A new watersports club is being formed on the Colne, breathing new life into the University of Essex’s facilities on Brightlingsea Waterside.

Brightlingsea Waterside Yacht Club (BWYC) will cater for beginners, enthusiasts and experienced sailors, providing affordable watersports, training and waterfront facilities. It aims to offer a range of activities including yachting, dinghy sailing, kayaking, rowing and windsurfing. Keen to encourage newcomers to the water, the club also plans to offer taster sessions and coaching schemes and will offer a range of membership options.

The University of Essex has agreed to invest £15,000 to upgrade its existing waterfront clubhouse and boatyard facilities, which have fallen into disuse in recent years.

Dean of Sport at the University, Dr Aulay Mackenzie, said: “This is a great opportunity in partnership with the local community to secure a strong and sustainable future for watersports at the University and give our students and staff, as well as members of the public, opportunities to discover the beautiful Colne Estuary and Essex coastline.

"The position of the University in the midst of a historical sailing and ship-building community is something we should celebrate and this venture will strengthen that connection."

Glyn Cheeseman of BWYC said: “We are delighted that these underused facilities will be busy once again promoting water-based activities for the University, but also creating a new home for local sailors.”

The new club is keen to work closely with interested members of the local community to ensure it provides a range of facilities and activities that they can enjoy. An Open Afternoon will be held at the clubhouse (45 Waterside, Brightlingsea, CO7 0AZ) on Saturday 19 March between 2pm and 5pm for prospective members and local residents interested in hearing more about the plans. It is planned to launch the new club, which will be established as a charitable trust, in July.

For more information on the Open Afternoon, please visit www.bwyc.co.uk or telephone 01206 873753.