16 Jul 2023

lfracombe Watersports Hub in Larkstone Cove is now open following an official grand opening on 13th July. 

The watersports hub gives new homes to three of the town's local clubs - Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club, Y-Sail and Ilfracombe Canoe Club. The new facility gives them the opportunity to extend their memberships to the wider community and offer taster events to local residents and visitors, while giving them storage for boats, a slipway for safe and easy access to the water and disabled access and facilities.

Commercial operators will also have access to the new facilities including H2Outdoors, Active Escape and Nick Thorn offering a range of activities including paddleboarding, kayaking and coasteering. National Scouts will also be using the hub as a base for watersports activities.

The project was made possible with funding contributions, including £1.5m from Heart of the South West LEP; £1.35m from the Coastal Communities Fund, and £130,000 from Sport England.

Contractors Pearce Construction have delivered the project after taking on the site in spring 2021. The centre's location, nestled in Larkstone Cove, and the requirement for a new sea wall and slipway made for a complex build. The bespoke sea wall blocks are uniquely modelled to fit the shape of cove, and could only be installed at certain points of the Ilfracombe tide.

Read full article on the North Devon Council website.