Club in full sail after landing £40,000 to repair spit of land destroyed by winter gales.

Hykeham Sailing Club hosts affiliates Hykeham Sailability - sailing for disabled people - Lincoln and District Schools Sailing Association (sailing for eight schools); RAF Waddington Sailing Club; and the University of Lincoln Sailing Club. They all operate from the disused gravel lake beside the A46 near Lincoln. This is the longest stretch of inland water between the Humber and Rutland Water - and the only venue for sailing for a large area of central Lincolnshire. For some years now, a waterfront bank, protecting a spit of land, has been a concern. Members have spent many hours repairing it with railway sleepers, old oil pipes and concrete platforms. However, winter gales are destroying the defences and the spit is eroding. Professional contractors are now required to stabilise the bank. The loss of land from the spit would markedly affect the sailing activities - it is the only area for the rigging of boats and is fully used, especially when visiting clubs or regional/national events are scheduled. The spit also has a secondary function as the only place where an air ambulance can (and has) landed - the club is three-quarters of a mile from the nearest main road, down a country track. "Biffa Award funding will also be used to dredge near the spit, which will improve safety as this area currently is shallow with submerged rocks." Project manager John Collinge said: "We are so pleased to receive news of the Biffa Award grant. "It will allow us to repair an essential area of our waterfront, damaged by storms, enabling Hykeham Sailing Club to continue as the mid-Lincolnshire sailing centre. "The club provides facilities for family, recreational and competitive racing sailing plus runs courses for both sailing and rescue certificates. Hykeham Sailing Club treasurer John Peters said: "It was great to hear we had been awarded a Biffa Award grant of £41,737. "Part of our waterfront was in a poor state, we did not have the funds to adequately repair the waterfront yet the land behind it was essential for the clubs functioning. "Now we know we can rebuild the waterfront and the club can continue to look to the future with confidence." Biffa Award programme manager Gillian French said: "This lake is the only one of its kind for a considerable distance, and was in need of repair. "We are pleased to support this project, which is an excellent example of how the Landfill Communities Fund can help improve local recreational facilities for the community."