A GROUP providing sailing opportunities for disabled people on Portland has named two new boats.

Chesil Sailability, based at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, hosted a boat naming ceremony earlier this week.

The group was celebrating the acquisition of a Hawk Day keelboat and a 2.4m single person Paralympic racing boat.

Both were purchased for the group by Elma Shipley. Mrs Shipley has been a keen supporter of Chesil Sailability, having previously donated two Hansa dinghies.

The dinghies are named Rod Shipley 1 and Rod Shipley 2, after her husband, Rod, who passed away in 2012.

During the recent boat naming ceremony, Mrs Shipley was present to help christen the Hawk Day keelboat 'Alpha Blue' and name the 2.4m racing boat 'Aurora'. Both boats will also carry Rod Shipley's name.

Rod spent many years in the Royal Navy with his last posting in Portland. He ran Chesil Beach Motors for a number of years and became involved with the Royal Dorset Yacht Club.

Following his death, Mrs Shipley set up the Rod Shipley Memorial Fund with the Chesil Trust, to create opportunities for people to get involved in sailing.

Dozens of people attended the ceremony, which took place on the same day the group held a sailing session.

Discussing the boats, Mrs Shipley said: "I haven't seen [the boats] before tonight.

"After I purchased them for the Trust, I had an accident and for five months I was away.

"It was nice seeing them and how they are serving the people well."

Mrs Shipley said it was important to keep her husband's name going on Portland.

Marcus Frith, chair of Chesil Sailability's committee, said: "We have a wide range of sailing opportunities and these boats are just going to expand that."

Among the guests at the boat naming ceremony was Mayor of Portland, Cllr Sandy West.

Cllr West said: "What [Elma] has done to help is tremendous, absolutely tremendous.

"I'm very proud of them - all of them - the committee and especially the sailors."

Cllr West said Chesil Sailability gave joy to a number of people, describing the group as 'absolutely fabulous'.

She added: "Just coming here and seeing this, you want to do this."

For more information about Chesil Sailability, please visit chesilsailability.org.uk/

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