The refurbishment of washrooms at a yacht club in the south will make a “huge difference” to members and those learning to sail, the club has said.

The Isle of Man Yacht Club has been awarded a £35,000 grant to overhaul the shower facilities at its Lime Street base in Port St Mary.

Established in 1910, the club offers courses and holds a series of competitions for island sailors.

Treasurer David Hill said the update provided room for more people to use the facilities after sailing activities.

“Until now, to avoid adults and children being in the shower facility at the same time, some adult sailors have chosen to change in the boat park, so this upgrade will benefit them,” he said.

The current clubhouse was built in 1975, when the male showers and washroom facilities were constructed, before female showers were added in 2001.

In the refurbishment, a store cupboard has been converted to provide an extra shower space and the existing facilities have been updated.

The recently completed project, which began in 2020, faced delays due to difficulties securing materials post-Covid.

Mr Hill said: “All existing racing crews will benefit from the improved set-up as well as those attending sailing and powerboat training courses.”

“We always aim to make the clubhouse accessible and, as members get older, the need for disabled facilities is ever-increasing,” he said.

That would be in addition to a chair lift, which was installed “several years ago” and had “enabled a number of members to continue as a social member once their active sailing days are over”, he added.

The club offers courses for dinghies, cruisers, and powerboats and sail training for children from the age of eight.

It also hosts competitive racing series for mixed-fleet dinghies, sports boats, and yachts in the summer months.

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