Robert Lineham, Charity Steward of Father Thames Lodge and keen sailor at Queen Mary Reservoir Staines applied for assistance for purchase of a Challenger racing boat for disabled sailors under the national Sailability scheme which has a base at the reservoir. The boat is a specific class for disabled sailors being a trimaran with a single seat monohull in the centre and two outrigger pontoons to provide stability. The controls are centralised in the snug cockpit enabling single handed operation. The boat is very sleek and capable of a pretty speedy 15 knots or so on two hulls in either marine or inland conditions.

Alan Woolford who heads the Sailability unit invited the trustees of MPMCT to name the boat in the presence of representatives of Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs from Shepperton and Feltam who had also made a contribution to the costs.

Two of the QM club’s disabled young sailors attended the launch, David who has no flexible leg use and Alex who is wheelchair bound were part of the GB team who have just returned from Portugal where the World Championships have been taking place. Rough sea conditions made racing difficult nevertheless the team obtained very creditable finishes of fourth and sixth in the qualifying races. John Driver, their coach and also disabled, came fifth overall in the coaches regatta.

David was duly loaded into the cockpit and MPMCT Trustee W Bro Adrian Howorth named the boat Middlesex Freemason wishing her and her sailors well while pouring a (small) quantity of champagne over the bow in celebration. The name Middlesex Freemason was chosen by Sailability to mark to continuing association of Middlesex Province with their efforts after a more sedate Lugger style boat was presented some years ago.