IT was the moment they had all been waiting for.

The Princess Royal tilted a bottle of champagne over the bows of two new boats before giving a group of disabled sailors the royal nod of approval.

Members of Lymington SailAbility watched on proudly as the Queen's daughter named the new safety vessel Pebble Beach and the group's specially-adapted trimaran Aly Cat.

After performing her ceremonial duties, the princess, a keen sailor herself, spent time speaking to some of the people who benefit from the charity's work the most.

She even presented three members with sailing certificates to cap one of the proudest days in the club's history.

Hampshire County Council chairman Patricia Devereux and her New Forest District Council equivalent Bill Dow were part of a large greeting party which assembled as the princess arrived at the town's sailing club on Bath Road.

She also got a chance to meet disabled sailor and club patron Geoff Holt, who completed an epic 1,500-mile voyage around Britain's coastline last summer.

SailAbility chairman Alison Gunn said: "It went wonderfully. Princess Anne is brilliant and made everybody feel very relaxed. She was very interested in the types of boat we had here and of course named two of them today.

"What was so nice was that she spoke to as many members as she possibly could.

"Hopefully, the visit will raise the awareness of the club and bring some recognition to all the people who work so hard to make the group a success."