SAILING opportunities will accessible to even more people at Rhyl's Marine Lake.

A number of grants to improve accessibility have been awarded by the Welsh Sailing charity All Afloat towards installing a hoist to help people of all ages with physical or learning disabilities begin sailing.

The hoist will complement the existing fleet of boats at the lake - which is currently being refurbished and is used for sailing by the Rhyl Yacht Club (RYC) and the Sea Cadets - which are suited for people of all abilities, but previously some had been unable to get into the boats.

Mick Evans, principal of the RYC said: "We're very happy with the project and looking forward to the future working with All Afloat.

"This now means we can bring sailing to a wider group of people in Rhyl of any age, with almost any disability."

The addition of the hoist is a significant coup for sailing on the Marine Lake and the RYC, who The Journal reported last spring were considering jettisoning dinghy sailing due to a lack of interested, before turning around declining numbers in the summer.

Former RYA Cymru Wales chief executive Phil Braden, who died earlier this year, worked hard to fund this exciting project and secured funding from The Steve Morgan Foundation, The Gwynt y Mor Community Fund and The Waterloo Foundation.

Mike Butterfield, RYA Cymru Wales Chairman and All Afloat trustee, said: "Sailing provides many health and well-being benefits which can be a great part of any rehabilitation.”

“This grant makes sailing available much closer to those who look out to the sea and wish they could have a go themselves. It forms a part of a refurbishment of a key facility which has been underutilised for the past few years.”

For anyone wishing to volunteer or contribute to the All Afloat Rhyl project, contact organisers via info@all-afloat.wales.