YOUNG people with learning difficulties and schoolchildren are set to benefit from a new dinghy at Otley Sailing Club.

Thanks to a grant of around £4,000 from global outsourcing company EDS Ltd, the club has been able to buy an access dinghy.

It is the fifth sailing boat at the club, based at the lagoons behind the former Bridge End auction mart, specially designed for use by people with disabilities.

The boats are impossible to capsize and can be sailed either by one person or by two - depending on the skill of the sailor.

Norman Stephens, the club's sailing principal and a teacher at the John Smeaton School at Leeds, said sailing was a great bonus for young people with disabilities.

"I teach a group of Downs Syndrome sixth formers and this is a morale boosting lesson for them. One of the comments I had from one was that it was the first time ever he had felt free when he was sailing. It gives them total independence."

The boats can also used by sailors with sight difficulties -- although no sight impaired people currently use the facilities at the club.

But in the past, Mr Stephens has taught a young girl from Wetherby who is totally blind and is now being considered for the 2008 Paralympics.

The club is in the process of buying a £10,500 power boat which will also be used by both disabled and able bodied sailors.

Mr Stephens has been promised £2,000 from a private company, hopes to get matched funding from the Sportsmatch section of the National Lottery and also has backing from local Round Tables.

"We do have people desperately waiting for this boat. It will mean people in wheelchairs will be able to wheel right on into the driving position."

As well as disabled sailors, the club is also expanding its involvement with primary schools in the area and this summer will be running sessions with Hawksworth Primary School.

Roger Bumby, headteacher at Hawks-worth School said older children would be learning sailing during the summer and he also hoped the school would be hosting a session for new parents and children at the club.

"We went up there last year with a sports development officer who has now moved on. I made some enquiries and we'll be going up over the summer. We're also hoping to have an afternoon with new parents and their children."

Following last week's launch, the club had its annual trophy presentation.