THOUSANDS of extra visitors are expected to descend on Weymouth and Portland from this weekend for an annual maritime festival.

The nine-day Spirit of the Sea Festival starts on Saturday with more than 44 events including music, performance, arts and water sports.

Last year’s inaugural event attracted 35,000 extra visitors and boosted the local economy by more than £1.4 million.

The 2009 Spirit of the Sea promises to be bigger and better than ever as Weymouth and Portland gears up to host the sailing and windsurfing championships for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The festival aims to celebrate the area’s rich maritime and cultural relationship with the sea.

Among this year’s attractions will be Beach Live, a free nine-day display of live music and performance that will encompass rock, pop, folk, jazz and blues.

This will be based around a roadshow stage unit located at the Pavilion end of Weymouth Beach and include a Schools Battle of the Bands on Friday, July 10, with one band from each of the borough’s secondary schools performing in front of a panel of judges.

With more than 50 hours of live entertainment to a potential audience of over 10,000, Beach Live will run from Saturday, July 4, until Sunday, July 12, from 2pm until 10pm at weekends and from 6pm to 10pm on weekdays.

Other highlights will include discounted taster sessions in sailing at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, scuba diving and snorkelling at the Riviera Hotel in Weymouth courtesy of C-Waves Diving, windsurfing run by Windtek Watersports in Wyke Regis and kayaking at Overcombe beach.

The Universal Big Gig regatta, hosted by Weymouth Rowing Club will also be returning for another year and the steam ship Shieldhall will also be in attendance.

Spirit of the Sea organisers are delighted to have the world class National Boat Shows – staged in London and Southampton – as premier partners for this year’s maritime festival.

The Henri Lloyd Weymouth Regatta is also backing the Spirit of the Sea regatta for the fourth year running from Thursday, July 9 until Sunday, July 12.

To find out more and see the full line-up visit www.spiritofthesea.org.uk