A HAMPSHIRE-based charity is £17,000 better off, thanks to hard-working sailors at a Southampton club.

The money was the most ever raised by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club for its annual charity. Club commodore Anton Bates, who chose Southampton-based Leukaemia Busters, said: "We raised five-to-ten times as much as we normally achieve for our annual charity."

Most of the money was raised by women members after Mr Bates' wife Laurie started up a new initiative called Ladies Who Launch. Mr Bates handed over the cash at the annual commodore's dinner.