HRH Princess Anne stopped in at the PSP Southampton Boat Show yesterday for two official engagements.
 
The Princess Royal attended the naming of round-the-world solo yachtsman Mike Golding‘s IMOCA 60 Yacht Gamesa, which will help Golding compete in the Vendee Globe race beginning in November next year.
 
“It’s a great day for me and the whole team to be here at the PSP Southampton Boat Show with our newly optimised IMOCA 60,” Golding said. “It is a real honour that the boat’s Godmother, HRH The Princess Royal, has agreed to dedicate the yacht in its new colours as Gamesa. This is the beginning of the intensive run up towards the Vendee Globe in 2012.”
 
Princess Anne also presented The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to charity Ocean Youth Trust South.
 
The presentation was made to 23-year-old Ben Martin, a volunteer who had sailed with the charity as a young person.
 
HRH The Princess Royal met other volunteers from the charity, including volunteers, trustees and young adults who have sailed with OYT South.
 
“It’s a great honour for the charity to receive the award for voluntary services,” said chief executive Mark Todd. “It is fantastic recognition of our work and more importantly of the dedication and hard work of our volunteers in delivering first class sail training voyages. We hope this award will significantly help us in fundraising for our new boat.”
 
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