We are delighted that Haven Holidays have agreed to become a Partner for this year’s Spirit of The Sea Maritime Festival.

As Britain’s leading family holiday company and with three holiday parks in Weymouth, Haven Holidays attracts thousands of holidaymakers to the resort every week during the summer season and plays a vital role in the local economy.

In addition Haven has invested millions in upgrading the three parks, Littlesea Holiday Park at Chickerell and Weymouth Bay and Seaview Holiday Parks at Preston so they continue to attract more holidaymakers to the area.

Dave Bennett, General Manager for Littlesea Holiday Park says “We are very happy to support the activities comprising this year’s ‘Spirit of The Sea’ Weymouth & Portland Maritime Festival. The company has watched the Festival grow in size, become impressed with its organisation and wishes to benefit by being an integral part of the event. Being just outside of the main summer season, the company believes the timing is ideal to attract even more visitors.

There’s a the chance to win a fabulous Haven holiday. You can enter the competition via the website of ‘The Spirit of The Sea’ Maritime Festival – www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

‘Spirit of The Sea’ Chairman Jeremy Pope was pleased to learn of the support of Haven Holidays. He said that having such a well-known tourist company lending their name to the Festival can only generate more interest and success all round.

For more information about Haven visit www.haven.com or call 0871 230 1900

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Notes to editors

Haven Holidays is part of Bourne Leisure Ltd who own Warner Leisure Hotels and Butlins Resorts and were awarded Best UK Operator 2009 by Travel Trade Gazette.

www.Haven.com Holiday homes are also available for purchase on Haven Holiday parks. Click on www.havenholidayhomes.co.uk for details

For media information on Haven contact info@aboutwords.co.uk or call Deborah McCabe on 01444 235 154.

For more information on the ‘Spirit of the Sea – Weymouth & Portland Maritime Festival please call Event Manager, Roy Griffiths on 01305 832512 www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

Spirit of the Sea is a nine day festival of independently organised and funded marine events that sit under the title name ‘Spirit Of The Sea’. The festival is being coordinated by a team of representatives from local business, local government, clubs and organisations who are looking to raise the profile of Weymouth & Portland’s maritime-related events under this title name. The overall objective is to build the ‘Spirit of the Sea’ brand over the next four years and beyond so that it contributes to a lasting legacy for the Borough from its role as sailing venue for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

Cornish Pilot Gig rowers are set to descend on Weymouth for a Big Gig extravaganza on Saturday, 3 July and Sunday 4 July.

Teams from Torridge, Lyme Regis, Ilfracombe, Swanage, Bude, Teignmouth, Bristol and Bridport will join Weymouth Rowing Club in the Universal Engineering-backed Weymouth Gig Rowing Regatta – as part of the Spirit of the Sea Festival.

The gigs will be leaving from pontoons in front of the kiosk at the foot of the stone pier and spectators are being encouraged to gather at the Nothe Gardens (overlooking Newtons Cove) to get the best view of the races.

On Saturday the racing will kick off at 10am and finish at 6:30pm. On Sunday there will be sprint racing in Newton’s Cove from 10am until 4pm for the Mens and Ladies crews to improve on their race position from the Saturday.

People are urged to cheer on their local club, who will be in the Club’s green and yellow gigs – Tristan, Isolde, Penny and Sir Tristan.

The event offers the chance to see the biggest meeting of Cornish Pilot Gigs in Dorset, and will give local residents an opportunity to see the Club’s Mens A Crew on home waters after their recent successful World Championships in the Isles of Scilly.

Press are invited to the launch of the gigs for the first race on Saturday 3 July at 9:15am by the pontoons at the Stone Pier.

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For further information please contact:

Steve Barsky, Press Officer for Weymouth Rowing Club
T 07879 688868 E barsky300percent@hotmail.co.uk
www.weymouthrowingclub.org

Organisers of the borough’s annual maritime festival ‘Spirit of the Sea’ are pleased to report an increase in the number of water sports that will be available for participants at this year’s event. As before, there will be taster sessions for the popular sports of sailing, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and kite surfing. New for this year will be paddle boarding and fishing.

Those interested in trying to sail are advised to contact Sail Laser based at Osprey Quay. Taster sessions with a qualified RYA instructor start at just £10 for a single adult and £20 for a family of up to four. For more adventurous sailors there are courses to advise on those interested in racing.

The popular pastime of fishing is featured for the first time at the Festival. Weymouth Angling Centre and Moonfleet Angling invite participants to try their luck in Weymouth Harbour with bait and tackle for just £5.

