Blessing for five new dinghies

Friday, 16 July 2010

FIVE new sailing dinghies belonging to the Sea Scouts have been blessed by a clergyman.

The Rev Geoffrey Richardson, of St Peter’s Church, Shaldon, performed the ceremony at the Coombe Cellars base of the Teign Corinthian Yacht Club.

The five new RS Q’ba craft were purchased by the River Teign Sea Scouts 1st Shaldon Cubs, with two grants totalling about £4,400 from the Awards for All Big Lottery Fund and the Devon Community Fund.

‘It was really good to have Mr Richardson come and bless these boats, because it allows the children to see things being done properly and see traditional values being kept up,’ said David Bayliss, the Sea Scouts’ senior sailing instructor.

The group also put on a water activity evening for their Beaver Section, in which 24 youngsters took part.

It was supported by Alec Collyer, who took the Sea Scouts out for a ride on his steam boat, one of only three that were built in Shaldon.