Greenwich Yacht Club does its bit for 200 year-old RNLI with fundraising race

 

Greenwich Yacht Club, based near the Thames Barrier, celebrated the RNLI’s 200th anniversary of saving lives at sea with a fundraising yacht race on Saturday.

The fundraising included a race entry fee, sales of uniquely branded polo and t-shirts, an online prize challenge to win a two-night stay for two at the Hampton by Hilton hotel in Canterbury, and a Race Day raffle.

When all the funds have been received, Greenwich Yacht Club expects to hand over more than £1,000 to its local Tower Lifeboat Station.

The main event was a race downriver and back, shortened on the day due to light winds. Of 11 starters, just two boats completed the course under sail. After more than four hours’ sailing, the adjusted time difference between them was a mere 13 seconds.

The winner’s trophy, a ship’s decanter donated by Davy’s Wine Merchants of Greenwich, was presented to race winner Jo Wightman and her crew by Greenwich Yacht Club’s oldest member, 94 year-old Stan Payne.

In attendance were Stephen Wheatley of the Tower Lifeboat Station, and the Deputy Mayor of Greenwich, councillor Linda Bird.

“It was a very demanding set of racing conditions, though supporting the RNLI made us more determined to complete the course,” said Jo Wightman.

The RNLI’s Tower Lifeboat station is one of only four that is manned 24/7, partly by a small professional crew plus a roster of 60 volunteers. It is the busiest station in the country, and was the first RNLI station to make over 10,000 callouts.

Greenwich Yacht Club was founded in 1908 to provide sailing and social facilities for workers on the River Thames. Today it is a Community Amateur Sports Club with a strong self-help ethos of being run by members for the benefit of members.

It is an RYA Training Centre, and provides opportunities for yacht and dinghy sailing, powerboating, and rowing in nine-seater cutters.

In 2025, Greenwich Yacht Club will celebrate 25 years in its award-winning clubhouse which is built on a platform out in the River Thames.

Prospective new members, whether boat owners or not, whether experienced or keen to learn, are warmly welcome in the clubhouse’s fully stocked bar on Tuesday evenings.