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The event was secured by the Yacht Clubs of Weymouth Championship Committee (YCWCC) back in 1999 and it will be the first time Weymouth has played host to the J/24 World Championship. Princess Anne was invited to attend by the Royal Yachting Association and the YCWCC.

Princess Anne will be accompanied on the water by officials from the YCWCC and the J/24 Class Association, where she will watch the racing at close quarters.

Once ashore in Weymouth Harbour, Princess Anne will take time to meet and chat to the participating crews, before meeting some of the organizers and volunteers who have worked meticulously to ensure the event is run with total professionalism to be enjoyed by all visiting crews.

In recognition of Princess Anne's position as Patron of the charity Save the Children, the title sponsor of the Championship, Basilica Computing Ltd, have arranged for the Global Challenge racing yacht, Team Save the Children, to be berthed in Weymouth Harbour from the evening of Wednesday 14 September and sailing back to her home port after Princess Anne's visit on the Thursday.

Chairman of YCWCC Dave DUNN said, 'It is a great honour that Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal is taking valuable time out to come to Weymouth and watch some of the world's top sailors competing in the Basilica J/24 World Championship. The crews are excited at the prospect of meeting a member of the Royal Family, especially one who is particularly interested and supportive of sailing and is the President of the Royal Yachting Association.'

This will be the first World Championship sailing event to be staged in these waters since the announcement that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competition will be held in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour.

54 boats from 15 countries will be berthed in Weymouth Harbour with racing taking place in Weymouth Bay from 12-16 September.