Here are two places to get a great view of the Olympic medal race course for free while keeping your lunch options open
If you haven’t got tickets for the official Olympic sailing spectator area at the Nothe, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the action on the medal race course.
In fact, just around the corner from what could turn out to be the most controversial spectator arena of the Games, are a few handy vantage points that not only provide a superb view of the Olympic sailing course area for free, but are a stone’s throw from a number of quaint quayside pubs, restaurants and cafes.
You’re unlikely to find these vantage points on the official guides, but here’s a couple of maps showing where they are.
The Brewer’s Quay area is on the south side of the town’s harbour. There are good pubs and cafes there plus if you walk towards the old Qinetic premises along Newtons Road there’s a great vantage point for the medal race course which is within a few minutes walking distance of the pubs.
(Actually both sides of the harbour offer some good pubs and restaurants and this area has recently under gone a tidy up.)
For an even better view, walk up onto the public green near Barley Way where you get and elevated view of the medal race course area plus the whole of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour.
Osmington Mills
Alternatively there’s a good pub on the other side of Weymouth Bay, the Smuggler’s Arms at Osmington Mills where there is a small car park that overlooks the race course area.
Elaine Bunting is investigating whether you can see the Olympic sailing course from the Smuggler’s Arms and will be reporting back in the next few days.