CELEBRITY gardener Alan Titchmarsh never misses a chance to go out on the water and take part in his second favourite outdoor activity. And this year at Cowes was no exception.

A keen sailor, he enjoyed a day aboard Skandia Life's Leopard 2000 - Britain's largest racing monohull yacht at 90ft long.

Skandia Life's Leopard is gearing up to take part in the Round Britain And Ireland Race later this month and the Fastnet and Sydney Hobart classics in 2001.

After the racing, Alan presented the day's class winners with their prizes - a bottle of Champagne Mumm, a crate of Lucozade and a bag of Skandia Life goodies.

The Ground Force star, who lives near Alton, Hampshire, jokingly told the winning crews he was glad to be away from Charlie Dimmock as he wasn't getting told what to do.

As vice-patron of Southampton charity the Jubilee sailing Trust, he hopes to be out on the Solent again in September for the maiden voyage of Tenacious, which will join the Lord Nelson in assisting disabled and able-bodied sailors to experience the thrill of tall-ship sailing.

He said: "It's a fantastic charity. The sea is a great leveller for people who have disabilities.

"Everyone realises they are literally in the same boat. The buddy system works so well - it just enables everybody."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.