A SAILING club is maintaining its thriving community spirit during lockdown with a packed virtual schedule that even includes racing.

From e-sailing and fitness to quizzes and coaching, Ripon SC is helping members to stay in touch and have fun despite lockdown restrictions having prevented them from meeting or getting on the water as usual.

Following the government’s announcement that watersports are now an allowed form of exercise, inland clubs have to develop new policies and procedures before this can work in practice.

So Ripon sailors will be continuing to keep busy with their digital communications and activities.

Commodore Jamie Kerslake explains: “It’s all about offering members that sense of community and continuity.

"We wanted to keep members engaged and were also taking into account the demographic of our membership.

"A lot of them were self-isolating and so maintaining social interaction was really important for them.”

The club is using an e-sailing game to continue its racing.