IT WAS back in the late 1980s that the Princess Royal officially opened the Royal Yachting Association's landlocked headquarters in Eastleigh.

Yesterday she returned to the borough - but this time nearer to the sea - to give a royal launch to the RYA's new showpiece base in Hamble.

The princess, who is the association's president, welcomed the move to the international yachting mecca. Before cutting a red ribbon, she said that the RYA had been gradually moving south.

"Now we are finally in sight of water," she said.

The prestigious headquarters, which will be home to about 96 staff, will be able to develop further its service to the nation's sailing fraternity.

During a walkabout, the princess met some powerboat and windsurfing whizz kids and the fastest woman on water, 23-year-old Vicky Cadman.

Vicky is hoping to return to Lake Windermere in October to break her Formula 2 single seater power boat record.