12/04/2023
Hello everyone,
Well we started the season with my first and only real-time AGM! It is easy to forget the difficult situation the pandemic put both members and the Club in. It has been the perfect tonic getting back to near normality with a packed calendar largely well supported – the early social events were understandably a little slow.
Once again Troy, as our sailing secretary, came up with the goods and a calendar fit for all ran all season to a successful conclusion.
Our training courses once again proved immensely popular, well organised by Sheena and her team and administered by Mary – well done all. The deliverance of our courses to candidates was for the first season in the hands of our new Chief Instructor Ruby Brint, a daunting task ably managed, supported with advice from two wily old seadogs in the form of James Tomlinson and James Robinson. Well done and thank you Ruby.
Following on from training we ran two hugely successful Regattas, the juniors enjoying themselves on the water and being fed bacon butties on shore. Thank you to the mums and dads for supporting the event.
Then the Senior Regatta – well run, supported and organised. It attracted a mixed and varied fleet all day. The culmination, for me at least, was the event of the sail past with Jill, family and grandchildren smuggled onto Caveat with the help of Matthew Smy and Troy especially to take part.
So although several more sailing events took place I move on to social.
DRINKS PARTIES, SUPPERS, SUMMER PARTY, LAYING UP SUPPER
Well done super Helen Goody.
Helen steps down as Social Secretary this year, Helen you will be sorely missed. Oh, and I have to mention Stefan, as good as Helen is I don’t think she would have managed quite so well without him. Thank you both.
Back to the Laying Up Supper, drinks were had, sailing incidents settled and prizes given, all backed up by a magnificent supper of braised beef cheek supplied by Michelle of The Mixing Bowl. It gave me the opportunity to catch up with the McKnight Burgee presentations – the 2021 burgee was presented to Judith Shallow for her initiative of ‘Ladies that Launch’ and the 2022 burgee went to Robert Lester for covering numerous duties when asked by Troy mostly as OOD, well done both.
So that concludes what will be my last newsletter as Commodore. A position within the Club I am immensely proud to have held although I may not have chosen the very different times we have lived in during my term. I have enjoyed my time ‘at the helm’ but also look forward to a little more time to go sailing.
The Club is strong, in rude health and more importantly supported very well by its membership. I am currently in the process of handing over to James Tomlinson and his very strong team as we go to print, I know you will give him the fantastic support you have given to me. Good luck James.
So here we go.
Stay safe, fair winds and safe arrivals,
Kind regards,
David – Commodore for a little while longer, Orford Sailing Club
P.S. Apologies for the lack of photos but a pig ate my phone and the photos weren’t backed up!!