Kayaking can be tried at no cost with the qualified staff of Second Wind Watersports at Overcombe beach during their demo days. Second Wind also provide Kayaking tours along the Jurassic Coast.

Taster sessions for scuba diving and snorkelling are available next to the Riviera Hotel at Bowleaze with C-Waves Diving at a cost of £10.

Windsurfing taster sessions are available for £10 at Osprey Quay where there is the official test centre known as OTC.

For the more adventurous the exciting sport of kitesurfing can be tried for £25 with Paracademy Extreme Sports Centre located near Victoria Square at Portland.

Windtek at Ferrybridge provide taster sessions of an hour and a half to cover the three sports of kayaking, windsurfing and paddleboarding. The experience can be enjoyed for just £10.

The Blue Gym Taster sessions are one of the signature events of this year’s Spirit of the Sea Festival. There will be around 50 events in total taking place around the borough celebrating the area’s close relationship with the sea. The maritime festival takes place between 3rd - 16th July 2010 and, to experience the innovative taster sessions, interested parties are advised to check out the Festival’s website www.spiritofthesea.org.uk for taster session dates and booking information

Blue Gym www.bluegym.org.uk is backed by the Environment Agency, this is a social networking resource designed to encourage recreation at the coast and will help to make water accessible and relevant to everyone. Whether one is an individual or in a group, a genuine respect for the environment is the common interest. The activities can be enjoyed in a competitive or in a leisurely manner, just as suits each individual. Such recreation benefits the local economy and the social well-being of the community.

ASA South West Region

On Sunday 4th July 2010 one hundred and forty six swimmers from all walks of life and covering many ages will be making their way to Preston Beach, Weymouth, for the 14th Open Water Swimming Championships.

This event is proving to be very popular with open water swimmers from around the country and this year has again attracted a large entry thus ensuring its place as one of the top open water events in Great Britain.

With Dorset interest to the fore, there are many swimmers from swimming clubs in the area who will be competing for the various honours in the different races. Judging by previous year’s results some of the local swimmers will again show they have the will to win!

At this year’s Championships the ASA South West Region will be honoured by a visit from the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr. Paul Kimber and his Escort. Also attending will be the ASA South West Region President, Mr. John Bird, President of Dorset ASA, Mrs. M. Rousell, President of Somerset ASA, Mr. P. Gonsalves and the President of Cornwall ASA, Mrs. S. Gabriel.

The event will commence at 10.00am with the swimmers lined up for the 5Km race. Starting at 12.15pm a new “taster” event of 750m will take place for young swimmers who have not raced in the sea previously. In the afternoon starting at 2.00pm the swimmers will take their place in the water to compete in either a 3Km race or a 1.5Km race. The Mayor of Weymouth and Portland will start the 5Km race in the morning and the President of the ASA South West Region will start the races in the afternoon.

The ASA South West Region acknowledges with grateful thanks the enthusiastic help and support that is given by the Borough Council, the Sea Cadet Training Centre, the Poole Harbour Canoe Lifeguards, St. John Ambulance, the Weymouth South Scout Group and many local people to ensure the Championships retains its position as a major event in Great Britain.

PART OF THE SPIRIT OF THE SEA WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND MARITIME FESTIVAL 3rd – 16th July 2010

‘Plangent Whisper, ‘A dance work that will be performed at Portland Bill and Marine X

Spirit of the Sea Festival

Portland Bill, 1:00pm Saturday and Sunday 3/4 July 2010

MarineEx, 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday 3/4 July 2010

Admission is free. Donations kindly accepted.

Gravity’s Angel Dance Company and the Spirit of the Sea Festival proudly present ‘Plangent Whisper,’ a contemporary dance work that will be performed in Portland during the Spirit of the Sea Festival.

Local students from the Wey Valley School and Sports College in Weymouth are also involved in the dance work and they will be performing alongside Gravity’s Angel Dance Company. Portland Bill and Marine X are the places that the dance work will be performed and were chosen by the choreographer, Suzanne Cantwell Birkin, for their striking views and dramatic beauty.

Gravity’s Angel Dance Company and the Spirit of the Sea Festival present ‘Plangent Whisper’ at 1:00pm at Portland Bill and 2:30pm at Marine X on Saturday and Sunday 3/4 July 2010.

Contact details: Suzanne Cantwell Birkin/Mobile:07742939756 / email: gravitysangel@btinternet.com