Dear Fellow Members,

It's April, a new season of sailing has started and I thought this might be a good time to provide you with a brief overview on club matters, issues and events. Christmas and New Year were great with some good events generating much needed revenue (more of this in a bit). Burns Night was (as usual) excellent and St Patrick's Night, whilst attracting a relatively low turnout, was nevertheless great fun for those who attended. Once again, huge praise and gratitude has to go to Howard and the Social Committee for their efforts on behalf of us all.

The money raised has been used to pay for a number of items - some expected, others appearing as an unwelcome surprise. We have spent in the region of £1,500 to have work done in order that we can secure our Electrical Certificate. We were also obliged to spend £ 1,000 on a new glass-washer following the unilateral decision by the old one to give up the ghost just before Burns Night! Unfortunately, the ice-maker joined the glass-washer and has also been replaced. We have funded extensive servicing work on the rescue boats and purchased some new marker buoys. We are also in the process of re-paying some loans made to us by club members.

When I became Commodore, I said that my first priority would be to focus on the Club's financial situation. In particular I wanted to look at ways of generating additional revenue through an enhanced social calendar and greater use of the Club's facilities by external users. Your Executive has been concentrating a significant amount of time and effort on these and other opportunities. Ken White has also been helping us with a cost-review and establishing a more structured booking procedure. In the first instance, Ken's efforts have revealed that it costs us in the region of £30 per day to maintain the Club - whether it is open or not. As many of you will know, attendance on Wednesday and Friday nights has been steadily declining and Sunday lunchtimes are virtually non existent. (Despite lan Munroe's best efforts!) The simple fact is that these are primary sources of revenue and it is only the use of the Club for darts on Monday nights (during the winter) which has staved off my having to report a far more difficult position. However, I realise that it is not sufficient for me to simply beg for everyone's attendance. In my view, we need to provide a venue which has greater appeal to members and visitors, a place where it is a pleasure to bring friends and family - whilst also meeting the needs of sailors. There is no getting away from the fact that whilst we may have the best view in town, the Club's decor and furniture is beginning to really show its age.

So, we are about to start a programme of re-decorating, beginning with the Quarterdeck and extending through the club as funds permit. The balcony may indeed be a more distant goal, but fresh paint, wallpaper, curtains and some sofas etc are a bit more within our grasp. To that end, Angela Cook will be leading the redesign with a view to completing it before The Regatta Dance (more later). I am proposing that the funding will come from the money we raise at The Beach Party on the 26th April, (don't worry it's indoors). We need something in the region of £1,000 from this event so in return for a great night out, you get a nicer clubhouse! Not a bad exchange is it?

The June Regatta Dance takes place on June 28th This is an effort to create a new centre-piece event for the summer. Some details have yet to be confirmed but we have already arranged to close off the esplanade as we did for the 60th Anniversary Celebrations. Please reserve these dates in your diary. I hope this has been helpful and provided a useful insight into the work of your Executive and our future programme.

Kind regards

Mark Crosby - Commodore