Henley Sailing Club celebrates funding boost

Newly elected Commodore of Henley Sailing Club, Peta Bowyer with former Commodore Tim Saunders © Duncan Mackay

The newly elected Commodore of Henley Sailing Club, Peta Bowyer, announced today that the club's application to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for 50% matched funding to support better training, encourage new sailors and increase safety on the club's racing course at Wargrave had been successful.

"It's such fantastic good news to receive so early in the sailing season as we count down to the start of the new racing calendar in March. The RYA, using Sport England funds has awarded the club £2000 matched with the same amount from our own members. The grant will be used to assist in the purchase of sailing rigs for our fleet of Lasers and our Optimist, replacement of out of date buoyancy aids, a new short wave radio and an engine for our safety boat. All of these items will upgrade our capability to offer better training facilities to new members and to sustain the participation of existing sailors on our beautiful stretch of the River Thames at Wargrave."

Peta continued, "I want to pay a particular tribute to our Committee member responsible for special projects, Helene Hook, who masterminded the application to a successful conclusion."

Helene Hook said, "This new equipment will make such a difference and all the members in our sailing community are really pleased with this news. We would like more new members to come and join in the sailing activities and to share in our new equipment, part provided by the RYA and Sport England. Sailing season starts again on Sunday 24 March at 11.00 with racing for the prestigious and highly polished silver Macpherson Cup, so come down and check out the racing and be welcomed in to the club's facilities. We look forward to meeting you."

For further details see www.henleysailingclub.org.uk. Henley Sailing Club is located off Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire.