Donaghadee Sailing Club secures Grant Fund

Donaghadee Sailing Club has secured grant funding from the Sports Lottery Fund, which will enable the club to build a new clubhouse in the town. In recent weeks the membership of DSC were notified that the 2 year long application process had been successful with an offer of an impressive £460,000 from Sport NI. Additional grant support also includes £5,000 through Ards Borough Council’s Sports Development budget.

At a recent packed club SGM the Commodore Rosemary McKibben, praised the members of the sub committee for their hard work in preparing the business case and managing the complex application process. Shirley McCrum, Chair of the Project Sub-Committee, said it was a tribute to the Club’s membership for the enthusiasm and commitment, which they have to making dinghy sailing accessible to all particularly the young (and not so young) in Donaghadee. The Club’s popular Friday Night Come & Try It sessions as well as its position as an RYA Training Centre, Volvo Champion Club and Sailability centre for the disabled at Foundation level is reflected in the many boats seen out on the water during the season.

The club’s membership, which has increased significantly in recent years, is united in their desire to seize this unique opportunity and work together to raise the additional capital necessary for the development project to proceed.

This substantial amount of funding will enable the sailing club to replace the existing clubhouse at Shore Street with a more modern and vibrant facility offering changing, training and meeting facilities for a range of complementary water based sports including sailing and kayaking.

When the new club house is finished in 2009 it will be a distinctive feature, welcoming to all, on Shore Street in Donaghadee. The new building will help secure the club’s future for the next generation and carry forward the long sailing tradition in the district by delivering water sports to the wider community.