Marconi Sailing Club receives Sport England Grant
by Christopher Kirby 11 Jul 2013 07:43 BST
11 July 2013
Marconi Cadet Week on the River Blackwater, Essex © Andrew Dowley
Following the culmination of a year of hard work by its members Marconi Sailing Club in Steeple have managed to secure funding for a new rescue boat. The organisation based on the River Blackwater has been offered £10,000 towards the cost of a new RIB to be used by its expanding membership.
Sport England have contributed the money which, together with the club's own funds, will pay for the boat which upon consultation with its members will be custom made to the club's own specification.
Marconi intend on using the boat primarily for its thriving cadet fleet as part of its commitment to develop youth sailing. It is hoped that the boat will be available for monthly Cadet Tuition days along with larger club events such as the East Coast Piers Race.
Club member John Nickalls, who helps to organise the sailing training days, explains how it will benefit the club, "Marconi Sailing Club's youngsters (and some not so young) have fun developing their sailing skills together on the River Blackwater, and it's vital they do so safely. The Sport England grant will allow Marconi Sailing Club to develop the training we provide, and to offer it to increasing numbers of young sailors on the Essex coast."
It is hoped the new RIB will be ready for the beginning of the 2014 sailing season.