WEYMOUTH has beaten rival bids from across the world to host a major international Sailing regatta.

Spectators will head for the resort in September, 2005, to watch more than 450 top competitors in the world championships of the popular J24 class.

Tourism bosses say the event will be a massive end-of-season boost for the resort and will put Weymouth on the international sailing map for hosting further prestigious keel-boat regattas.

Top sailor Bob Turner, of Weymouth, put the town's bid to the J24 class's world council at a meeting in Genoa. The council returned a unanimous verdict in favour of the proposal.

Weymouth's bid was backed by the UK J24 authority after the success of two national championships in the class at the resort in 2001 and 2000.

Rival proposals came from sailing capitals across Europe and the Americas.

Mr Turner, who competes in next year's J24 world championships in Canada, said: "Weymouth's bid was seen as being very robust, with all the elements there - superb sailing, strength of organisation and excellent town facilities.

"Weymouth already has a good reputation for holding this kind of event for dinghies, but this is our first major keel-boat regatta. If the J24s put on a good show, there will be other keel-boat classes which will want to come here."

The regatta will see more than 80 boats, each carrying up to six crew, from 25 countries. Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy will handle the scrutineering, with racing run from Weymouth Harbour.

David Dunn, chairman of the Yacht Clubs of Weymouth, which will manage the event and provide facilities at sea and on land, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting such a prestigious regatta. It's a massive job, but we have been involved in several dinghy world championships, including the Finn Gold Cup in 1999, and are looking forward to it."

Derek Abbott will be principal race officer, heading an international committee of judges.

Steve Davies, of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's tourism department, said: "It's a fantastic boost for the town and a tribute to the hard work put in on the bid."