Twickenham Yacht Club’s annual ball and prize giving, held in the Waldegrave Suite at St Mary’s College, featured a tale by Mayor of Richmond David Marlow of his youthful exploits as a guest of the club.

Taking part in a week at sister club Keyhaven, on the south coast, the mayor recalled how a boat slipped off a steep shingle beach, and the boat sent to rescue it capsized in the process.

Both boats were taken in tow by another, powered, sailing yacht but that was unable to contend with the strong tide. A passing passenger liner’s tender finally towed them all to safety.

On discussing the issue of salvage compensation, the captain of the liner declined any compensation, saying that the whole spectacle had provided such valuable entertainment for his passengers.

TYC organises regular dinghy racing on the river, with most of the racing taking place downstream from Eel Pie Island. The Commodore, Alistair Edwards, reported an excellent year’s racing, with a group of keen sailors regularly competing on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.

Since the Club was founded in 1897, it has been presented with a very impressive collection of trophies. Among the oldest are the Shead Cup (1921), the Foreman Cup (1932) and the Featherstonehaugh Cup (1931).

The first three cups presented were for the winners of the Sunday morning race series. The winning helms were Jim Francis (Enterprise Class), Ian Herst (Solo Class) and Alistair Edwards (National 12 Class). Herst was also presented with a trophy for winning the Glovers Island race.

The Crew Salver for the Sunday Morning series was awarded to Amy McElroy. The Wednesday evening handicap series was won by Roger Hidden, with Kate Tindale winning the Crew’s Salver.

In the Winter Handicap series the overall winner was Alistair Edwards, with Gill Timmis winning the trophy for the Enterprise class. Alistair Edwards won the Smithy Cup (for Lifeboat Week races), and Roger Hidden the Greville Giddings Trophy for the Round the Bends Race and the Nephele series of races.

The Jack Edmunds trophy for the long distance race to Teddington was won by Ian Herst and the Eel Pie salver for the most improved helm was awarded to local teenager Tom Hill. The Cutty Sark trophy was won by Jim Francis.

The 2011 sailing programme commences with a Start of Season talk at the clubhouse on Sunday March 6 at 10.30 a.m. Anyone interested in sailing with the club will be most welcome to attend this talk. People with no previous sailing experience can become involved by crewing in a two person dinghy with an experienced helm.

Sunday morning sailing recommences March 20 and continues until just before Christmas.

For further information please visit www.twickenhamyc.co.uk