Funding the Future: Sunsail's exclusive new competition for clubs

Funding the Future © RYA

Sunsail has announced the launch of their Funding the Future for Sailing Clubs campaign, an opportunity for sailing and yacht clubs across the UK to win £5,000 to invest in their sailors.

Entrants will be asked to submit an innovative business plan detailing what they would do with the funding, whether that be improving club facilities, investing in equipment such as life jackets or new dinghy sails, developing inventive ideas to drive membership numbers within the local area, or perhaps launch their own youth academy to find the next Olympic medallist.

Not only will the club with the best idea win the £5,000 cash injection to make their plans a reality, they will also meet record-breaking British sailor, Dee Caffari MBE, who will come to their club for a Q&A and celebration evening, as well as earn a place on Sunsail's stand at the London Boat Show in January 2017, to help promote their club to sailors from across the country.

Judging the entries will be Sunsail ambassadors Dee Caffari MBE and Helena Lucas MBE, as well as seasoned sailor Mark Jardine, Editor of Yachts & Yachting Online and Sunsail's Event's Director, Simon Boulding.

Dee Caffari MBE, said, "I was never part of a sailing club growing up, but now I'm in a position where I'm in more of an influential role and I see it as my responsibility to let the general public know that sailing clubs welcome new people to give them that experience on the water and hopefully get them excited about the sport of sailing."

Helena Lucas, MBE, also commented "I was part of the Crawley Mariners sailing club growing up and the members were so friendly and supportive of us youngsters learning how to sail and getting into racing. It's important to be part of a club to help you get on the ladder, and if you're serious about what you want to do then they have the contacts you need."

Simon Boulding, Events Director at Sunsail, said, "Sailing clubs around the country, run by dedicated volunteers, are the heart and soul of sailing, and Sunsail is proud to be able to give something back to the grassroots of our sport. Without these coastal and inshore clubs, thousands of sailors would lack access to the facilities they need to get on the water and nurture their love of our wonderful sport. Sunsail is run for sailors, by sailors, and we want to help clubs nationwide continue this vital work. We can't wait to see their ideas!"

Mark Jardine, YachtsandYachting.com, media partner for Sunsail's competition, comments on the launch, "It is great to see sailing clubs receiving the recognition they deserve. The £5,000 investment will be invaluable for any club in the country and we can't wait to share this with our readers."

Clubs have until Thursday 08 December to submit their entries and the winner will be announced on the Sunsail stand at the London Boat Show on Friday 06 January 2017.

Entries are now closed.

There will be additional opportunities for clubs to win prizes by following Sunsail on Twitter @SunsailUK and tweeting with the hashtag #FundingTheFuture once they have submitted their entry.

For more details on the entering the competition or the terms and conditions either visit www.sunsail.co.uk/sailing-clubs/fundingthefuture or email .