#MalahideYC - Malahide Yacht Club has put its Sports Capital Grant allocation to good use with the purchase of new dinghies and sails.

According to the Swords Gazette, the €44,000 grant was used to procure six new sailing dinghies, two windsurfing boards and rigs, and assorted sails for the club's fleet based at Broadmeadows.

The new dinghies will be used for adult and junior sail training, introductory courses for locals, and of course club racing.

#sid – Sailing in Dublin Club (SID Club) has just acquired an additional cruising boat to add to its growing fleet writes Jessica O'Donnell. Silver Wind, a 35ft Sun Odyssey boat, was purchased thanks to the assistance of a grant from the Government's Sports Capital scheme with the balance paid from Club funds. SID put together dedicated grant and boat acquisition sub-committees drawn from club members and they put much hard work into securing this important new acquisition. The new boat, which was purchased with the aim of increasing participation in sailing, has been enthusiastically welcomed by SID's growing club membership.

Since its foundation thirty years ago, Sailing in Dublin Club has gone from strength to strength and its current fleet includes Laser Vagos; Ruff Diamond, a Ruffian 23; Obsession, a Sigma 33 boat, and now an additional cruising boat, Silver Wind. As a sailing collective, SID offers wonderful opportunities for racing and cruising without someone having to own their own boat. Its volunteer ethos means that there is also a pool of members to also draw upon to help with, and therefore offering more opportunities to learn more about, boat maintenance.

SID regularly participates in the DBSC series of races throughout the year, races in the challenging Irish Offshore ISORA races as well as Regattas in Dun Laoghaire and elsewhere close to Dublin. The Club's cruising ambitions have grown impressively and in 2015 SID has an exciting cruising programme which will see members sail in cruises along the east, south and west coast of Ireland stopping off in the likes of Dunmore East, Crosshaven, Baltimore, Dingle and Galway along the way. There are also plenty of shorter cruises and days sails closer to home against the backdrop of stunning Dublin Bay. With the new boat, there is now even more comfort and enhanced features for members when cruising. This cruising aspect is only one part of a vibrant club that also has an active dinghy section so there is certainly something for everyone!

While not a sailing school, there is a strong emphasis in SID on encouraging members to up-skill through their participation in recognised sail training provided by sailing schools around Ireland and abroad. A volunteer Training Officer and training sub-committee regularly update members on the availability of approved sail training courses whether related to VHF, First Aid, Sea Survival skills, operating a powerboat or other relative subjects. Club members, too, are happy to share their skills with others on different rungs of the sailing ladder and such co-operation and opportunities for sailing development from competent crew to skippering is one of the Club's most attractive features.

As a small and friendly club, there are opportunities for socializing after sails and throughout the year at Club dinners, BBQs and other events. With two female Commodores in succession the Club is also leading the way in promoting 'women on the water'. SID's excellent value – the annual membership subscription is only €370 – and variety and extent of sailing opportunities has seen the Club's membership grow impressively year on year. New members are always welcome and for anyone who would like to avail of a Guest Sail with SID, they can do so by going to the Club's website www.sailingindublin.ie The cost of a Guest Sail is only €40 and is redeemable against full membership subscription should a person wish to join the Club. With the bright evenings and summer approaching it is definitely time to get out sailing! To find out more about SID and what it has to offer click www.sailingindublin.ie 

#sportsgrants – Two of Ireland's biggest yacht clubs shared top awards in a €500,000 payout to 16 Irish Sailing Clubs in the Government's Sports Capital Programme announced last week. The full list of beneficiaries is below.

Dublin's Howth Yacht Club and National Yacht Club both got €77,000 in the Governments main vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.

National Yacht Club Commodore Larry Power says his Dublin Bay club, one of the top six yacht clubs in the country, 'is privileged to receive this high level of funding from the Sports Capital Programme'. Power says the money will be spent on an upgrade of club boats to 'enhance the NYC status as a local community club in Dun Laoghaire'.

In Howth, Commodore Brian Turvey says the north Dublin Club 'intends to use this valuable and most welcome grant on the development of keelboat sailing', youth academy and HYC's own 'introduction to sailing' programme.

The Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring announced grants of €40.5 million for 880 sports projects across the country last week, sailing getting a small share in the divvy up. The Sports Capital Programme is the Government's main vehicle to distribute funds. The facilities being funded range from small-scale equipment grants, to regionally significant centres of sporting excellence.

2014 Sports Captial Grant Allocations

Crookhaven Harbour Sailing Club € 32,000.00

Glandore Harbour Yacht Club € 12,000.00

Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club € 29,063.00

Dublin Bay Sailing Club € 23,778.00

Howth Sailing and Boating Club € 33,635.00

Howth Yacht Club € 77,000.00

Malahide Yacht Club € 44,149.00

Sailing in Dublin € 25,000.00

Skerries Sailing Club € 10,552.00

Swords Sailing and Boating Club € 11,646.00

National Yacht Club € 77,902.00

Tralee Bay Sailing Club € 20,000.00

Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club € 56,000.00

Blessington Sailing Club € 24,000.00

Bray Sailing Club € 18,000.00

Greystones Sailing Club € 9,000.00