitors and visitors to the area - for example an Olympic week would bring approx 800-1000 competitors plus support teams and spectators, which is a significant boost for the economy.

It is also anticipated that there would be a lot of preOlympic training camps for various nations - for example, Team GB held much of their training in Athens in the year running up to the 2004 Olympics.

And how much spin off benefit do you see for the area in terms of visitors, teams, accommodation requirements etc?

Bringing the Olympic sailing events to Weymouth and Portland is already proving to be a significant boost for the area.

There will be further development and construction work at the academy providing employment both in permanent "legacy" works and temporary facilities for the games.

The games themselves will give a world-wide television audience to some Olympic sailing taking place against the backdrop of the World Heritage Coast.

This will encourage greater tourism, already one of the region's most important industries, and the "afterglow" from the games should last for a generation.

The business case for the games is compelling and we have no doubt that, as the only venue outside Greater London where a complete sport will take place, Dorset and the South West generally will obtain lasting benefits from being part of The Greatest Show on Earth.