The Crown Estate, manager of around half the UK foreshore and entire seabed, has committed further investment and renewed the lease for Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, the home of Team GB’s Paralympic Sailing Team.
The funding will increase the capacity of the club’s pontoon facilities at West Cowes and the improvement works, which are part of The Crown Estate’s policy of investment into community facilities on its coastal portfolio, will further enhance Cowes’s reputation as an international destination for the sailing community as well as providing improved moorings for the team on the road to Rio 2016.
New facilities will be provided for the temporary berthing of dry sail boats and permanent berthing of popular XOD class keel boats. These improvements will be funded through an innovative agreement between The Crown Estate and Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club of nearly £400,000 that will also enable the yacht club to attract more members and further enhance the marina’s well-earned reputation as a hub for local yachting enthusiasts.
The news comes after major renovation works at the marina in 2011, also funded by The Crown Estate, which increased the number of berths available from 29 to 38, provided an improved open launching basin to accommodate sailing events hosted by the club and funded a sailability hoist crane.
Neil Jacobson, Rural and Coastal Portfolio Manager for England South, at The Crown Estate said:
“As a major costal landowner we’re committed to ensuring that our active management and collaboration with tenants, continues to enhance the UK coast for the benefit of all. This further investment in the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club is not just a long term commercial investment for us but also supports Great Britain’s world-class Paralympic Sailing Team on the road to Rio.”
Tony Bedingfield, the Commodore at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club added:
“Our Club members, Cowes Sailabilty and the prospective Paralympians being supported by the Andrew Cassell Foundation now have access to the most comprehensive dry sailing and marina facility of any Yacht Club in Cowes, all thanks to the tremendous support from The Crown Estate.”
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