Downs Sailing Club, in Walmer, Deal, has been working tirelessly over the winter on a major extension to its existing clubhouse after receiving the grant from Sport England’s London 2012 Olympic legacy fund in August 2013.
The new facilities mean Downs SC will be able to accommodate even more people in going sailing from this year while making the experience more enjoyable too. The extension will also make a huge difference when the club again hosts around 400 young sailors for the 2014 National Schools Sailing Association (NSSA) Youth Regatta in July.
To celebrate the new facilities, Downs SC invites you and your family to enjoy a FREE taste of sailing on Saturday 17 May, as the club hosts an anyone-welcome Open Day as part of national RYA Push the Boat Out weekend.
Meanwhile all sailors, novice to experienced and regardless of age, are welcome to join the club and get involved in Downs’ popular Friday Club, which provides evening social sailing, with expert advice from RYA instructors on the water
Chris Danican, Downs SC Commodore, explains why the new facilities will make such a difference to the local community.
“Downs SC is a thriving, expanding family club. The new facilities will enhance our ability to provide more comfortable social space for non-sailors to relax and watch their families on the water, as well as provide a separate space for some of our RYA and club training sessions, leaving the rest of the club free for normal club activities.
“The extension will provide space to comfortably seat some 60 people for training sessions/lectures. This will be a great advance as previously all sessions were held in our one main clubroom, which limited other members’ club use. Events like our extremely popular Prize Giving dinner will also be able to accommodate more people, and other groups will be able to hire the space too without affecting other members.
“Where possible, the building work has been carried out by club members, with a dedicated team planning and coordinating and upwards of 40 members giving up their free time during the weeks and for weekend work parties. It is this club spirit that makes Downs SC such a great place to sail and socialise.”
Downs SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety.
RYA Push the Boat Out weekend is a nationwide event that will see hundreds of sailing clubs across the country opening their gates for local people to come and ‘have a go’ at sailing, and at some clubs windsurfing too, with an experienced hand.
Racing at the five-day 2014 NSSA Youth Regatta takes place from Monday 21 to Friday 25 July. This is the fourth time the Kent Schools Sailing Association (KSSA) has hosted the event at Downs SC.