Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club, near Kilkhampton has been awarded a grant of £6,794 by the Lottery's Awards for All scheme, to buy boats and increase sailing opportunities at Upper Tamar for juniors, over 45s and women and girls.

Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club (UTLSC) has received £6,794 to help support sailing in North Devon and North Cornwall, especially for juniors, girls, ladies and the over 45s.

A major part of the award funding is being used to purchase two Topper sailing dinghies, which will be made available for club members to borrow, both to take part in the club's existing dinghy racing programme and to improve their sailing skills. The dinghies will be available to all members, but they are particularly suitable for young sailors joining the club who don't have a dinghy of their own, but who want to try out the sport.

Nicky Buckett, Commodore of the UTLSC, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in trying out dinghy sailing or improving their skills to get on the water in two excellent dinghies with full racing rigs. The club already supports events such as the Peter Pocock racing series for novice juniors every summer, which was oversubscribed last year, with more potential helms wishing to take part than there were boats available and this award will make it possible for more youngsters to take part in events such as these.

"The availability of the Toppers will enable us to support children from families where buying a boat may not be a possibility." The new boats will also be available for women and girls entering the Ladies Helm dinghy racing series at the club.

The award will also be used to fund volunteers at the club to take sailing instructor courses, so that they can help facilitate sailing activities for juniors, the over 45s and women and girls; in particular, these volunteers will help in improving racing skills, so that more people will feel confident and able to take place in the dinghy racing programme at the club and at other events in the region.

In addition, the award will also be used to

provide financial support for juniors and other

participants to take part in training days, thus directly providing greater

confidence and increasing sailing skills.

In this initiative, the club will be working closely with the South West Lakes Trust, who organise watersports on the lake. The club has been greatly aided in preparation of the bid by help and advice from Graham Manchester, who is the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Regional Development Officer for the South West. The club is also very grateful for the initial RYA grant to indicate its support of the club's Awards for All

application.