East Anglia Press Releases for the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads with Press Releases and Articles from the Broads Authority in East Anglia, and the East of England UK.

The Broads Authority will hand over two new Access 303 sailing dinghies and 30 waterproofs and lifejackets to a sailing club for disabled people on Oulton Broad on Tuesday 9th September, 1.30pm.

The Authority's Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) has financed the specially designed dinghies and sailing gear with a £9,250 grant to Waveney Sailability which has 64 disabled members, 40 of whom sail weekly in all weathers.

The club members so impressed the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund Panel while out on a site visit in pouring rain that it prompted further discussions on how to provide additional support.

In 2006 the SDF panel granted £6,750 for one Access 303 dinghy, named Tom Breezer (Norfolk for dragonfly), RYA training for assistant instructors to teach members to sail, and promotional materials.

The two new dinghies, called Bishybarnybee (Norfolk for ladybird) and Whirlygig .will be handed over by the Broads Authority Chief Executive, Dr John Packman, who will then go sailing with club members.

He said:

"This is just the sort of activity that we are delighted to encourage. The club has been an inspiration to many disabled people whose weekly sail has given them a sense of freedom, independence and a new lease of life. Their keenness and enthusiasm is evident by the fact that they turn out to sail in the most appalling conditions."

The club, which started in 2005, now has a fleet of 12 Access dinghies, an adapted Squib and a rescue boat, and has just laid the foundations for a £25,000 boathouse to store them in, which should be built by October.

Club secretary Kevin Taylor said:

"Thanks to the generosity of the Broads Authority we now have our full compliment of Access dinghies. Now we are able to move forward to consolidate the club to ensure a future of service in the community for the more deserving people in the area."

Waveney Sailability, which is a Rotary Club initiative, is supported by a pool of 50 helpers, a senior sailing instructor and 15 assistant instructors who give their services free. It has also received generous corporate funding. A fundraising ball was held at the Wherry Hotel in July.

Interested people can have a go at three taster sessions before deciding whether to join. Membership costs £50 a year which entitles them to sail a couple of afternoons a week with or without instructors.


Reproduced by kind permission of Broads Authority.