Open day today at Rutland Sailing Club
Members are encouraging people of all ages and abilities to try the sport
Rutland Sailing Club volunteers are encouraging people of all ages and abilities to visit the training centre and try the sport.
From 10:30am until 5pm today, an open day is being held at the club, near Edith Weston, giving visitors the chance to get out on boats of all different shapes and sizes for free.
Kids, families and couples will have access to catamarans, dinghies and kneelboats, while there'll be bigger committee boats on-hand to take people who just fancy a more relaxed excursion across Rutland Water.
The club also provides the opportunity for visually-impaired people to get out on the water, while disabled people can sail too through the club's weekly 'sailability' programme held on Thursdays.
Organiser and former Olympic medallist in sailing, David Wilkins, said he hopes it won't be long before Rutland's next Olympian in the sport calls the facility home:
'Sailing is one of those sports that brings all the family; all age groups together. It covers all aspects of life.'
'Sailing by nature is always in isolated locations, off the beaten track. It's not in the middle of the town like you'd get with football clubs. It's away from everyone's natural eyeline, that's why it goes under the radar.'
'In Rutland, we have one of the best clubs in the country and a fantastic facility right here on our doorstep. We are a national sailing academy, so we get some of the best sailors coming here.'
'It is one of those things that anybody of any ability, or disability, can do - and it's not expensive. You associate it with big yachts, but it's not like that at all. They're small boats, inexpensive and you can get into the sport very cheaply.'
Find out more details on the open day here: https://www.rutlandsailingclub.co.uk/event/rsc-open-day-