RESTRONGUET Sailing Club was awash with members at the weekend to witness the opening of the newly refurbished premises.

The event on Sunday also provided the opportunity to welcome new members and marked the completion of the first three phases to improve the club.

The female members now have bigger, and much improved, changing and shower facilities. The kitchen has been enlarged and updated and the bar refurbished.

More work will take place at a later date on the main clubroom and men's changing area.

In his welcoming remarks commodore Roger Winslade said: "The value of the club is in its members, and what members do for the club."

He said that everyone was welcome whether they wanted to win a gold medal at the Olympics or just sail to St Just.

He thanked members of the committee of the past few years, particularly the previous treasurer Graham Hunt, for his sound management of the club's financial affairs, which enabled the improvements to be paid for out of club funds.

He also thanked club member and builder, Eddy Shelton and his staff, for carrying out the work and meeting the opening deadline.

Ribbons were cut by long standing member, Mrs Elizabeth Ferris, who with her husband, Henry, visit the club each week, and also by the club's newest member, Dave Shere, a Laser sailor.

The same day the club learnt that Optimist sailor Edward Powys, had been selected to represent Britain for the third successive year in the European Championship to take place later this summer. Fellow Restronguet member Jamie Watts narrowly missed selection.

The two youngsters were among the country's top 80 Optimist sailors to compete for one of the eight places. The selections took place over two long weekends in Weymouth.

The European event is being held at Starigrad in Croatia from July 7-11.