Lottery grant expands fleet

A grant from the Big Lottery Fund has boosted the fleet that enables disabled people to go sailing at Lackford Lakes. The grant has allowed West Anglia, Suffolk and Haverhill (WASH) Sailability to spend £7,978 on a specially adapted sailing boat and ancillary equipment, bringing its fleet to five vessels. The new boat, named Erica after the club’s first chairman Eric Bratt, was handed over at the club’s annual meeting on Saturday. Alan Turvey, from Wash Sailability, said: “The boats are specially designed with safety in mind, are very stable even in windy conditions and are suitable for both adults and children.” Sailability clubs worldwide offer sailing facilities and training to people with any form of disability, whether they want to sit in a boat or sail it themselves. WASH began in 2009 with a request from the Haverhill Association of Voluntary Organisations to Lackford-based St Edmundsbury Sailing and Canoeing Association. For details call 01284 769101 or visit WASH’s website