Ripon Sailing Club's new clubhouse ready for the 2014 sailing season

by Chris Wright 25 Mar 2014 19:19 GMT 25 March 2014

Ripon Sailing Club, based near Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, has started its 2014 sailing season from its smart, newly refurbished clubhouse and this coming weekend welcomes its first visitors when it host a Solo Open Meeting.

The builders moved in after last year's Autumn series, which meant that the Frostbite series was run without the usual changing rooms, hot showers and, perhaps most important of all, bacon butties. All these are now available again following the building work. The Club received a grant under the Sports England Inspired Facilities scheme and that funding was matched with money from Club's funds and donations from Club members. This has allowed a comprehensive upgrade of the Club's facilities, that includes:

• A new entrance porch and access ramp
• Completely refurbished changing, toilet and shower facilities with underfloor heating (particularly well received after some recent capsizes!)
• A fully refurbished Club room
• A new, more effective and energy efficient heating system
• Improvements to glazing, flooring and lighting

Before these improvements the clubhouse compared favourably with many but some of it dates back to the mid-80s and was beginning to show its age. It now offers modern, bright and functional facilities that will help the Club in its drive to retain existing members and attract new ones.

Members are looking forward to a full sailing programme throughout 2014 with racing for Club and Open Meeting trophies, as well as training courses for new members and improvers, a Kids Club and other events for its thriving and successful Junior and Youth section.

www.ripon-sc.org.uk