Royal Southern Yacht Club annual prizegiving ceremony

Winners of the Admiral's Trophy at the Royal Southern Yacht Club annual Prizegiving were represented by Oppie Squad members Abby Childerley, Ben Childerley, Sam Richards and Nick Walters, pictured with (left) Nick Lee Grant Thornton and Chris Mansfield © Mike Austen

A glittering array of superb silver and glassware was handed out to some surprised and delighted recipients at the Royal Southern Yacht Club’s annual Prizegiving ceremony held on Saturday, 13th November.

Running to an expertly delivered and tight script, the Commodore Mr John Beardsley presented the prizes ably assisted by the evening’s organiser, Shira Robinson. One of many high points of this Grant Thornton-sponsored awards evening, the first time in the Club’s history that the Prizegiving has been sponsored, was the presentation of the Club’s most prestigious annual prize, The Admiral’s Trophy, awarded each year on a revolving basis to a different division of the Club and in recognition of a special achievement.

This year, The Admiral’s Trophy was awarded to the 2010 Royal Southern YC Optimist Squad by the Club’s Youth Committee. The Trophy was presented to four members of the Oppie Squad, Abby Childerley, Ben Childerley, Sam Richards and Nicholas Walters and the young recipients received special congratulations from Mr Nick Lee, Regional Head of Financial Planning at Grant Thornton.

There was an excellent turnout of 21 Optimist sailors representing the Royal Southern at this year’s UK Nationals held in Weymouth. For many this was their first taste of racing at a UK Championships and it was a fantastic experience for these youngsters. They all said that they really enjoyed being at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy and being part of a championship that welcomed 435 competitors.

The Commodore’s Cup is a new trophy donated by the outgoing Commodore John Beardsley to the recently formed Royal Southern Academy for outstanding achievement. It was jointly awarded this year to Andy Shaw and Guy Jackson for their respective achievements in international team and match racing events during 2010.

Leading by example...

Royal Southern member Carolyn Sinclair who has been wheelchair-bound for 20 years as a result of Multiple Sclerosis taking its toll on her, is nonetheless utterly focused and determined by example to help encourage others with disabilities to take up the sport and keep sailing. Carolyn and her husband Colin came a creditable 3rd in the IRC Class racing back from Poole to Hamble for the Stanfield Cup. Carolyn proudly helmed their boat Blustery Day for the entire leg and they led the fleet nearly all the way to the finish line, only losing out because, as she put it, “the wind suddenly changed direction and got the better of me!”

Always an emotional moment is an award only announced on the night and given in memory of Royal Southern Yacht Club Member William Sparshatt-Worley, who was so tragically killed whilst crewing on Bounder at Key West in Miami, 13 years ago today. The William Sparshatt Worley Memorial Trophy was given to the Royal Southern Yacht Club by Will’s father, Mike Sparshatt-Worley and originally came from The Royal Yacht Britannia.

This trophy is awarded annually for a Club Member’s outstanding achievement in the Black Group at Cowes Week but this year it went to the SB3 World Champion Jerry Hill for his outstanding success at the SB3 Worlds held at Lake Garda in July, the feeling being that Will would have approved of this as the Club are sure he would have sailed an SB3. Jerry Hill also picked up the Lovell Bowl donated by Past Commodore Tony Lovell.

These are just a fraction of the night’s honours that numbered in excess of 60 exquisite trophies and a hundred pieces of glassware being handed out. The full Honours List is published on the Club’s website.

Help for Heroes fundraising events reap superb results

The Royal Southern Yacht Club is delighted to announce that as part of its continued fundraising support for the charity Help for Heroes, the Club’s members and their guests have raised in excess of £68,000 having hosted two very well-attended evening functions over the past 18 months. Fundraising initiatives have included raffles, lucky dips and an auction full of superb promises and there have also been some generous donations added to the pot.

Most recently, the Club held a Night for Heroes Dinner, generously sponsored by GJW Direct and with entertainment from classical singer Natalie Chua who, at only 17 years old is already a platinum-selling artist. The evening commenced with a Wine Reception sponsored by Hennings Wine Merchants and with music by the Watercress Quartet, followed by a sumptuous Dinner prepared by the Club's chef Lawrence Hall and his team and a stellar performance from Natalie. Guests were addressed by the Help for Heroes Charity of the Year Manager, Sarah Walker, who explained the role that Help for Heroes plays in providing direct practical support for our wounded, what its plans are and how the funds raised are being spent.

The Auction was conducted by Geoff Warde MBE and the Night for Heroes raised just short of £11,000.