Rutland Sailing Club is set to continue its legacy of developing the skills of talented young sailors thanks to a funding boost.
They have received a donation of two boats worth more than £60,000 from the John Merricks Sailing Trust.
John was taught to sail by his father on Rutland Water and went on to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games as well being crowned a multiple world champion.
After he tragically died in a car crash in Italy in 1997, aged just 26, his close friends and family set up the John Merricks Sailings Trust.
It has raised more than £1,000,000 to help young sailors and youth sailing organisations to achieve their goals through grants.
The Trustees decided on its 25th anniversary to close the trust and invited sailing clubs and organisations to apply for a cut of the remaining funds.
Rutland Sailing Club applied for a donation to purchase two Keelboat sailing boats and were selected as one of nine clubs from more than 100 application
The award has been gifted on the basis that it can provide ‘a lasting legacy that will respect the Trust’s purpose to help young people under the age of 25 to achieve their potential through the sport of sailing.’
“This programme will allow youth development from introductions to sailing and racing through to high level skills training in keelboat racing and match racing.
“We also plan to extend this to cover all members of Rutland Sailing Club with targeted activities to introduce sailors to keelboat sailing and cruising, upskill people with basic and advanced training in keelboat sailing and racing skills.
“We want to take this right through to match racing and fleet racing in keelboats so hopefully something for every member of the club.”
Ian Walker, John’s former sailing partner and chairman of the Trust, added: “We are delighted that Rutland Sailing Club are one of the recipients of these funds and will continue the trust’s objective to help young people achieve their potential through the sport of sailing.”
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