From our front rooms there will be a great view of the yachts, and with the aid of the binoculars you will be able to follow the races.  There will also be a large screen set up on the beach with live commentary to help you know who is in the lead.

The atmosphere here will be amazing, so come on down and enjoy the fun, its a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of The Olympics, and the benefit of Weymouth is you can see it all from a prone position on the beach, not a hard chair in a stadium!

The unusual-looking artwork, which has already acquired some affectionate and less favourable nicknames including the ‘mushrooms’ and the ‘stones on stilts’, stands in a balancing pond next to the Jurassic roundabout at Little-moor.

The idea is that the sculpture will greet drivers heading down the relief road into Weymouth.

It was created by Devon-born sculptor Richard Harris and the total cost of the project is £335,405.

The idea of incorporating art in the development of the relief road was part of the Weymouth and Portland Commissioning Plan for 2012.

The project has received funding from Arts Council England as well as support from Dorset County Council and other groups.

Mr Harris took his inspiration for the sculpture from the geology of the area and the large boulders that were discovered nearby during excavations for the road.

The boulders, which each weigh between two and nine tonnes and are known as bencliff grit concretions, are supported by stainless steel pillars.

It is the artist’s intention that the boulders are elevated above water ‘reminiscent of fish or a flock of birds’.

Mr Harris said: “What I am trying to do is give an inspiring image as people come into Weymouth and to reveal the geology in a dramatic way.

To read more visit Dorset Echo webpage at:

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/9490149.Weymouth_relief_road_sculpture_unveiled/?ref=mr

A giant sandcastle has been built on Weymouth beach to mark 100 days to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 27 July. The sandcastle measured 4m by 2m and took four days to build.

Images of the sandcastle and Weymouth’s famous beach are being sent around the globe with the message that Weymouth and Portland, hosts of the 2012 Sailing events, are ready to welcome the world.

The laser lights are nearly ready to go, and they look amazing! They should be finally up and running in May, but this week we have been treated to test runs late at night.  Eventually the lights will be synchronised and display for six minutes on then six off.  Cant wait to see the finished result! Click on the link to see the trial run.

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map

Maritime Mix will bring world class outdoor theatre, open air mass choir performances, visual arts,  multi media arts festivals, earth science, ar,t panoramic video projection, participative music dance and street celebrations, to the area for everyone to enjoy.

Although Weymouth will be busier than usual, plans are in place to accommodate the extra visitors with lots of extra parking, park and ride facilities, and more trains into Weymouth to make visiting a pleasure not a pain!

It doesn’t matter if sailing isn’t your thing, Weymouth and Portland are going to be amazing places to be during the Olympics!

On a very wet Saturday we crossed the causeway to Portland for lunch at The Boat That Rocks, a bar restaurant sited at  Osprey Quay, the venue of the 2012 Sailing Olympics.  The ambience is warm and welcoming, modern with stylish but minimal decor.  It somehow manages to be large and spacious without feeling cold and souless.  The staff were friendly, helpful and efficient.  We found a table by the window with a great view over the harbour, spectacular even in the awful weather pounding away outside.  In the summer it would be wonderful to sit in the outside area with a glass of wine taking in the amazing view across the Olympic Sailing area.  Rob had the Chilli Prawns with noodles and I had the Beer Battered Cod, with what had to be the best mushy peas I have ever tasted.  The portions were plentiful, well to be honest the cod was enormous and my dreams of following up with a pud were looking likely to be dashed, but after a pause I rallied round and managed the most amazing Treacle Tart, what I do for my guests, Im a martyr to the cause!  We would give the Boat That Rocks a resounding 9 out of  10.

www.theboatthatrocks.co.uk

There will be street parties, fireworks, a sail past in the bay, concerts and a series of burning beacons across the area.

Local organisations have joined forces with the borough council to co-ordinate and celebrate a range of events running throughout the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, which will run from Saturday,  June 2 to Tuesday, June 5.

On Monday, June 4, the country will be commemorating the Queen’s Jubilee with nationwide beacon lighting. Weymouth will be joining these celebrations with a major fireworks display in Weymouth Bay,  beacon lighting and live music coming from Nothe Fort where a Queen tribute band will perform.

Bands and live music will play for crowds throughout the weekend from Wessex Folk Festival and Quayside Music Festival on Weymouth harbour.

Other events include a D-Day picnic at Nothe Gardens, Sail Past- a parade of boats, Sail for Gold at the Wey-mouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Passage to Portland at Portland Marina, an international triathlon on Wey-mouth Sea-front and the Hardy Country Vintage and Classic Vehicle Run.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is hoping to build on the area’s great reputation to host community street  parties.

For more information visit www.dorsetecho.co.uk  or www.visitweymouth.co.uk

Maritime Mix London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea will offer a huge range of live attractions uniting individuals and communities with the borough of Weymouth and Portland at its heart.

The start of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Sailing will be clebrated witha three day mass clebration on Weymouth Beach.  This will include Battle of the Winds an epic outdoor theatrical performance from Cirque Bijou and Desperate Men. Coastal Voices on July 27th will see community choirs present new musical compositions from John Surman, Sonia Slaney, John K Miles, Billy Bragg and Marc Yeats.

Full details of all the events can be found at the link above.