Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: MYST is well on the way to achieving its initial fund raising target of £10,000 and expects to see the first MYST sponsored youngsters out on the water this year. As a quick recap, MYST is a trust fund which has been created to provide funding support at the grass roots level of sailing for both newcomers to the sport and those wishing to push their sailing to higher levels. To achieve its aim the Trustees have been furiously fundraising in order to be able to make grants. As to who will qualify for funding, it is simply anyone under the age of 25 for whom a financial grant will make a difference. For example: Children who’ve had an introduction to sailing but can’t afford to take up the sport in earnest Young sailors who want to test themselves at national or international level but are struggling to find enough money to cover the costs Teenagers who would like to learn more about big boat racing and cruising but who can’t keep up with the financial requirements of being a member of a crew And perhaps most importantly, those children who have no access to our sport at all but who could benefit from getting out on the water and testing themselves against the elements—children for whom sailing offers an opportunity to achieve. It is these young people that MYST has been set up to help. We have laid out a plan which involves talking to schools, local authorities and like minded charities and, with funding almost in place, we are ready to implement it. To date we have raised nearly £7000 towards a launch target of £10,000. It’s not an insignificant amount but we do need to make sure that once we invite applications for grants, we are able to respond effectively and just as importantly, that we give MYST every chance of obtaining charitable status. The highlight of this summer will be the MYST Boadicea Pursuit Race which aims to see as many youngsters as possible out on the water in Smacks, classic yachts, cruisers, racers and day boats. They’ll be chasing down the Boadicea, Reuben Frost’s Oyster Smack which is 200 years old this summer. Reuben believes passionately that all children should be given the opportunity to sail and has agreed to align Boadicea’s official birthday celebrations with the WMYC hosted MYST race. MYST needs your ongoing support in order to reach its initial funding target and enable those first financial grants as soon as possible. This will set the ball rolling for the future which we hope will see more young sailors benefiting from the life-changing experiences that we sailors know the sport has to offer in today’s risk adverse society. Liz Harrison Chairman of Trustees Text Box: MERSEA YOUTH SAILING TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boadicea, the historic Mersea Oyster Smack, is to celebrate her 200th birthday with MYST.

 

Boadicea will lead the charge around the River Blackwater in the West Mersea Yacht Club’s MYST Boadicea Pursuit Race on Saturday 16th August.   … more

MYST BOAT JUMBLE RAISES MUCH NEEDED FUNDS

 

 

 

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SUNSHINE AND ROSES       

 

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CO-OP SUPPORTS MYST      

 

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