Grant Helps Witham SC Treble Sailing Provision
by Karenza Morton.
Date: 01 October 2011
Three times as many people in and around Boston will be able to learn to sail at Witham Sailing Club over the next year after the arrival of a new club powerboat, part-funded by a significant grant from Sport England.
The boat, a Humber Assault 5.0m with a 40hp Suzuki engine and road trailer, will be predominantly used as safety boat, enabling Witham SC, situated on the west bank of the River Witham, to provide even more learn to sail opportunities for the local community.
The new craft will also be used for powerboating training, both inland and coastal, following Witham’s ratification by the RYA as the East Midlands’ only recognised coastal powerboating training centre this spring.
RYA Training Centre
Earlier this year, the club became an RYA Training Centre for sailing and powerboating, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of instruction and safety in the world, handing the club a massive boost in encouraging more people to get involved with their activities.
No fewer than 50 people have already undertaken courses at Witham SC this summer.
Paul Burton, Witham SC Rear Commodore and Training Principal, said: “This year has been a bit of a whirlwind for the club. Last autumn we sat down and looked really hard at how we could make sailing even more appealing and accessible for local people and put together a comprehensive development plan, which included equipment and facilities upgrades.
“This summer some 50 people have attended learn to sail courses with us and we hope the arrival of the new powerboat will enable us to treble that number in 2012. Work has already begun on the development of a new storage building, which came courtesy of a community grant from Lincolnshire Co-operative, and even though the weather was less than favourable 40 people attended our Open Day in May. It has been an exciting year.”
Sail for Gold
Witham Sailing Club is also signed to ‘Sail for Gold’, the RYA’s UK-wide programme to bring the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as close to home as possible for everyone and celebrate the build-up to London 2012.
More than 300 sailing clubs and centres nationwide have already signed up for Sail for Gold, giving everyone the chance to genuinely feel part of something of national significance. Britain has been the world’s most successful sailing nation for the past three Olympics.
Burton added: “London 2012 is all about the idea of legacy and if the legacy we can leave from the Games is we have encouraged more people, adults and children, in and around the county to become regular sailors then we will be really proud.”
For more information, search for Witham Sailing Club on Facebook or email info@withamsailingclub.co.uk
