Editor's note: MainSail is CNN's monthly sailing show, exploring the sport of sailing, luxury travel and the latest in design and technology.
London, England (CNN) -- Nestled in a sheltered bay
on the English Channel coast, Weymouth is one of Britain's most
picturesque seaside towns. As the home to the Weymouth and Portland British National Sailing Academy it was the obvious choice to host all sailing events during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Located in the English
county of Dorset, and smack bang in the middle of what is known as the
"Jurassic Coast" -- a rocky and dramatic 153 kilometer coastline dating
back 185 million years -- this area is arguably one of the most
historically interesting regions in the UK.
In 1348 it played a
pivotal role in the spread of the Black Death, it was a major departure
point for the settlement of the Americas and a critical location for
Britain's defense during World War II.
See also: Beheaded Vikings found at Olympic site
It also has a great
cultural heritage and its spectacular vistas and dynamic seas have
inspired many great British novelists such as Thomas Hardy and Ian
McEwan, who even chose one of Dorset's beaches, Chesil Beach, as the
title for one of his most celebrated novels.
Throughout the summer,
Weymouth and the surrounding towns and villages, are hosting countless
events to celebrate the homecoming of the Olympic Games. To make your
life easier CNN has selected some of the most interesting events and
must-see tourist attractions right here.
Olympic venues prepare for sailing
Sailing at the Olympics
Which sailors will take Olympic gold?
Sailors compete for Olympic selection
Going for the Gold
Weymouth & Portland Live
For anyone visiting Weymouth during the Olympics a trip to the Weymouth & Portland Live
site is a must. Located in the center of Weymouth and overlooking its
golden beach, the venue will show all sailing and other major Olympic
events live on two giant 60 square meter television screens. During the
Games 15,000 people are expected to visit the area each day. The free
site opens its doors on Friday July 27 when it will be showing the
Olympic opening ceremony, followed by a big firework display in Weymouth
Bay.
Interactive sports arena
If watching sports doesn't tire you out then a visit to the interactive sports arena
might. Targeting the more active sports fans this venue lets visitors
try out some of Britain's favorite sports including football, rugby,
volleyball, cricket, bowling, sailing and kayaking. It is located right
next to the Live Site and will be open July 27 - August 12.
Maritime Mix
Branded as the "London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea" the Maritime Mix is one of the most ambitious cultural events ever put on in Dorset. It is an official part of the UK-wide London 2012 Festival
which celebrates the best of British cultural life during the Olympic
year. There are more than 80 free separate events featuring visual arts,
music, choral performances, outdoor theater and circus, earth sciences,
sound installations, video projection, dance and participative street
celebrations.
The Bayside Festival
For those who want to enjoy a bit of fun, light entertainment and plenty of cold beers during the Olympics, the Bayside Festival
is likely to be the a popular pit stop. Located on the Weymouth
peninsula the festival, which has a capacity of 9,000 people, will
feature a wide range of music and entertainment along with lots of
shops, food stalls and bars.
For history buffs
there's the Olympic Sailing Heritage Exhibition, military displays and a
chance to board the classic cruise ship MV Balmoral for a tour of the
Jurassic Coast.
Sea Life Tower
Rising 53 meter over Weymouth's Festival Pier this newly opened tower
offers some stunning bird's eye views over the Olympic sailing arena.
On a clear day the tower's slowly revolving observation deck reveals
panoramic views of Weymouth Bay, the English Channel and the Jurassic
Coast.
b-side festival
For the third year in a
row this contemporary art festival is being held in Weymouth, and this
year it runs throughout the Olympics and Paralympics. The b-side festival
features cutting edge British and international artists from Europe,
the U.S. and China who are showcasing new commissions on the theme of
"margins, boundaries, portals and departure points" using visual art,
digital media, performance and film to display their work.
According to organizers
the aim of the festival is to "delight and provoke in equal measures"
and with a program featuring "misguided" tours, telepathic drawing
experiments, sound installations, film programs and interactive signage
located in pubs, churches, alleyways, swimming pools and car parks it
sounds like it will stay true to its word.
Jurassic Coast
For those adventurous enough to go sightseeing around Dorset there is plenty to see even after the Olympics. The Jurassic Coast
was England's first UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must see
attraction for anyone visiting Dorset. It covers 95 miles of dramatic
coastline and features rocks dating back 185 million years -- spanning
the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
The coastline has plenty
of fossils, dinosaur prints and geological marvels such as the 28
kilometer long barrier beach Chesil Beach and Lulworth Cove, which
attracts half a million tourists a year. One of the best ways to see the
Jurassic Coast is by sea so if you left your own boat at home you can
easily hop on a boat trip from any of the gateway towns
along the coast. For those who want to explore the coast by foot the
1000 kilometer (630 miles) long South West Coast Path National Trail
offers plenty of coastal adventures.
Inside Out Dorset festival
Held on the limestone island of Portland a few kilometers south of Weymouth, the Inside Out Dorset festival
is free event that has been running since 2005. It aims to make art
accessible and less "intimidating" and this year it runs from August 31-
September 9. One of the year's highlights is the Harmonic Fields -- a
sensory art installation featuring an ensemble of 500 instruments being
played by the strong Dorset wind.
Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival
is the "little sister" of the very popular music festival Bestival,
both organised by radio DJ Rob Da Bank. Held annually at the end of July
at the majestic Lulworth Castle it is not the average raucous British
festival but one for music-loving families with small children. It won
the Best New Festival in the UK Festival Awards in 2008 and this year
bands like Happy Mondays, Hot Chip, Kool & the Gang, Jimmy Cliff and
Rolf Harris are performing.
Sumber : CNN
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