Newsletter February 2006

The Wet Stuff

Sailing news is scarce, not surprising since we are in our closed season. However a number of people are sailing in winter series. There is a significant Delph contingent racing at Elton - a good third of the fleet racing I am told, so far with good results but I have no details.

The Plum Duff 2005.

Last year’s Plum Duff turned out to be an enormous event, with some 50 boats racing, 22 of which were visiting boats and nearly 100 lunches were served. This was twice as many people as we had planned for, plus visiting “supporters” and was the largest sailing event run by Delph for a long time, possibly ever. All this on a cold day but with a reasonable breeze, for two races.

The event was a great success, a terrific advert for the Club, well liked by the sailors but hard work for those in the RCC and “horsework” for the few volunteers and “draftees” in the Galley. Thank you again to the magnificent support team of the day, and to Lillian who made the “plum duff”.

We have moved a long way from the origins of the event, which many of you will remember was a simple end of season event put on and run by the Flag Officers and their partners, for Club members and a few invited friends. So the Club has to take some decisions about the nature of this event in the future - see later in the Newsletter.

Running the Club - The Dry Stuff

Working Parties 12^th and 19^th March and Galley Planning Meeting 19^th March

Dates for the Working Parties this year are 12^th and 19^th March, starting time is 2pm although no doubt as in previous years some stalwarts will be there earlier. These working parties are vital for getting the clubhouse and grounds ship shape for the beginning of the new season. If you want to know more about what’s involved or needed, please contact Rene Savelli or Nigel Reddecliffe.

Also on the 19^th March, the annual meeting to arrange Galley cover for Socials, Open Meetings and Friday evenings will be held at 2:30pm. Any member, their spouse or partner, who can support the Club by assisting in the Galley at these events and remember we are looking for Galley Captains this year, is invited to attend, or contact Rene Savelli or Pat Tucker if you can’t attend the meeting.

Volunteers are always more than welcome, they are essential here. Your Club needs YOU!

Annual General Meeting 15^th March

The Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 15^th March, in the clubhouse, starting at 8pm. Please note this is one week later than shown in your 2005 Calendar. You will be receiving the formal notice of meeting and paperwork about nominations for Directors etc, around 4 weeks before the meeting. We are expecting to run a ballot to elect Directors and Officials this year.

The AGM this year will be a bit special, if all goes according to plan Delph Sailing Club will appoint our first lady Commodore. Be there and see history made!

After the AGM business is concluded, we will as usual be holding an open type of session, for members to raise matters of interest. In the past these have proved interesting and stimulating - well remembered by those of us up front who survived last year’s!

Management of the Club

This is a fantastic Club, vibrant, healthy and shows the benefits of having been well managed over many years. However, over time with changing: legislation, social trends and sailing trends, it is sensible and necessary to take stock and review the way the Club operates and to make longer term plans than normally can be achieved in month to month committee business. Over the last year your General Committee, in addition to carrying out normal business, has carried out such a review across the governance of the Club, its operations and race management. There will be short report on this at the AGM.

It seems sufficient here to say that basically we are in good shape but there are a number of areas where we can, and should make improvements. Some changes have been made during 2005, with some visibility in Newsletters, there will be more in 2006, many changes will not really be visible to most members; there will be communications on this during the year.

All probably incredibly boring for most sailors but vital to the continuing effective operation of the Club.

Looking ahead to next season

Sailing Plans

We have a great sailing calendar lined up for 2006. Here is an early view:

* Sailing re-starts on Sunday 2^nd April with, for the racers, the Early Points

* There will be the usual crop of Open events in April to June - good competition and good spectating guaranteed!

* Sailing training for Club members will be on Friday evenings, for 6 weeks from 5^th May to 9^th June inclusive - there will be no “Taste of Sailing” on these dates

* Social Sailing is planned for:

Friday evenings, 5^th May to 25^th August inclusive

A Saturday afternoon in each month from May to August inclusive

* “Taste of Sailing sessions for potential new members are planned for the two social sailing Saturdays in May and June and thereafter on Friday evenings (once the training 6 weeks have finished) from 16^th June to 14^th July inclusive

* There will be Club trips to: Jumbles, the Lake District for a weekend (either Ullswater or Coniston) and the Southport 24hr Race.

Plum Duff Event 2006

We need to give serious thought to the size and type of event we want and can handle, for 2006 and the future. Should we:

* Attempt to continue as is and as a consequence plan the event as a major Open? In which case we have issues around being able to provide all the support needed in the festive season

* Reduce the size of the event? If so by what means and to what size?

* Make it an event for Delph Sailing Club members only?

The General Committee will decide on this at the next meeting on the 20^th February, in time to meet the deadline for the 2006 Calendar. If you have views on this matter, please do give these to a General Committee member prior to that General Committee meeting.

Berthing

In recent years not only has our membership increased but more members have registered two, three, or even four boats. As a result last year practically every available berth was taken up. This year whilst the aim is to meet members’ reasonable berthing requirements, we will need to actively manage and likely ration berth allocations - as has been done in the past. The General Committee is considering the best and fairest way to do this. In the meantime, we must be much more conscientious about applying existing Club rules. Here are some guidelines and pointers:

* Ensure that your renewal is sent in as early as possible.

* If you do not require a berth which was allocated to you last year, please advise the Treasurer as soon as possible.

