New sailing boats proving popular at Stanborough Park
Since arriving at Stanborough Park, the new fleet of sailing boats funded by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has been a great success, supporting a wide range of activities.
The boats have been in frequent use by schools, holiday programmes and community groups, and were a popular part of the recent This Girl Can Week activities, the Sport England initiative that champions physical activity for women and girls. They will also continue to be regularly used for the Youth Holiday Sailing programme, school bookings and community sessions.
Among the groups benefiting from the new fleet is Heathlands School for the deaf, whose pupils attend Stanborough Park weekly to work towards their Stage 1 Sailing Qualification. The boats are also used by Home Education Groups and students who may not be in mainstream education, helping to make sailing accessible to a wider range of people.
The 18 boats replaced the older fleet which had come to the end of its useful lifespan. The council’s total investment in the new boats came to just over £62,000.
Councillor Max Holloway, Executive Member, Community & Leisure, said:
“The sailing facilities have always been a great attraction for visitors of Stanborough Park. Now, the sailing experience will be even better, with the new boats in use for the start of the sailing season and summer holidays! We were very pleased to be able to fund and supply these new boats to GLL, our leisure partner, who do a brilliant job of running lessons and activities for many sections of the local community. This new fleet of boats should provide a lot of educational fun for many years to come!”
Emily Nicholls, General Manager, Outdoor Facilities at Stanborough Park, said:
“The new fleet of boats has been a fantastic addition to Stanborough Lakes, and their bright yellow sails look beautiful on the water. They are extremely stable and user-friendly, making our sailing courses easier and safer, and the team love using them".