Banbury Sailing Club has received a fantastic birthday present in its Diamond Jubilee year having been awarded grants totalling £20,000 to invest in three brand new state-of-the-art boats for the club.

The grants, which include significant contributions from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Sport England Small Grants Scheme, will be used to purchase three Laser 2000 dinghies, which will swell the club’s training boat ranks and further enhance the skill development of both new and more advanced sailors.

Originally aimed at the family dinghy sector, the Laser 2000 has proved a popular and versatile design, ideally suited to learning, cruising and racing meaning the boats will enable Banbury’s sailors to fully explore the limits of their potential.

As a recognised RYA Training Centre, Banbury SC, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is committed to providing world class training and qualifications to all ages, abilities and goals.

Jane Tarver, Banbury SC Commodore, said: “We’re really proud of the great work the club does in encouraging people into the sport and providing them with the best possible opportunities to develop their skills and embrace sailing as a hobby. The addition of the three new boats will serve to further improve the experiences people learning to sail or undertaking more advanced courses at Banbury will have, which in turn will hopefully make them better sailors who want to sail more often.”

Gareth Brookes, RYA Regional Development Officer for the East Midlands, assisted Banbury SC with their grant applications. He said: “The RYA delivers more than 100 courses to professional and recreational boaters, which are right up-to-date regards safety issues, regulations and emerging trends. It’s brilliant that Banbury SC has received this funding to help them continue to build on the excellent work they do in providing opportunities for people in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire to get out on the water regularly.”

Victoria Miles, Chief Executive of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, added: “We’re delighted to award this grant to Banbury SC and to continue to award funding to the projects that most need it, having a tremendous positive impact right here in Northamptonshire. The Foundation can only do this great work in the community thanks to the support of local people and businesses. A small donation makes a big difference.”

Hannah Bladen, Sport England’s Strategic Lead for the South East said: “Athletes of all abilities need the right equipment so that they can take up a sport, play and compete to their full potential. The Laser 2000 race training dinghies will really help to get more local people taking up sailing and yachting.”

Meanwhile Banbury’s junior sailors have also been doing their bit to help increase opportunities for youngsters at the club. One of the club’s young members has successfully applied for a grant from South Northamptonshire District Council to assist with the upkeep of the junior training boats.

As well holding RYA Training Centre status, Banbury SC is also an official RYA OnBoard club, OnBoard being the RYA’s hugely successful nationwide grassroots initiative aimed at introducing more children to sailing and windsurfing. This summer Banbury SC has played host to regular OnBoard sessions for youngsters from 1st Helmdon Guides and 1st Chipping Warden Brownies.

For more information on the sailing and powerboating opportunities at Banbury SC visit www.banburysailing.org.uk