For the third year running the Royal Southern Yacht Club arranged to take sixteen deaf sailors for a day out on the water. Several of the participants have attended this event in previous years and two sailors had taken part in the BT Global Challenge.

This year the plan was to watch the last day of the X-Yachts Solent Cup followed by visits to various parts of the Solent. Alan Davies, one of the Royal Southern Sailability representatives, kindly helped with the safety briefing prior to boarding the boats

Sunny weather with a nice breeze allowed several of the sailors to take the helm and enjoy a good sail. In addition to two sailing boats (thanks to Martin and Christine Hoar with Harmony and Colin Sinclair with a new Hansa yacht) Jerry and Peggy kindly took out their wonderful old Dunkirk Little ship Tahilla and Liz and Frank Chalstrey their new Beneteau motor boat yet to be officially named.

Frank and Liz decided to visit the Beaulieu River, Tahilla and Harmony the Medina River in Cowes and Colin Sinclair took his party to several interesting destinations. David Mead with his RIB Bartender took photographs of the sailors out on the water accompanied by Jo Mawby from RYA Sailability

A most enjoyable day which ended up back at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble for the compulsory glass (or two) of Pimms!

David Mead
Rear Commodore Sailing
Royal Southern Yacht Club