Throughout the month of May, Sailing Clubs and marinas are being encouraged to host a start-the-season afternoon tea party – Tea by the Sea – to raise money for Sail4Cancer, a charity supporting people who live with cancer. Supporters can hold events anywhere at all – so it doesn’t matter if you’re not near the sea, you could create the essence of being there by having a go at a nautical quiz or even dressing up as pirates!

Sail 4 Cancer is a charity that aims to raise funds for cancer treatment, care and research through the organisation of a variety of sailing events, including record attempts and regattas, with people of all ages contributing. They also provide sailing opportunities for the patients and their families to help improve their quality of life.

The charity’s website also suggests that for clubs and mariners it is a brilliant way of greeting the summer season, as they can ‘use the event to hold a day of fun races and competitions. It is not just to welcome back existing members but to attract new recruits too through “try sailing” taster sessions’.

The Upper Thames Sailing Club has already organised an event: on Sunday 13 May UTSC will be holding an Open Day in which you will get the chance to enjoy the location of the club, getting out on the water with an instructor as well as a spot of tea and cakes in the afteroon and all will be in aid of Sail 4 Cancer.

The club is open from 10am till 4.30pm on May 13 and you don’t have to be a sailor to join in!

If you would like to hold a Tea by the Sea event please go to www.sail4cancer.org for more details.