A SAILOR has encouraged residents to utilise the mass of nearby waterways and embrace a breezy boating lifestyle.

Abbey Sailing Club, tucked away in Abingdon's Wilsham Road, wants more people in the town to embrace the sport and make use of the River Thames.

Trustee Mick Jones, who lives opposite the sailing club with wife Sylvia, became passionate about sailing than 40 years ago.

The 64-year-old said: "I used to work for the Post Office telephones and the social section there owned a couple of boats in Abingdon, and it just carried on from there.

"It's just easy, free, quiet and very pleasurable. It's quiet on the water these days, it's like anything else – people have so much to do they don't give up time to take up something.

"So many people in Abingdon don't even know they've got a river in the town. It's quite strange."

On Sunday the club hosted an open day, which saw members take dozens of adults and juniors onto the water for a ride.

Mr Jones said: "It was part of our organisation the Royal Yachting Association's event called Push the Boat Out, to get people involved in sailing."

He said anyone who missed out is welcome at the club every Sunday at 10am, when it hosts racing days.