Club News

Another year is upon us. Another year of potential expansion both on and off the water. On land we are getting ever closer to raising sufficient funding to enable us to extend the club house. Chris Hardy leads the Development Committee and Bob Barnett is hard at work applying to the relevant bodies for grant aid. Initial response is looking encouraging. By now you will have received the pledge pack fully detailing these proposals. Many of you have responded with interest free loans: for these we thank you – but there is still time for those who have not had the opportunity to assist! This extension is an absolute necessity. Our ever increasing membership deserves better facilities primarily off the water. Changing rooms must be updated, an expansion of the bar and social area would be helpful. With a fair following wind the extension could be a reality by early 2008.

We can't stand still and as a club we have to look at the ways of encouraging more boats onto the water, to encourage juniors to join the club to enable them to enjoy all that sailing offers. They are our future. At our last AGM we reduced Junior membership to just £10. We have plans to buy maybe two suitable boats and safety equipment to enable them to continue to sail after any courses the Club runs. We also have very experienced members willing to assist in this endeavour.

Club finances are healthy. We spend your money wisely, for instance, expanding car parking by re modelling the Cutting , improved maintenance of boat parking areas to name but two. Our new web site is up and running. You need to use it more. You can blog it and have your ay! It’s one way to keep you updated on any changes to both the sailing and social programmes. Every time we send members a communication through the post it costs approximately £75. If we have your e mail address not only is it faster and more personal but the cost is practically zero. (To put your mind at rest we will not disclose your address to anybody.)

I lead, and am guided by, a great team: Martin Read, Vice Commorore & Sailing Secretary, David Blakesley Rear Commodore & Chair of House Committee. John Gibbs Club Secretary (to help keep me on the straight and narrow!), Alex Watson on Natalie Gail and Martin Dutton aboard Herbert E looking after starting and safety afloat, Peter Scillitoe and Peter Emerson managing the bar – a vital source of revenue, one that helps keep our subscriptions affordable, not forgetting all committee members serving all aspects of the club and the ladies who produce such wonderful food at all our functions, we would be lost without you!

It is a great honour to be your Commodore for the next two years and with all your help and assistance both on and off the water, together we can continue to build on the success of my predecessors.

Campbell MacCallum

Commodore