HRH The Princess Royal, Patron, Hornet Services Sailing Club visited the Club on Thursday 23 May to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Club’s founding and to officially open the Army Sailing Association Offshore Centre.
Formerly HMS Hornet, a Coastal Forces base during both World Wars, the Club shares a site with the Joint Service Adventurous Sail Training Centre and, collectively, they form the Services Offshore Sailing Centre.
Her Royal Highness was welcomed by the Club Commodore, Rear Admiral Richard Stokes, and met a number of Club members and guests, including founder members of the Club, former Commodores and Staff.
Her Royal Highness then visited the Club’s marina to view historic Coastal Forces Craft from World Wars I and II and HMS DASHER (Lieutenant Henry Edwards RN), one of the Royal Navy’s Archer Class P2000 patrol ships from the present Coastal Forces Squadron, before meeting personnel from all three Armed Forces on board Services Sailing Association racing yachts.
Her Royal Highness also officially opened the Army Sailing Association Offshore Centre where she was greeted by Major General Adrian Reilly and introduced to Army personnel involved in sail training. The Centre has been established in a refurbished Grade II* listed former Police Barracks dating from the 1850s. The building was refurbished with generous financial support from Historic England, Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown, Army Sport, and Hornet Services Sailing Club.
During her visit, Her Royal Highness engaged with some one hundred members of all three Armed Forces, veterans, local staff members and other guests.
