A voluntary organisation that helps young people learn to sail on the North Cornwall coast is today counting the cost of a weekend of vandalism.

Nine mainsails belonging to the Camel Estuary Youth Sailing Club were cut by vandals using a stanley knife on Saturday night.

The club has only been in existence for three years and shares a club house and safety boat with the Rock Sailing and Waterski Club.

Camel Estuary Youth Sailing (CEYS) has raised funds through grant giving trusts, the local authority, the National Lottery, Cornwall Community Foundation, The Padstow Harbour Commissioners and some individual donations and now owns 9 Picos, 2 Toppers, 5 Fevas, 1 Funboat, 1 Escape and 5 x 420s.

A spokesman for the charity told the BBC: “There are about 50 to 60 boats left on the beach overnight but it seems that only our boats were targeted.”