On and off the Water

Another day, another Christmas tree, and this time a photo taken to highlight a regular news e-bulletin sent weekly to members of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.

The bulletin is intended to keep members up to date with all that’s happening in and around the busy and active Club which happens to be one of the oldest Royal yacht clubs in the country, having received its Royal Charter back in 1875, although it’s history can be traced back even earlier.

One of its treasured possessions is a gold cup presented to the Club by Queen Victoria with the intention that it should be awarded each year to the winner of the opening day’s racing at the famous Cowes Week regatta. And it still is.

The Club is a partner in the Cowes Week organisation and by long tradition runs the first day’s racing in the renowned sailing waters of the Solent.

The Christmas tree placed between the sweeping entrance steps to the main clubhouse in Southampton’s Ocean Village, is rather more than a mere festive decoration though.

It will be the focus for an open air carol singalong, accompanied by music from the local Salvation Army Band in the run up to Christmas itself.

In the meantime the photo will arrive on Yacht Club members’ computers in the morning as an illustration to a number of events to celebrate the Club’s own festive activities both on and off the water.