Local boost as Mayor launches new boat at Rye Harbour Sailing Club

Mayor Shaun Rogers officially launches Carey Marsh watched on by RHSC Commodore, Bill Lewis (light coloured jacket), club president Carey Marsh (dark blazer) and Rye Harbour Master, James Bateman, in uniform © Richard Cooper / Rye Harbour SC

More local people will be able to sail more often at Rye Harbour Sailing Club this year after the official launch of the club's new safety boat, courtesy of a £10,000 grant from Sport England, on Saturday (29 June).

The Speaker of the Cinque Ports, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Rye, Cllr Shaun Rogers and Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, joined Rye Harbour club members as the 15ft vessel, named Carey Marsh, was formally commissioned after the club received funding for an additional safety boat from the Sport England Small Grants Programme last November.

The new boat will enable the club to up its competitive sailing offering to 14 races over the year, while also providing the resource to expand its coaching activities and extend both its dinghy training and dinghy racing programmes, with a particular focus on increasing regular participation amongst its younger members aged 14 and over.

By adding Carey Marsh into the club's support boat mix, it means Rye Harbour will be able to run more simultaneous sail training activities and racing for more people more often.

Bill Lewis, Rye Harbour SC Commodore, explains "The overall aim of investing in the new safety boat was to enable us to increase participation, and then critically, sustain participation. For people to stay in any sport they have to enjoy taking part and racing is a proven reason why people keep sailing.

"We want to look after those newcomers who want to develop their skills with us, regardless of gender, age and background, and provide them with a pathway to improve, while also making sure we give our current members plenty of reasons to stay sailing with us. Carey Marsh will help us promote this level of excellence in sailing across the club."

The club has a tradition of naming its safety boats after presidents who have given outstanding service to the club. This is the third safety boat named after a president. The club's current president Carey Marsh, who joined the club some 45 years ago, served two periods as commodore and is an accomplished sailor.

Rye Harbour SC is located on the tidal River Rother, with its racing, training and cruising activities taking place in both the river and Rye Bay.

It is a recognised shore-based RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of safety and quality, while the club offers subsidised learn to sail training to RYA levels 1 and 2 to all members who are under 16 at Rye Waterports Lake at Camber.

For more information about how you can get involved at Rye Harbour SC this year visit www.rhsc.org.uk