Marconi SC secures £10,000 from sporting legacy fund for new safety boat

Club Commodore Michaela Dowley completing the handover of the new safety boat at Marconi Sailing Club © Chris Kirby

A sailing club in Essex has secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England's Small Grants fund.

After having received £10,000 of National Lottery funding in Winter 2013 the club have since taken delivery of a new safety vessel. Marconi Greygoose, as the boat has been named, took to the River Blackwater for its maiden voyage in February 2014, not before a customary Champagne christening. The RIB has been named after a life-long member of the sailing club Ron Greygoose. It is hoped that the newest addition to Marconi's fleet will enable even more youngsters to take to the water safely and help expand the club's growing Cadet Fleet.

Upon hearing the news MP for Maldon, John Whittingdale OBE said, "I am very much aware of the importance of encouraging young people to get involved in all kinds of different sports. Clubs like Marconi Sailing Club do a tremendous amount to support young people and introduce them to sailing. This purchase will help the Club offer more opportunities to young people to participate safely and to give them the confidence to take to the water."

To celebrate the grant, local people are being invited to the club's Open Day on 17th May to try out sailing free-of-charge with a host of activities planned on and off the water.

For further information on the Open Day please direct all enquiries to Chris Kirby via e-mail at .