The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPSNA) Open Handicap regatta, which combines coaching, fleet sailing and racing, will allow competitors to race on the Olympic waters over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The two-day event will feature three handicapped races per day on the same course, inclusive of all classes - giving the many competitors the opportunity to race in the big fleet.

Entrants are allowed support and advice from top Olympic coaches on Friday August 23, the day prior to the races getting underway.

The stretch of waters aspires to build on the lasting legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics by offering out their top-class on-site facilities for 2013.

Weymouth and Portland, which hosted the sailing during the Olympics and Paralympics last year, will play host to the two-day Open Handicapp regatta this August Bank Holiday weekend

John Tweed, chief executive of the WPNSA said: We are really looking forward to the annual handicap regatta, it is designed to be accessible to as many classes as possible, and provide an enjoyable but still competitive weekend sailing and racing on Olympic waters.

"There will be a WPNSA Regatta Cup awarded and the event will not be one-off, but be part of a programme to ensure there is a continuing and lasting legacy in Dorset and the United Kingdom."

An all classes pursuit race, run under the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme, will be held on the Bank Holiday Monday.

The pursuit race allows boats of different classes to race together, starting at different times with the intention of them all crossing the finish line together on the Olympic medal race course at the Nothe.

A variety of charted boats will be provided by SailLaser, the on-site school, to allow those who do not have their own boats to race.

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