DORSET will be hanging out the bunting and getting ready to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in style.

Across the county communities are gearing up to celebrate all things British with street parties, fancy dress, afternoon tea and Union Jacks.

Saturday’s Dorset Echo will feature a 16-page supplement commemorating the Queen’s links with Dorset and her visits to the county over the years.

As well as plenty of news and pictures on Monday and Tuesday, we’ll be presenting another Jubilee supplement next Wednesday featuring 16 pages of pictures from street parties across the area.

As part of the Jubilee weekend celebrations, the Royal Yachting Association will be celebrating with its three-day Passage to Portland.

The event aims to attract up to 100 sail and motor cruisers to the borough in a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Weymouth’s double-Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton will be taking part and providing a commentary during next week’s Skandia Sail for Gold regatta.

On Sunday the Passage to Portland boats will be joining Weymouth’s Diamond Jubilee Parade of Boats in the morning.

The boat parade will begin at 10am with a normal bridge lift and will include a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) demonstration off Weymouth pier-head at 10.20am.

Passage to Portland participants will also have the chance to look around the Olympic and Paralympic sailing venue, hosted by RYA racing manager John Derby-shire, and to look at – and possibly sail – the remarkable ‘Boat Project’.

The 30ft seafaring vessel, made from donated wooden items, is one of 12 public art commissions from across the UK celebrating the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Celia Edgington, event co-ordinator said: “Participants simply need to join us in Portland, where we have pre-booked berths for three nights at Portland Marina and enjoy the event.

“There will be the opportunity to watch the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, taking place on Sunday, June 3, which we will be showing on big screen televisions.

“Then in the evening, Portland Castle becomes the perfect setting for our fantastic Queen’s Diamond Jubilee dinner and party.”

To find out more about the celebrations, or to book a place, visit <&bh"http://www.rya.org.uk/go/p2p">the website www.rya.org.uk/go/p2p<&eh>

Pelican to take part in Thames flotilla

BOATS from Dorset will be taking part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee flotilla in London.

The thousand-strong flotilla on Sunday will feature a group of teenage rowers from Weymouth Rowing club and the Tall Ship Pelican.

Also taking part will be ex-harbour defence boat Medusa which was based in Weymouth for many years in the 60s and 70s.

It will be the largest flotilla in modern times on the river with thousands of boats dressed with streamers and flags.

The TS Pelican is currently on its way to London. Ben Swain, second officer aboard the Pelican said: “As you are reading this, the ship – and its 20-strong trainee crew – are rapidly approaching the Thames Estuary which we shall be entering later today.

“I then hope to take the helm as we take the tide up the river until we are just down-stream of Tower Bridge. We will then be berthed in the Avenue of Sail ready to take part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

“We are fully stocked up on Union Jack bunting, flags and all kinds of other patriotic decorations, as well as having a fresh paint-job, which we hope the Queen will appreciate as she passes us.”