Salterns Sailing Club members raise £11k for Children in Need with 24-hour sailathon

YOUNG sailors helped raised £11,000 for Children in Need through a 24-hour sailathon.

Members of Salterns Sailing Club’s junior committee went out on Lymington’s waters non-stop through the night, with young sailors taking turns sailing and sleeping in shirt shifts.

Organisers said an “inordinate” amount of cake was sold and eaten during the event, helping contribute to its fundraising total.

Salterns Sailing Club president Phil Brown told the A&T: “We had very little wind for the event, which made sailing much more challenging, but the event started at 4pm on a Friday evening and went non-stop through the night.

“The membership, both parents and children, were all actively involved on and off the water, as well as local schools, who wouldn’t ordinarily have an opportunity to sail at Salterns.

“There were a number of fun events, including a race between RNLI members and a family race that kept the participants engaged.”

He continued: “The club has now run 25 of these events over the past 25 years and we have raised a total of more than £200,000 for Children in Need, which is an outstanding achievement for a great cause.”