The summer sailing season is upon us and it is encouraging to see more people getting back out on the water; either racing or cruising again. The purpose of this missive is to provide an update on Club activities and news that I would like to share with the membership.
Highlights
The weeks and months on lockdown, and now as we start to emerge from it, have certainly taken their toll on our members and the Club as a whole. However, I feel that I must mention some highlights and positive news:
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We have been looking at new ways of enabling Club activities to continue safely in light of the pandemic. The new takeaway service for catering and contactless payment at the Rum Shack has enabled us to continue to offer food and drink to Club members and it has been good to see many members using this new service. Following the results of the survey, we will now proceed to implement Phase 2 by the autumn. My thanks to Rear Commodore Neil Shepherd and the staff for making this happen.
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Rear Commodore Ken Murray has organised a regular working group to work on the foredeck. Their enthusiasm has been repaid in donuts and I am very grateful for those members giving of their time to try to better HY Tyne whilst also learning some new skills.
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The Sailing Committee has been enthusiastic as always in trying to enable members to get out and race in a safe manner. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.
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The RYA Training Team ably led by Mike Bradburn has undergone training to enable them to deliver the new RYA Training Course online until such time as they are safely able to receive instructions on board HY Tyne. It is positive to see technology being used in this way and my thanks to Adrian Park for providing the training, and the whole of the RYA Training Team for embracing it.
Boatyard and Moorings
Your Club needs you.
Throughout lockdown and this pandemic, the General Committee has been keenly aware of the general demographic of this Club and we have taken precautions to try to protect our members as best we can. With that said, I have become more aware of the demographic of those members who regularly and reliably turn up to help out in the boatyard, on the moorings and with the hoist when required. There is a team that works across all of these areas as and when required. However, we need more boots on the ground. This is a plea to Club members who have an interest in getting involved that we need more help in the Boatyard/Hoist and on the Moorings. These are time intensive areas to be involved in and so this type of work is ideal for any member who:
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Works part time or is recently retired;
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Has any sort of mechanical engineering interest or background;
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Can commit the time for relevant training (especially on the hoist).
If we cannot attract more members to volunteer to help us in these areas then we will be left with little alternative than to explore other options and this may include looking to employ someone either full or part time. For insurance reasons, some functions must be completed by non- members, however we have always managed to maintain the Boatyard and Moorings “in house”. If anyone is interested in getting involved further then please get in touch with me (commodore@rnyc.org.uk ) and I will gladly give you more information.
Conduct
It seems to me that one of the unfortunate outcomes of an extended lockdown is that people seem to have a shorter temper with one another than usual. Personally, I would like to believe that this is borne out of a frustration with our collective situation at the moment, rather than any real animosity towards another person. However, we have had a few instances of late whereby these frustrations have been dispatched between Club members. I remind all Club members that aggressive behaviour between any Club members will not be tolerated and it may result in a formal disciplinary procedure under our Bye Laws. These are difficult times for all. If this pandemic has displayed anything at all, it is the importance of community. This Club is a community and we should be taking care of each other instead of finding ways to find faults.
News
Finally, it is with some regret that I must inform you that my Vice Commodore Helen Park has tended her resignation as Vice Commodore and as a Director of RNYC Ltd. Helen and her family are relocating abroad to Dubai for a very exciting job opportunity for her. Helen has served on the General Committee since 2013. She has been Social Secretary, Hon Secretary and latterly my Vice Commodore. Helen has guided both me and the Club in a great number of ways over the last few years including disciplinaries, Club constitution, negotiating the license with the Port of Blyth for the boatyard and taking the lead with application to the HLF for the Stern Repair (whilst on maternity leave). Suffice to say, Helen has given her energy, enthusiasm and advice to me and the Club over a number of years and always with the aim of serving the Club above all. I wish Helen, Adrian and her family all the very best however I am very sorry to see her go. I was looking forward to passing the mantle to our first female Commodore however I hope that she will yet return to take up that position in time.
Mike Bradburn has been elected by the Directors and the General Committee as a very able replacement to Helen as Vice Commodore and he will be presented for election to the members at the AGM in January. Mike has already proved to be invaluable as we navigate through these covid waters and I am confident that he will make a good Vice Commodore.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for the boatyard/moorings then please do get in touch.
P.J Gay
Commodore
