Commodore's Report - AGM 2023
Published 17:56 on 29 Aug 2023
We have had a relatively quiet year from my point of view both work and family life have taken their toll on 'spare' time, with no obvious, significant forecast to change hence the need to step down this year after three years at the helm.
Membership has remained good although we lost both our corporate members Wilderness Outdoors Education (WOE) who really need less wind than the lake has to offer (they typically offer Stand Up Paddleboarding) and the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), who have been unable to co-ordinate with any of the North-East school cadet forces local to offer sailing. The CCF have relocated to the coast and a larger club, to see if they can fare better there. We wish them both the best of luck with their next chapters.
I think 2023 has been one of the worst I can recall in terms of weather many of the Saturday sailing sessions and training has had to be cancelled. I'm sure this will have impacted both our Club Members as well as our new 'corporate' Member UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services). UTASS joins the Club as part of a bid, which included buying some new kayaks for the Club if you haven't taken them or even the Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) out for a spin, please do. Hopefully we can get an 'Indian summer' to see us through the remainder of the season.
The kayaks, SUPs and Club boats are all free to us for full Club Members I hope the simplified membership suits everyone it certainly seems like quite a few Club boats have been out on the water this year which was one of the major considerations in the revamp. It has also been very pleasing to see the Wanderer has been repaired and is now enjoying some outings. Very hot off the press (it was brought to the Club literally yesterday), we have acquired a 'new' Laser it has only had two previous owners, and has spent its' entire life in Hartlepool welcome 'Monkey' (this is the name of the boat I haven't just lost the plot probably ). I think that's now 8 Lasers at the Club (most privately owned)!
In terms of other projects, the solar panels project was completed towards the end of season 2022, and lighting and electricity are now available to the top part of the site. This has certainly helped with jobs with power tools like washing the boats at the end of the season, re-charging batteries or even just boiling a kettle. It has also allowed us to install some CCTV cameras, which we considered important, following a couple of break-ins over the winter.
From memory and that is quite dodgy, so apologies if it's wrong - the only significant bids made and completed in year, was to offer Stand Up Paddleboarding to female groups in the area. This proved to be extremely popular and despite no longer being Club Members, the sessions were led by WOE on Wednesday evening sessions. The other was to get a corporate membership for UTASS along with the new kayaks.
Congratulations and thanks again apologies when I get this wrong to Imogen, who is a National Race Officer, and has numerous qualifications that allows her to work around the country she is in very high demand; and also to Toby, who has leapt from the Oppie into 420s, 29ers and a Laser winning numerous races and ending up 11th in the Laser Nationals last week. Ellie also ran a first aid for us at the start of the season. As always thank you to both the Committee, Club Members and their families, who have supported me and the Club.
Thank you very much and I wish my successor the very best of luck. As always, I'm hoping to be able to sail more and continue to help out up at the Club.
Anthony Tubbs, Commodore
Last updated 14:29 on 19 April 2024
