Best Strokes Forward - Aldeburgh to Orford Flotilla Raises £45,000

Enormous thanks to everyone who got involved and supported our second flotilla on Sunday 4th September.

More than 100 swimmers and paddlers made their way along the 7 kilometres from Aldeburgh Yacht Club to Orford Sailing Club with the support from safety boats and the RNLI. First to complete the course were nifty paddlers Clare and Edward Greenwell, with Peter Undery and Melissa Dowell being the fastest male and female swimmers, respectively.

Local residents and volunteers were at the Orford Sailing Club finish line to congratulate the flotilla participants as they completed the course. With match funding from Cobra Mist Ltd, £45,000 has been raised to help protect the estuary.

The flotilla was led by Event Director Mark Nicholls, Event Director, who said, “We were absolutely delighted to have the support of so many swimmers and paddlers. Our team of hardworking volunteers together with the generous support of local business sponsors, ensured there was a wonderful atmosphere throughout the flotilla and a fantastic amount of money raised to help protect our beautiful estuary”.

The funds raised by The Alde & Ore Estuary Trust support the upgrade of vital flood defences of the River Alde & Ore to protect the area’s economy, homes and landscape from floods such as those of 1953 which devastated the area and the 2013 storm surge which breached the Hazelwood Marsh, west of Aldeburgh.