TWO proud sailing enthusiasts took possession of their newly-built Solent Sunbeams at a launching ceremony at Haines Boatyard, Itchenor.
Tina Webster, standing on the right, has bought the ivory-coloured Molly and Nicola Harvey has acquired the turquoise-hulled Alchemy.
Both new owners have previously sailed and raced in the Solent Sunbeam fleet based at Itchenor Sailing Club, and last autumn decided buy their own GRP-hulled boats, which are made on the Isle of Wight and fitted out by Haines to an extremely-high standard.
The new boats look and sail exactly like the other 21 wooden Sunbeams, some of which are 90 years old this year. The class has exciting day racing throughout the season in Chichester Harbour, Hayling Bay and in the Cowes Solent Regattas.
Tina’s daytime job is head of the commercial property team at Thomas Eggar in Chichester and Nichola is consultant in obstetrics at London’s Kings College Hospital.
Both lead busy professional lives and both appreciate the beauty of the 1920s design combined with the ease of maintenance of the new GRP hull.
Tina will be racing Molly with Chichester-based chartered surveyor Richard Stevens and Nicola will be racing Alchemy with her doctor husband Mark, who shares her passion for racing and co-owns the new yacht.
ROGER WICKENS