New Wayfarers for Broads Sea Scouts
Dickleburgh Sea Scouts will soon have two new Wayfarer sailing dinghies to boost its training fleet, thanks to the Broads Authority.
Over £7,900 was granted from the Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund to add to match funding from Norfolk Community Foundation (£5,000), Leslie Sell Foundation (£1000) Townland Trust in Dickleburgh (£1,000), Tivetshall Parish Council (£250) and £750 raised by the sea scouts themselves.
The pristine glass fibre boats will replace two ageing dinghies, a GP 14 which was on loan and an Enterprise which will be passed to another scout group.
“We are very grateful to the Broads Authority and the Trusts for funding these boats,” said Group Scout Leader Paul Playford. “Wayfarers are ideal training boats, a proven class which is fairly large and stable.
“Not only will they enable us to teach a lot more children to sail but good facilities and craft tend to attract more instructors and leaders into the group. The older members, the 14 -18 year olds, will have more opportunities to sail on the River Yare on the southern Broads, which is a great river to sail, and they will stand us in good stead for many years to come.”
The 80 member troop has a fleet of six Topper dinghies, three Topaz, a Bosun, 10 kayaks and two open canoes as well as a 22ft yacht moored in Hardley Dyke. It boasts state of the art headquarters with a boat workshop in Dickleburgh which was built in 2002 and funded by the Big Lottery and local councils. Much of its sailing is taught in the relative safety of an inland lake near Harleston, close to the River Waveney, while summer camps are held on the River Yare at Langley Dyke.
The sea scout group encourages youngsters within an eight mile radius of Dickleburgh to participate in its activities. “We are always looking for helpers and instructors to get more kids on the water,” said Paul.
09/02/10
