WEYMOUTH is gearing up for aquatic excitement as Waterfest Weymouth takes place on September 6 and 7.

The two-day festival aims to celebrate the maritime history of Weymouth and there will be a wide variety of events and activities over the weekend, including kayaking and sailing taster sessions plus the chance to sample local seafood at stalls ranging from Portland crab and oysters to scallops and sea bass.

Crowds will be able to board the Gypsy Moth IV, the sailing ship which Sir Francis Chichester used to become the first person to sail around the world.

Three-masted Newfoundland schooner tall ship Le Marité is also set to visit and will be sailing in from Granville, Normandy.

There will even be a demonstration of the UK’s first flyboard experience courtesy of Poole company Acqua Jet Packs, whose jetpacks are powered by water jets connected to a jetski and can propel riders up to 10m in the air.

The Historical Diving Society, which visited the Dorset Seafood Festival in the past, will be demonstrating their diving equipment in a mobile dive tank on the quayside.

And the research vessel for the Ship Wreck Project, RV Coastal Guardian will also be demonstrating nautical equipment.

Custom House Quay and Trinity Road will be a hive of activity with displays from Weymouth Sea Cadets, lobster pot making, boat building, art, and street theatre.

Younger visitors will also have the chance to operate Weymouth Sealife Centre’s giant Percy the Seahorse sculpture, which will tour the festival site.

Alistair Clarke, chairman of Weymouth Business Improvement District, said the event could have a significant positive impact on Weymouth tourism.

He said: “We are working with Roger Dalton, who organised the seafood festival, so he’s the ideal person for this. It’s good to focus on Weymouth’s maritime history and it will be a chance to support businesses outside of the summer season.

“We are building things up slowly in advance of the event so watch this space as it develops, because it’s set to be really exciting.”

Waterfest Weymouth will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday September 6, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday September 7.

For more information call Weymouth BID on 01305 779410 or visit weymouthbid.co.uk