Beccles Amateur Sailing Club Celebrate New Optimist Sails

The vibrant and friendly club sees an annual sailing school take place and, this year the young sailors could not wait to get back on the water after a year’s break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Richard Deller, Club Commodore, said “Planning for the 2021 Sailing School started in March as soon as we knew what lay ahead as regards Covid-19. Checking equipment, it soon become apparent that the Oppie Training Sails needed replacing as these were over 15 years old.”

He then spoke to the RYA East Team to discuss the options and potential to apply for grants, but, with the sailing school approaching fast, Plan B swung into action. This was to go through the listings of firms in Beccles and the surrounding area. On doing this, one firm stood out a mile – ASAP Supplies who were based less than three miles from the Sailing Club. 

Richard said “ASAP Supplies is one of the UK's largest stockists of marine equipment and spare parts, offering over 12,000 stock lines specialising in products for maintenance, repair and overhaul requirements. A letter to the General Manager as way of introduction was soon followed by a telephone call to say welcome onboard. Over the coming weeks six Oppie sails were made by Trident UK with the ASAP logo on them”

On Saturday 17 July the Club thanked ASAP supplies for their sponsorship when General Manager Tom Edwards visited the Club and saw the young sailors on the water. Tom said “We’re really pleased to support a local sailing club and to help get young people on the water and learning to sail”.

Richard added “We are very grateful for ASAP Supplies’ support - the Juniors who started sailing this year were so excited when they learned new sails were on the way.”

To find out more about Beccles Amateur Sailing Club visit https://www.becclesasc.co.uk/

For more information about how to get out on the water in the East Region, visit https://www.rya.org.uk/start-boating