Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 90
on the water
Island Life - December 2010
Photo: Grainne Andrews, Penny Acton, Sue Bonham, Brian Thompson
(Guest speaker), Graham Andrews, Chris Stevens, Emma Stevens, Mike
Acton (IYWAC Centre manager)
Island Youth Water
Activities Centre
host fundraising
dinner
Photo: Left to right; Kevin Richardson, Sally Harrison, Josh Robbins, Sara P rice, Helen Gilpin, Nick
Hazeldine, Tim Acton, Mike Acton, Steve Dines
The Cowes based watersports charity,
Jamie Sheldon. One of the star lots was
Accelerators who took to the stage
the Island Youth Water Activities Centre
a day’s sailing on a Hanse 400 donated
later in the evening and guests danced
(IYWAC) hosted a fundraising dinner at
by Ondeck Sailing with world renowned
until the early hours.
the Royal Yacht Squadron. The evening
sailor, Brian Thompson as skipper.
was supported by local and Island based
The auction alone raised a whopping
said, “The evening was a great success,
businesses, customers and friends of
£8,000 and, together with the other
made possible by the generous
the Centre. 200 guests enjoyed dinner,
fundraising activities, the evening
support of many Island businesses and
dancing and fundraising activities in the
raised around £12,000 which will be a
individuals who kindly donated all our
RYS Pavilion.
tremendous boost to the Centre.
auction and prize items. I would also
Nick Bonham, the well known
Brian Thompson was also the Guest of
Mike Acton, IYWAC Centre Manager
like to thank the members, flag officers
auctioneer and charity fundraiser, acted
Honour for the evening. Brian who is
and staff of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
as MC and auctioneer for the evening.
based in Cowes, is a vastly experienced
The money raised from the evening
The evening’s fundraising activities got
and successful offshore racer with more
will help us continue providing quality
under way with a fun game of Heads
multihull sailing miles than any other
watersports experiences to young
& Tails followed by an auction. Nick
Briton today. Brian brought tales of his
people on the Isle of Wight.”
Bonham managed to ‘encourage’ a few
solo voyage in the Vendee Globe Round
last-minute auction items from some of
the World Race to life for the dinner
the guests present, one of which was
guests.
a day’s shoot for 9 people donated by
90
To learn more about the Centre go to
www.iywac.org.uk
Live music was provided by The
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