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The
Royal Dee Yacht Club Trust
will finance activities each year for
young people in the north west of England, North Wales and
Ireland.
It
has been made possible
as a result of a bequest
to the yacht
club by Jean Baker in
memory of her late husband
Peter, both of whom have been
long-term members and
supporters of the RDYC.
The
Trust aims to encourage
participation in offshore
sailing, including to
younger people who may
not otherwise
have access to the
sport. (From
Left to right: David
Taylor (Chairman of the
trustees), Jean
Baker and Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston.) |
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was officially launched by Sir Robin on Sunday, July 29 who added his support
during a visit to Liverpool for the climax of the biennial Clipper Round The
World yacht race which he established and for which is executive chairman. He
was famously the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world in
1969, and also set the first record for the fastest circumnavigation with late
Sir Peter Blake. Sir Robin said: “I welcome this initiative from Royal Dee Yacht Club to help young people get into offshore sailing which will offer them life-changing opportunities and chances of great adventures on the oceans of our world.” He was invited to perform the launch by RDYC Commodore Alastair Soane who has been involved with Clipper races since 2003. He said: “Thanks to the generosity of Jean Baker and the hard work of the trustees we are going to continue the traditions of our ancient club in making sure that sailing enhances the lives of those who participate.” Chair of the trustees, David Taylor said: “The wonderful opportunity presented by Jean Baker and her later husband Peter means that we will be able to support youth keelboat sailing from our base in North Wales and the North West of England. “I learnt my keelboat sailing as a result of the generosity of Royal Dee members and to be able to formalise the opportunities, which the Trust will enable, is a fantastic step forward. I hope that we will be in a position, very shortly, to award some support to our first beneficiaries.” Fellow
trustee Debbie Edge said: “I am looking forward to seeing deserving young people
benefit from participating in a sport which, over the years, I have learnt so
much from, made so many friends within and had an enormous amount of fun
doing.’ For further details contact : David Taylor at sailingtrust@royaldee.co.uk
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