Plain Sailing With Present

The money was awarded to the club last Wednesday by the Sport England Lottery Fund and will go towards building a new clubhouse on the Lancing foreshore.

The new building will cost around 270,000 and will replace the club s existing 20-year-old premises.

Sport England s south-east sailing officer Padraig Herlihy said: "This is an excellent club which has a strong record of developing sailing for all sections of the community. The club has put forward a well developed application which should ensure that once local facilities are fully operational, there will be a range of opportunities for local people to take part in the club s activities."

Chairman of the Lancing Sailing Club s development committee, David Carter, said: "We have always been proud of our reputation as a family club and have equal numbers of females and juniors participating in racing.

"This award will allow us to expand our development work and get more people sailing."

The club is hoping to attract a well known sailing personality to open the new clubhouse, hopefully in June, 2002.