HRH Prince Michael of Kent visits Royal Southampton Yacht Club

HRH Prince Michael of Kent gave the thumbs up to sailing facilities on the Beaulieu River © RSYC

HRH Prince Michael of Kent gave the thumbs up to sailing facilities on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire by opening enhanced facilities installed by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club to benefit young and disabled sailors at its Gins Clubhouse by the river estuary.

Prince Michael is Admiral of the Club and visited the Clubhouse at St Leonard’s, Beaulieu to unveil a commemorative board, see the new amenities for himself and formally open the extended pontoon on the river.

The pontoon has been doubled in length and a floating ramp installed which will benefit all yachtsman arriving at the Club by water and significantly improve launching and landing arrangements for young and disabled sailors.

He was met by the Commodore, Susan Lamb and her husband Robert, along with Flag Officers Wing Commander Gordon Agnew, Vice-Commodore, and his wife Christine, and Rear Commodore Sailing, Brian Hinde and his wife Lesley. After the ceremony he took time out to meet and speak with members before boarding the yacht Alana 111 at the invitation of Club member, Judge James Hanratty.

Among the guests at the reception was Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, a past Commodore of the Club.

The project is the culmination of several years planning to enhance sailing facilities on the River for Club members and visiting yachtsmen as well as providing specially geared amenities for the young and disabled, and involved negotiations with Lord Montagu’s Beaulieu Estates, the River authorities, local planners and Natural England to preserve the river’s ecology and delicate balance within the New Forest National Park.

The improvements represent an investment of £23,000 and have been funded by the Club and its members who enthusiastically supported the extension, many of whom became affectionately known as “plankers’’ having bought individual planks used in construction of the extension.

The extra length to the pontoon enables more boats to moor alongside, providing walk ashore benefits for sailors.

The Club also maintains a bosun service to ferry yachtsmen and their families or crew to boats moored on the river. Because of its location, the clubhouse is a popular venue for visiting sailors from many other Solent region clubs.

John Knight Chairman of the Gins Management Committee said “Our new pontoon has dramatically improved the Club's ability to host events for young and disabled sailors and as an added bonus improved our capacity for temporary berthing for both Club members and visiting yachtsmen. Thanks are due to the members who have largely funded this project with “a buy a plank” campaign and the plaque, unveiled by the Admiral, will be displayed in the Gins clubhouse recording the long list of “Plankers” who have donated to the cause.”

As Admiral of the Club, Prince Michael is a keen advocate of the Royal Southampton and its sailing activities which include pioneering double handed racing in the UK, year round racing and cruising programmes, and this year, being host to the J Class Regatta which will see a return of 1930s style super yachts to the Solent. Its race management and organisational expertise is widely recognised through involvement with organisation of the August Cowes Week regatta, and this year the Olympic sailing events.

It is also one of the oldest royal yacht clubs in the country, having received it1875 and has the unique resource of having two clubhouses, one on a waterfront development at Ocean Village close to Southampton city centre, and the other at Gins which is often regarded as the club’s ‘jewel in the crown’ because of its idyllic location and facilities adjacent to the country’s most respected sailing waters of the Solent.

"This new facility will bring benefits for members as well as cadets and disabled sailors," said the Commodore, Susan Lamb. "It has been achieved as a result of a magnificent effort by many members working together for their Club and has greatly improved the facilities at our Gins Clubhouse on the beautiful Beaulieu River."