Two Cadets Awarded Powerboat Training Certificates
Two young members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club have just celebrated obtaining their Level 2 Powerboat Training. The Club was recently awarded a Grassroots Grant from the Essex Community Foundation which was used to purchase a second Safety Boat to look after the increasing number of young people - Cadets and Otters - joining the Gunfleet to take up the sport of sailing. It was also agreed that part of the grant would be used to train two of the more senior cadets to be able to handle the Safety Boat so they can assist in looking after the other youngsters when on the water. Shelby Fowell and Sonny Hart, who have both grown-up at the Club and are very keen sailors, spent two days at the Royal Yachting Association approved training centre at Essex Marina, Wallasea Island, on the River Crouch where they were taught all aspects of power boat handling. Club Commodore Richard Walker said "Both Shelby and Sonny have worked hard to obtain this level of training and the Club is very proud of them. The Gunfleet is extremely lucky to have a very committed Cadet Officer - Andy Ford - who has put an enormous amount of time into attracting young people in the Clacton and surrounding area to take up the sport of sailing. As a result the Club has a very large and active Cadet and Otter section which is growing all the time".