An east Suffolk sailing club needs to raise £80,000 to help ensure it stays afloat and continues to grow in the future by creating a new launch for its vessels.

Southwold Sailing Club has launched an appeal on the Crowdfunder website to coincide with its 75th anniversary this year in an effort to replace the club's dinghy launching slip on the River Blyth with a new and fortified structure.

Karen Hubbard, a committee member at the club, said the existing slip was getting old and experiencing the effects of river erosion as the structure is buffeted by really strong currents in that section of the river.

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Southwold Sailing Club has launched a crowdfunder appeal for £80,000Southwold Sailing Club has launched a Crowdfunder appeal for £80,000 (Image: Southwold Sailing Club) Dangerous cracks have appeared in eroded sections of the slipway and dinghy launching can now only happen at high tide.

Without a better launch, the club will struggle to get its dinghies into the water, but Ms Hubbard said with proper infrastructure, the club would be guaranteed "many, many years of access to the River Blyth for dinghies".

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She said: "The club would not completely fold, but it would be limping. We want the club to stay afloat and we want people to enjoy it. The new launch is hugely necessary really.

"We want to continue onwards and upwards and we want it to be safer to launch."

Southwold Sailing Club now has 200 membersSouthwold Sailing Club now has 200 members (Image: Southwold Sailing Club) The club was founded in 1949 and has grown to 200 members currently, while the existing slipway was installed in the 1980s.

The club has an active sailing programme for racing, cruising and taster days, along with social events and regattas and often hosts other east coast sailing clubs, while the sailing season mainly runs from April to October.

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The club's commodore Henry Walker said: “A new slip will help to secure this important asset for the next 75 years and enable those of all ages to dip their toes into this exhilarating activity.

"Sailing enhances the physical and mental wellbeing of all those who take part and Southwold Sailing Club is keen to use its training boats and qualified instructors to encourage new members to become part of this amazing community, while gaining skills and confidence.”

To support the fundraising campaign, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/saveourslip