* Anyone intending to buy a boat, even if it is an existing Club member’s boat, should first check with the Treasurer that a berth can be made available for it, otherwise you may be disappointed

It is a Club rule that all boats must be registered before being brought on site.

Fleet Representatives

Now is the time for the fleets to choose their representatives for the next season. Your current Fleet Captain will arrange and carry out the process. Fleet representatives have a significant influence on our sailing through the Sailing Committee and it is important that we have all our recognised fleets properly represented. Why not have a go at this role yourself? To help you decide or be in a better position to hold your representative “up to the mark”, here is a definition of the fleet representative’s role. It involves:

* Consulting with and representing their fleets, whilst working for the overall benefit of the Club in the Sailing Committee

* Taking the lead in organising and running their fleet’s Open meetings at Delph

* Welcoming new members to their fleet and giving support, arranging coaching and advice: on boat tuning, sailing, etc and on Club matters to those who are new to the Club

* Conducting appropriate elections annually, for fleet members to choose their representatives for the next year

* Linking to and liaison with, the Class Association.

The following people are your current fleet representatives:

Enterprise: Robin Baycroft and Anita Cropper

Fast Handicap: Steven Cronshaw and Matthew Sharman

Laser: Phillip Worth

Miracle: Tim Wareing

RS200: Martin Smith and Patrick Manning

Slow Handicap: Marina Higab

Solo: Jack Stacey

You should be hearing from them soon.

Rule Disputes and Protesting

We are adopting the best practice recommendations of the RYA Charter for resolving rule disputes and protests. This as some of you will know, involves a progressive, escalating approach, starting with a simple (but formal) advisory hearing which may well resolve matters, if not then a mediation hearing may be appropriate and then on to a full protest hearing, if necessary. You will be briefed on this and some clarification of the process for progressing protests, in a later Newsletter and on the website.

We do need a larger “pool” of people willing and capable of taking part as members of committees for the type of Hearings outlined above. If you feel you can contribute and are willing, please contact your fleet representative or a member of the Sailing Committee, so that the PRO can gather names and consider any “training” need. You will not be thrown in at the deep end I promise!

Social Events

Delph Pantomime - “Snow White and the Severn Sailors”

I have just experienced this year’s Pantomime, the Saturday evening performance. This was great entertainment from start to finish - in our performance not only did the curtain go “up”, it also came down !! I blame the Dame, even though she “wasn’t there at the time”!

The cast obviously had a whale of a time, (not least with hysterically funny rehearsals) and the audience loved it. Well done and thank you to Jill Stephenson who wrote the script and produced the show and to all those who took part and helped to put the show on, noting those who on Saturday were not as “behind the scenes” as they expected to be.

A recording of the Panto will again be available on CD, if you missed the performances, or wish to relive the experience. The CD is expected to be available in March, watch for an announcement on the notice board in the clubhouse.

Looking Ahead to Forthcoming Events

Commodore’s Dinner Saturday 11^th February

The Commodore’s Dinner will have a 60’s theme - to be precise and to avoid unfortunate misunderstandings a 1960’s theme. So come in 60’s dress if you like. The evening will involve a and will include a short Quiz on the 60’s, a photographic “competition” (so please bring along a photo of yourself taken in the 60’s) and the menu will be one that those of you who were around in the 60’s may recognise. We will have a band “The Dodgers”, so music and dancing after the meal.

This should be another great Delph evening. If you haven’t already done so, please book by phone on: 01772 704874 or e-mail: patricia.tucker@zen.co.uk Final numbers by 7^th February please.

Did you know that the origins of what we now call the Commodore’s Dinner lie in an AGM for the Enterprise fleet, where fleet representatives were chosen? This over time became an eating occasion, also joined by other fleets. Delph sailors have never been ones for letting business get in the way of a good meal and there used to be competitions for who could run the shortest AGM. I am told that the record is 20 seconds, held by the Enterprise fleet - do you know better?

A Note from Don

Thank you from Don Blackburn and Family

Don Blackburn and his family would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, help and support following Fiona’s death.

Diary Dates ----At a glance

11^th February - Commodore’s Dinner - 1960’s Night.

Note the Quiz Night shown in your Calendar for 25^th February, has been cancelled.

12^th March - Working Party.

15^th March - Annual General Meeting.

19^th March - Working Party.

19^th March - Meeting to arrange Galley cover.

2^nd April - Sailing re-starts.

This is the last of my Newsletters, thanks for reading them.

Now for Something Else …

Old Commodore’s Role

Here is a contribution from a caring, well-meaning member, which I include with a fair amount of trepidation. This was received under the byline “A Member writes….”

“The way former Commodore’s are treated is a disgrace

After years of service they reel away after their “Year” to attempt to re establish personal relationships and normal life.

From this point they become invisible-spectres-at-the-feast, emotionally exhausted and nervous to interfere with the incumbent but keenly aware of the pitfalls that lie in store. From the dark mutterings the words “..not in my day…” can sometimes be made out.

Their status evaporates but they wish to continue to make a contribution to the club.

The best solution is for them to be humanely slaughtered and for their heads to be displayed over the bar. Alternatively they could be stuffed and placed at key locations around the club. The Bosun supports this view and has indeed offered to carry out the operation free of charge.

To indicate your view of this proposition you can register your vote on our website at www.stuffthecommodore.co.uk”

….. and good sailing in 2006!

John Tucker Commodore