Minima YC Sails for Gold 

Minima Yacht Club’s memorable Olympic year reached its climax with a ‘Sail for Gold Regatta’ sponsored by TWM Solicitors on the River Thames on 2-3 September 2012.

Previously the club, in Kingston-upon-Thames, had held a ‘Sail for Gold’open day on the 9 June, and opened the club for visitors to salute the Olympic Torch as it passed the club on board the royal barge ‘Gloriana’ on its journey down river to the opening ceremony on 27 July.

The Sail for Gold events were part of a nationwide RYA initiative to bring the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as close to home as possible for everyone, regardless of where people live.

The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston, Mary Heathcote OBE, presented the trophies at the regatta and recalled Minima’s role hosting the town’s beacon lighting party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on 4 June.

Minima member Steve Collins says: “The regatta gave Minima a chance to show off its revamped premises, courtesy of a generous grant from the Sport England ‘Inspired Facilities’ initiative facilitated by the RYA and a lot of hard work by volunteers.

“The club is transformed upstairs and down, now lighter and airy and open to the views across the Thames. The new more welcoming and open look is bearing fruit already in increased membership interest, and it will be a great and lasting Olympic benefit to get more sailors enjoying sailing on the river.”

There was a good turnout of 30 craft on the water for the regatta, including visitors from Tamesis Club, Thames SC, Upper Thames SC and TwickenhamYC for the three races on Saturday and Sunday.

Winners were presented with RYA Sail for Gold medals and also took home bottles of bubbly from TWM.

Results (Minima unless stated).  A Rater: Martin Hunter, Jacques Hunter, Roger Stafford, Sue Williams (Thames SC). Enterprise: Alan Jales, Heather Elwin. Merlin: Mike Stevens, Jodock Gerber (Tamesis Club). Solo: Ali Banks. Handicap: Tom Hill, Luke Crawford (Twickenham YC)

To find out more about Minima Yacht Club visit www.minimayc.co.uk

To find out more about the Sail for Gold programme visit www.rya.org.uk/sailforgold

Pictures credit Peter Halligan