Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024
Product Feature
SOAK Dogbones
SOAK Dogbones

Young sailors to benefit from John Merricks Sailing Trust Legacy Awards in 2022

by Elizabeth Robinson 27 Feb 2022 18:08 GMT
Young sailors benefit from John Merricks Sailing Trust Legacy Awards © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Eight sailing clubs and the RYA's OnBoard programme received a combined boost of £185,000 as part of the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST)'s Legacy Awards announced at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show.

The grants, awarded on the Suzuki Main Stage at Farnborough International, will fund 44 boats to help young sailors develop in our sport. The awards will also help Felpham Sailing Club to set up a legacy fund for young ILCA sailors.

The latest grants take the JMST's total awards since its inception in 1997 to a staggering £1 million. These awards have been made to individuals, youth organisations and clubs that have demonstrated both their commitment to youth sailing and a financial need.

The selected sailing clubs receiving these legacy awards represent the whole spectrum of youth and junior sailing across the country, with fleets of boats ranging from Optimists to Keelboats and awards being made to Delph SC in the North down to Restronguet in the South West.

Nick Holley from Restronguet Sailing club explained how important this award was for his club: "It is absolute fantastic news for the junior fleet at Restronguet Sailing Club. We will now be able to buy much needed optimist dinghies and enable us to introduce and train more local young children in the world of sailing. The racing equipment will also enable the young sailors to train and race at the grassroots level."

List of recipient clubs and boats:

1) Burghfield Sailing Club - Five RS Fevas
2) Delph Sailing Club - Three Toppers and one ILCA
3) Felpham Sailing Club - Three ILCAs and support of a legacy fund for young sailors
4) Queen Mary Sailing Club - Two RS21 Keelboats
5) Restronguet Sailing Club - Six Optimists and racing equipment
6) Rickmansworth Sailing Club - Six Toppers
7) Rutland Sailing Club - Two RS21 Keelboats
8) Starcross Yacht Club - Six RS Teras
9) RYA OnBoard program - One additional year of program funding from 2023 to 2024

The JMST trustees have decided to wind up the trust 25 years after John's tragic death in a car crash in October 1997, and to invite sailing clubs or organisations to apply for a share of the remaining funds. The JMST received just under 100 applications for these Legacy Awards.

The selected recipients will continue the trust's objective to help young people achieve their potential through the sport of sailing and in turn provide a lasting legacy for Olympic dinghy sailor John Merricks.

Ian Walker, John's former sailing partner and Chair of the Trustees, said, "I am humbled by the support that we have had over the past 25 years and I would like to thank everyone who has donated money, volunteered or attended any of our many events. We have had such loyal support from so many individuals and companies - far too many to name - and that is a reflection of how strongly we all felt about John.

"I would like to thank my fellow trustees who have all generously given their time for 25 years to create a lasting legacy for John, one that I know has given great pride and comfort to John's family."

www.jmst.org.uk

Related Articles

North Sails Golf Day in aid of JMST
The last JMST North Sails Golf Day North Sails recently hosted the final ‘North Sails Golf Day in aid of Johnny Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) at the Cams Hall Estate Golf Club. Posted on 15 Nov 2022
John Merricks Sailing Trust to wind up after 25yrs
Appling its remaining funds to a purpose that will continue to honour his memory The Trustees of the John Merricks Sailing Trust today announce their intention to dissolve the charity, and apply its remaining funds to a purpose that will continue to honour the memory of Olympic dinghy sailor John Merricks. Posted on 7 Oct 2021
Ian Atkins Keelboat Award winners announced
This Award is open to any sailors aged between 18 and 22 The John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the charity set up in memory of 1996 Olympic Silver medallist John Merricks, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2021 Ian Atkins Keelboat Award. Posted on 13 Jul 2021
Ian Atkins Keelboat Award - Qualifying Regatta
Opportunity knocks for a young team of sailors to race an SB20 at Cowes Week Opportunity knocks for a young team of sailors to compete for the chance to race an SB20 at Cowes Week and 'Live the Experience'. Posted on 29 Apr 2021
Applications open for Ian Atkins Keelboat Award
This Award is open to any sailor or sailors, under 25 years old The John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the charity set up in memory of 1996 Olympic Silver medallist John Merricks, is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the second annual Ian Atkins Keelboat Award. Posted on 4 Feb 2020
JMST and RYA OnBoard partner up
Delighted sailors have been awarded exclusive use of a boat Thirteen youngsters from across the UK have been handed a huge boost in their ambitions to become top class dinghy sailors and windsurfers thanks to a national programme helping young talent progress in the sport. Posted on 26 Nov 2019
North Sails Golf Day in aid of the JMST
23rd event raises £7,680 for the charity A sunny but cold and frosty start greeted the 83 golfers that turned out for the North Sails Golf Day on Friday 8 November at Cams Hall Estate Golf Club in Fareham, that raised £7,680 for the John Merricks Sailing Trust. Posted on 12 Nov 2019
Get a chance with John Merricks Sailing Trust 2019
Are you 14 years of age or under? Do you love sailing or windsurfing? Applications are now open for sailors to apply to the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) for a brand new single-handed junior pathway boat or board. Posted on 8 Aug 2019
First recipients of Ian Atkins Keelboat Award
John Merricks Sailing Trust select Team Athena Racing The John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the charity set up in memory of 1996 Olympic Silver medallist John Merricks is delighted to announce the first recipients of the Ian Atkins Keelboat Award - Team Athena Racing. Posted on 2 Mar 2019
Applications invited for Ian Atkins Keelboat Award
Opened by the John Merricks Sailing Trust The John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the charity set up in memory of 1996 Olympic Silver medallist John Merricks, is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the first ever Ian Atkins Keelboat Award. Posted on 8 Jan 2019