THE Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre (ASSC) will be celebrating their second birthday with an action-packed open day.

The event will run on Saturday, May 14 from the centre, which is based at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.

There will be a number of exciting activities on offer and Rosie Bain of the ASSC said: “The aim of the day is to provide a fun family day out where the community can try sailing for free.

“They will be able to enjoy a range of activities from other local businesses we work with such as fossil digging and a Jurassic Crime Scene Investigation activity from the YHA Portland, mini-stone carvings with the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust, stand-up paddleboarding and windsurfing taster sessions, our famous cardboard boat race (anyone can enter), plus many more!

“We will be putting on a barbecue and are crossing everything for some sunshine.”

The day will run from 11am-4pm and anyone wishing to find out more can contact the ASSC on 01305 457400.

It will be a great opportunity for trying the many things on offer and all will be made welcome.

The open day will be entirely in the spirit of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation which was set up in memory of Olympic gold and silver medallist and America’s Cup sailor, Andrew Simpson, who died in the capsize of the catamaran he was crewing in 2013, while training in San Francisco Bay.

The foundation is providing the challenges of a sailing environment to promote health and wellbeing and to develop personal skills that will improve a young person’s ability to succeed in life and work.

They recognise sailing as a sport and as a recreation that is not always accessible to all owing to lack of finance, a physical or learning disability, mental health or social barriers and help to break down those barriers by working with sailing providers to offer financial and practical support.