For its 15th year Paddle Round The Pier has created a new beach on Brighton’s seafront, using 100 tonnes of sand.

It’s just one of the additions to the free festival’s biggest ever event, having grown steadily since its inception in 1996.

“I wouldn’t like to have done this from scratch,”

admits organiser David Samuel, who launched the festival and has run it ever year aside from a two-year break when he was out of the country.

“I don’t think we make enough of the natural facilities we have on the seafront. This is a celebration of that.”

On the water the festival is best known for its Paddle Something Unusual, which takes place at noon on Sunday, with daredevil paddlers getting sponsored to take something around the West Pier.

“I’ve been taking two or three phone calls a day over the past two months about Paddle Something Unusual,” says Samuel.

“It’s become Brighton’s Birdman. It keeps the memory of the West Pier alive – if it was ever knocked down we would build our own for this!

“A lot of people are keeping their designs under wraps, but I have seen a picture of a full-sized aeroplane, and there’s a rumour Ann Summers is going to paddle something around.

“We have even got big firms like KPMG entering a team this year, which shows how much it’s growing.”

All the craft are inspected for safety and subject to a float test before being allowed to set sail. They have to be registered before 9am on the day before being put on display so they can be admired by visitors.

Each craft has to carry a minimum of two people, and can only be powered by paddle. All sponsorship money raised goes to the RNLI, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Surf Relief UK.

The mass paddle, using canoes, body and surf boards, takes place at 2pm on Sunday, with the aim of filling the water with seacraft.

And throughout the two days there are serious competitions for watersports enthusiasts, ranging from a pier-to-pier race for Malibu surfboards to a dinghy sailing regatta, plus a series of 20-mile endurance races.

Some will be competing for special bespoke trophies which have been donated to the festival by jewellers Jeremy Hoye.

But Paddle Round The Pier isn’t just about the water, with plenty of land-based activities on offer in the massive Paddle Village, which covers 84,000 square metres.

“It’s a family day out,” says Samuel. “It’s a bit like a church fete which has had a few too many steroids – there’s something for everybody.”

This year for the first time the village includes an extensive skatepark and the artificial sandy beach, which is currently being used by schoolchildren for surf life-saving sessions.

During the weekend it will provide a home to beach volleyball and sandcastle building competitions. The skatepark will be open today from 4.30pm for Skating NOT Prohibited, a night of tricks, have-a-go sessions, raffle prizes and films in the Paddle Village’s big top, including a documentary shot in and around Brighton.

Over the weekend there will be the chance to try Kamikaze Tarp Surfing, big stick land paddling, slalom racing, and join in the Brighton and Hove TAKEPART Festival Of Sport.

Plus there is a range of trade stalls, a ukulele jamboree at 10.30am on Sunday, a children’s corner, food court and a wide programmeof local live bands, including former Download Of The Week stars Carnival Collective and The Morning Orchestra.

What makes it all the more amazing is that Paddle Round The Pier is still run by volunteers, and is still free to enter.

“It has really grown in popularity and become a Brighton event,” says Samuel.

“Outside of Pride and the marathon I’d say we are the biggest event in the city. I’m always desperate to keep it free, although we are asking for a £1 suggested donation to go to charity.

“We don’t have a sponsor this year, so the money has come from the exhibitors who pay a little bit for their spots. We have broken even, so any money we can give to charity will come from on-the-door donations.”

The only thing to do now is pray for good weather – although Samuel says the event is now too big to cancel.

“The only time we have cancelled was when there was a force-eight gale, which was unheard of,” says Samuel.

“We had 20,000 visitors come down on the Saturday that weekend, and about 20 on the Sunday. Luckily this year the forecast looks to be tremendous for us.”

* Skating NOT Prohibited starts onight 4.30pm to 9pm, registration starts am tomorrow and Sunday, Paddle Village pens 9am tomorrow nd Sunday, free.

Visit www.paddleroundthepier.com