E: [email protected] | T: 01305 866000
The Academy has been developed with access for all in mind. It was previously the training base for the British Sailing Team Paralympic squad, and the same facilities are available to all.
The site and building are fully accessible to wheelchair users with a lift at either end of the building. There are accessible toilets and changing facilities, and a personal hoist is available. Please ask at Reception or call in advance for it to be placed in a particular changing room or toilet. All signage around the building is tactile and subtitled in Braille and there is a portable induction loop for use within the building. Finally, extra wide pontoon fingers were installed to ease wheelchair access and hydraulic hoists are situated on the pontoons.
"I love training in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour as they offer a wide range of sailing conditions. The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy is an unbeatable venue for disabled sailors with new, purpose-built, facilities. For example, there are disabled access hoists on the pontoons, providing the safest access to tidal waters for people with disabilities anywhere in the UK. I don’t know of any other sailing venue where the needs of sailors of all abilities are so well catered for.”
Helena Lucas MBE, Paralympic Gold Medallist
The car park nearest to the building has six blue badge holder spaces and there is flat access from the car park to the building. The postcode for satnav is DT5 1SA.
The nearest railway station is in the centre of Weymouth, which is a 20-minute road journey to the Academy. Both the number 1 and 501 buses stop outside of Weymouth Railway Station.
South Western Railway assisted travel information: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/assisted-travel
South Western Railway assisted travel helpline: 0800 528 2100 (freephone)
The following taxi firms are able to provide accessible vehicles:
Weyline Taxis, Weymouth 01305 777777 http://www.weyline.com/
Steves Cabs Weymouth 07791 534415
The local buses are run by First Bus. The 501 route stops outside of WPNSA; however, this is currently a limited summer service. The nearest bus stop for when the 501 route is not running is at Victoria Square which is 0.6 miles away and is the number 1 route. There are not any hills on the journey from Victoria Square to the Academy.
First Bus accessibility information: https://www.firstgroup.com/bus-accessibility
First Bus Customer Services: 0345 646 0707
National Express offers accessible direct coach travel from London to Weymouth. Other routes will involve indirect travel. For details on routes, timings and cost, please see their website or call their Assisted Travel Team.
National Express accessibility information: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/accessibility
National Express Assisted Travel Team: 03717 818181
Visit Dorset Accommodation Information
https://www.visit-dorset.com/accommodation/accessible
RYA Portland House
The Royal Yachting Association have Portland House which is a 10-minute walk to WPNSA (on flat ground). It has dedicated accessible rooms.https://www.rya.org.uk/contact-us/rya-portland-house/Pages/hub.aspx
Waterside Holiday Group
The Waterside Holiday Group have accessible caravans. There are three at Chesil Vista which is a five-minute drive from WPNSA and five at Waterside Holiday Park & Spa.For more information please see: https://www.watersideholidaygroup.co.uk/accessibility/
Elevated Accessibile Holiday Homes
Elevated have an adapted accessibility home in Lanehouse Rocks Road which is approximately 3 miles from WPNSA or 10 to 15 minute drive.
For more information, please see https://book.elevatedshortstaymanagement.co.uk/en-GB/p/united-kingdom/dorset/weymouth/-lanehouse-rocks/lanehouserocksdt4?
Our cafeteria is open daily to the general public. It is on the first floor of the building, but there are two lifts for access. The cafeteria staff are happy to assist with any orders and we have a large print menu available. Please ask the staff for a copy.
Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere onsite; however, we do ask that they are kept on a lead at all times. Water bowls are provided for dogs. We do ask that any mess is cleared up; if you need assistance with this please ask a member of staff. WPNSA is adjacent to Hamm Beach which has no restriction on dogs being on the lead, however, the ground is uneven. For other places to walk your dog locally, please ask at Reception or any member of staff would be happy to find out for you.
One of the Academy’s onsite partners is Chesil Sailability. It offers opportunities for all to have access to sailing. For more information, please see the Chesil Sailability page on our website.
For information on access to sailing in other areas of the UK, please see the Royal Yachting Association’s Sailability programme webpage: https://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/rya-sailability/Pages/hub.aspx
WPNSA is registered on Euan’s Guide: https://www.euansguide.com/venues/weymouth-and-portland-national-sailing-academy-portland-10804
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