The event will take place at The Poole Yacht Club from September 6 until 14 but Robertson, a double Sonar world champion is more commonly found at the back of the three-person Paralympic keelboat with crewmates Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas.

The trio represented Britain at London 2012 where they finished in fifth place while their campaign for Rio 2016 gets underway this year, where Robertson, Stodel and Thomas plan to compete at as many of the five new EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup events as possible plus the 2013 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships in Ireland in August.

But 41-year-old Robertson, who was paralysed from the chest down as a result of a motorbike accident in 1994, admits the chance to take part in another World Championship event on familiar waters in Dorset was too good to turn down.

"Although I still live in Sunderland, I'm based much of the time at Weymouth and Portland," Robertson said.

"With this event being just down the road from Weymouth it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some more quality racing time under my belt this year."

Robertson made history when he became the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar sailing to helm his crew to back-to-back IFDS World titles in 2005 and 2006.

He, Stodel and Thomas also have two World Championship silver and two bronze medals to their credit.

After finishing sixth at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, the trio's hopes for a London 2012 medal remain in the balance when, after a controversial points' penalty denied them a 2012 bronze medal, their case was referred to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS).

The case is due to be heard in CAS in Lausanne next month on April 29 and 30 but Robertson prefers to focus on the on the 2.4 Metre Open World Championships.

"I've done a little bit of 2.4mR sailing before," he said.

"With their type of disabilities it's maybe a bit easier for Hannah and Steve to sail and race any type of boat really, but for me it is not so easy.

"The 2.4mR is a boat I can sail and that you are guaranteed to get some good racing in. It will feel a bit strange sailing on my own I'm sure but I'm looking forward to the event."

Robertson joins fellow British Sailing teammates, Helena Lucas, the reigning Paralympic champion in the event, and Megan Pascoe, on the 2.4mR Worlds entry list.

The International 2.4mR World Championships are one of the most unusual sailing events on the international racing calendar with Paralympic and both able-bodied and disabled elite sailors, male and female, competing in the same boats on a level playing field.

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