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We’re working hard, but our fundraising campaign is ongoing!
Southwold Sailing Club urgently need to replace the dangerously eroded dinghy launching slipway on the River Blyth. We are delighted to have raised most of the funds needed – but still have a little way to go.
The slipway has been a vital resource since the early 1980s and has been the backbone of providing easy access to our waters. It was installed by the passionate and dedicated members of our club and has lasted for 45 years.
Over the last 15 years it has slowly broken up revealing big cracks and steep drops which have become a major problem. Dinghies have limited safe access to the river and are more dependent on short tidal windows, which has severely impeded sailing activities in recent seasons.
What we’ve done so far:
In 2024 the club spent £7,000 removing the bottom 2 bays of concrete. We need to install sheet piling around the perimeter of the slipway and fill this with concrete. This complex operation will cost almost £90,000.
Fundraising activities to date have included the hugely popular Southwold Harbour Festival in July 2024. A dusty corner of Blackshore Quay was transformed into an amazing venue with acclaimed live bands, a beer festival, food trucks and more. This pilot project was brilliantly run, receiving high praise and demand for a repeat in 2025 – hence the equally marvellous Harbour Fest in June 2025 with more musical magic and great refreshments providing a thrilling festival vibe!
These events have helped raised funds for towards our dinghy slip as well as being a testament to the hard work, competence and professionalism of the club’s volunteer-run committee. Behind the scenes, this is turn has helped support successful applications to other funding streams including Sport England, the Southwold Trust and Southwold Town Council. These grants, coupled with marketing activity to push our Crowdfunding campaign have resulted in us reaching most our target.
However, we are still about £20,000 short of realising our new dinghy slip, and now we need to go the final mile. The crowdfunding platform is still open for donations and your support could really help. This facility will enable safety on and around the water and allow the wider community to enjoy activities on the River Blyth for decades to come. Please consider donating.