Suspicious fire causes severe damage at Port Esperance Sailing Club

All of its boats and safety equipment are gone, its storage facility burned to the ground. But there was one saving grace despite severe damage.

A fire ripped through Port Esperance Sailing Club at Dover overnight. Police are investigating.

TASMANIA Police is investigating a suspicious fire overnight at a 100-year-old community sailing club that destroyed all of its boats, life jackets, safety equipment, a key storage facility and half its main clubrooms – but there was one saving grace.

Members of the Port Esperance Sailing Club at Dover, about 80km south of Hobart, had a recent working bee to paint the clubhouse.

To prepare for the work they removed most of the contents, including historic items and irreplaceable memorabilia.

They are stored safely off-site at the property of a sailing club member.

Esperance Sailing Club, before it was severely damaged from fire.

However, a second building where the club’s sailing dinghies were kept, and all of the associated equipment such as sails, life jackets, buoys and other general gear, were destroyed.

PESC Commodore Matt Wardell was shocked when he saw the extent of the damage.

“The firies and inspectors are still here assessing the damage at the moment and doing their investigation,” he said.

“It’s a very sorry day for the club. Incredibly disappointing.

“We’ve worked so hard over the past year or so. It’s a very small community. We’ve got a dinghy fleet here with a growing number of youth starting to take up sailing.

“But all of that equipment is now gone.

“That, for me, is the most disappointing.

“The building itself is an historical structure. It has been in Dover for over 100 years.

“If we could salvage what’s left of that, that would at least be something for the club – all the rest has gone.

“It’s devastating.”

TASMANIA HAS LOST ONE OF ITS FINEST MARINERS

Tasmania Fire Service crews were called to the PESC shortly after 10pm, Thursday April 23, and found the club ablaze.

Police and fire investigators remain at the scene.

In a statement, Tasmania Police said: “There appears to be suspicious circumstances and investigations are continuing.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kingston CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers

Anonymously on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au