A GO Fund Me page has been launched to help Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club, after a fire destroyed their club and around $50,000 in boats stored inside.
The club was closed when the blaze ignited at 5pm on Saturday, with many of its members away for a regatta.
NLSC Commodore Aymeric Cabuil said he had just arrived home from the regatta when he received a call that the club was on fire.
"We've got some members who were at the club for decades, so for them it's a lot of history that's gone," he said.
Mr Cabuil said he was told the fire started in a separate business, Jamieson Park Paddle, which is located in the adjacent premises.
A range of boats were locked inside the NLSC at the time of the fire, they include: 12 learn to sail boats, three club boats, a committee boat, and 12 boats owned by members that had been stored at the club.
More than $7000 has already been raised through the GoFundMe page so that the club can replace some of the boats that were destroyed.
While other sailing clubs have offered loan boats, right now NLSC has nowhere to store them if they took up the offer.
Long-term Mr Cabuil hopes the council-owned structure will be rebuilt, but in the meantime they're wondering how they'll operate during the usually busy summer months.
"The way forward is very unknown, but whatever happens we'll need money," he said.
The not-for-profit club is run by volunteers, with around 120 members from six to 80 years old involved in learn to sail programs, competitions and training.
"We've got a lot of families where the grandparents sail with their grandchildren," he said.
"I sail with my daughters, when we sail we're not family we're a team."
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Jamieson Park Paddle did not respond to the Northern Beaches Review's request for comment.
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
