Sailing Club annual auction

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Rye Harbour Sailing Club (RHSC) are proud to be holding their Annual Auction of donations at the George in Rye on Friday September 1, 2017, to help the Charity RHSC Sailability get their first Sailability boat, a Drascombe Lugger, a safe and very stable boat with adaptations for people with disabilities.

At last year’s auction RHSC raised funds to help towards the club’s refurbishment project to build new changing rooms providing access and facilities for people with disabilities. The new facility was completed on May 8 this year and an official opening ceremony saw the Rt Hon Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, cutting the ribbon on Saturday July 1.

RHSC now want to start to realise their vision for the club to become integrated with the wider community providing excellent inclusive sailing facilities for all, as well as sharing close ties and shared activities with other sailing and sports clubs, local organisations and schools. To this end RHSC has set up a Charity, RHSC Sailability to get less-abled people out on the water.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) website introduces Sailability like this: “Each year 53,000 young people and adults with disabilities are introduced to sailing, and many go on to sail on a regular basis. Sailing is one of the very few sports in which able-bodied sailors and less-abled sailors can participate on equal terms. Imagine the thrill of sailing for people who can feel and hear but have no sight, or of sailing a boat at speed even though they can’t walk, or of joining in a sport where deafness doesn’t matter. Sailability continues to encourage and support people who are less abled to take up the sport and facilitate sites to develop sailing opportunities.”

The auction last year provided a fun, entertaining evening with Kevin Wall from Rye Auction Galleries acting as our auctioneer, bringing his own brand of humour to the occasion, helping us to raise just over £3,300, an amazing amount of money. Kevin has offered to help again this year, so let’s see what we can all achieve this year to raise funds to buy the Drascombe Lugger. Ultimately we are looking to raise £17,000 and we know it will not be possible to raise this amount in one night but we will at least get the ball rolling and will be applying for other funding from organisations such as Trinity House and The Hastings and Rother Reducing Health Inequalities Fund.

If you would like to join in the fun while at the same time raising funds for this truly worthwhile cause, do come along and join us. The auction is open to members and non- members of the club. If you are unable to come but are keen to help and would like to make a donation either of an item for the auction or to help build up the fund please do get in touch with Caroline Wylson via email at carolinewylson@btinternet.com or call 01797 223112. You will be sent an application form and menu or advised how you can help in other ways.

The George in Rye is providing a three-course meal for £28.50 with a complimentary glass of wine on arrival, when you will also be given your ticket with bidding number. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Photos: RHSC

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