The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events may still be two years away, but Weymouth and Portland’s sailors can already see the benefits thanks to investment in a new crane at Weymouth Sailing Club.

Officially commissioned on Tuesday 18 May by the Royal Yachting Association’s Olympic Manager Stephen Park OBE and Britain’s Beijing 2008 sailing medallists, the crane is the only one of its kind in the port of Weymouth.

Funded through sponsorship from Skandia Team GBR, Yachting New Zealand and the French Sailing Federation, the crane will provide a tangible and lasting legacy for local sailors.

The welcome arrival of Spring weather has allowed volunteer teams of club members to complete work to the Squib pontoons and to the hard standing area adjacent to the new crane.    Preparation work has been going on all week to the area around the crane in Hooker's Dock and with a delivery of concrete on Friday the job will be completed by the end of the week.  This work finalises the installation of the new crane and makes a good working area for lifting and storing boats. 

The Squib pontoon furthest from the club has been out of the water all winter.  New floats have been built and new pontoon arms purchased.  Today a large team of Squibbers under the leadership of John Croydon worked to install the decking ready for the pontoon to be lifted back into the water.  With the weather in its present good mood there will be a queue of Squibs anxious to moor onto it.

 When you are racing in the Bay this summer, you may be surprised to see a new shaped mark on the course.

'T' mark has been changed to a yellow column shaped object.   It will be fitted with a radar reflector before launching on Saturday and will be ready for the first spring series race this Sunday.

No excuses for going to the wrong mark now!