Commodore’s Letter
August 28th 2009
Dear Members
Winter Programme 2009/10
It does seem rather mean to be talking about a winter programme when we have had so little warmth this summer and I do hope that some of you struck lucky whether you spent the summer at home or on the water dodging our non-seasonal weather. Some of it really was atrocious, wasn’t it? But at least, being sailors we perhaps mind it less than other people.
Before we begin our new Winter Season, we do have our last rally of our 40th Year to Bembridge to look forward to and final details will be out for that soon.
Our September gathering on Thursday 10th is once again a Member’s Evening with Cheese and Wine, where everyone can meet up and swap notes or horror stories of the past season and catch up with friends or meet new members. Your new card with details of all the season’s meetings will be available to pick up at that meeting or posted on to you afterwards if you cannot make it.
Sheila will be sending out more detailed information on each meeting nearer to each talk but I would like to mention that the Christmas Laying-Up Supper has been booked for December 3rd which is a week earlier than normal.
Tom and I have enjoyed meeting up with several members unexpectedly in Falmouth & Plymouth this year and nearly had a mini-rally in The Scillies but for the weather that kept us moored on one island while other members were moored on another! That’s sailing. Don’t we just love it!
I look forward to seeing you all either at The Bembridge Rally or in September.
Yours Aye,
Karen Sperrey
Commodore
NYC 40th Celebrations
The 40th anniversary dinner was a great success and Tom Cunliffe did not disappoint.
Past and present Commodore's on parade at the 40th Celebration
Jim Richardson was presented with the Charles Hewlett Cup for achieving best club member place in last years Round the Island Race in his Yacht Moonspinner.
Charles Howlett Cup presented at the 40th celebration dinner.
40 Years for Newbury Yacht Club
Newbury Yacht Club sailed into its fortieth year with its AGM held on 12th March. Over forty members enjoyed cheese and wine before hearing outgoing Commodore Peter Jones, report on a most successful year for the club. Peter commented.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as Commodore. I ‘m particularly proud that we have increased our membership by over 50% in this time; Newbury Yacht Club can no longer be described Newbury’s best kept secret! It has also been a great privilege to introduce such a diverse range of guest speakers to our meetings. Sharing a love of the sea with our members, there has been a real sense of camaraderie when speakers such as old sea dog, John Goode have given amusing and inspiring talks about their life at sea.”
Treasurer and past Commodore, John Milton, presented Peter with an engraved tankard as a memento of his tenure as commodore. John, an octogenarian, is an active member, sailing to many of the rallies.
Mike Dickens and Jacki Saunders-Williams were elected to the committee with Chris Jones stepping down after four years service.
Peter, MD of Thatcham based Ashridge Construction, officially handed over the tiller to Karen Sperrey, Operations Director of UPS Systems, Hungerford. Karen will be at the helm for a three year tenure starting with the 40th Year celebrations, the highlight being a dinner in May where sailing legend, Tom Cunliffe will be the guest speaker.
Members moor their yachts along the south coast from Portsmouth to Poole. Summer activities consist of two waterborne weekend rallies where a dozen or so yachts meet at one of the many beautiful harbours and anchorages in the Solent. Longer cruises go farther afield across the Channel and to the West Country. The Commodore’s Spring Cruise is due to cross the Channel at the end of April to give skippers and crew the chance to stretch their sea legs at the start of the season.
The club has a strong social side with meetings held on the second Thursday in the month from September to May at the Royal British Legion Club in Newbury with talks on sailing related topics. The next meeting is in April 2nd with Peter Bruce advising on heavy weather sailing. Peter is the author of many sailing books and has competed in many of the Fastnet races including finishing in the infamous 1979 race.
Peter ”handing the tiller” to new Commodore Karen
New members are always welcome.
