HIMLEY Lake will be full of sails next weekend as people take to the water to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The six hour race on Saturday May 9 will be the first big event of the season for members of Himley Hall Sailing Club.

Several teams from the club will take part in the sponsored long distance race, as well as pupils from Ellowes Hall School - which has recently introduced sailing as an option in PE - and Aldridge and Dudley Sailing Clubs.

RNLI members will be acting as starters for the event, which is now in its 39th year and has raised more than £90,000 to date.

Organiser Alan Dean said: “We’re hoping that this year’s event will be really big. The RNLI is such a worthy cause.

"If there are other sailing clubs out there who would like to enter, there’s still time. Just contact the club, we’d be delighted to have you aboard.”

The club is also hosting a taster day on May 16 for anyone who would like to try sailing.

To book a place, call Tony Sutton on 07774 818449.