HUGE crowds gathered to see Sir Ben Ainslie at Sea View Yacht Club yesterday (Sunday).
The four-time Olympic gold medalist and Land Rover BAR's America's Cup team principal was a special guest at the Seaview club.
Ainslie and Land Rover BAR's sailing manager Jono Macbeth were brought to shore by Bembridge RNLI, before they took part in a question and answer session.
They then joined young sailors on the water for a race in Seaview mermaids.
Chairman of Seaview, St Helens and Brading Haven RNLI branch, Adele Carritt. Said: "To see the huge amount of children and upcoming young sailors welcoming Ben Ainslie and Jono Macbeth showed why the Isle of Wight was maintaining its reputation as the cradle of seamanship - a reputation of which it is justly very proud.   
"The fact Ben and Jono chose to come to Sea View Yacht Club by RNLI lifeboat was both a great honour and very exciting."
For more photos and comment, see Friday's County Press.