VICE COMMODORE
ACTION ON THE WATER
Members have enjoyed another action packed season of sailing with every weekend choc-a-block full of club events . As the 2015 / 2016 season comes to its conclusion , we look forward to what will be yet an even bigger year as the club celebrates the start of the Sesquicentenary which will begin on Opening Day 5 September 2016 .
The stage has been set for a busy year with Club members Will Dargaville , James Farquharson , Sarah Parker and Josh Dawson winning the World Youth Match Racing championships in New Caledonia leaving in their wake the French , US and New Zealand to claim the 2016 Championship . Congratulations to our Youth Development team and their coach , Tom Spithill .
More action on the water later this year with Club members Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch heading to the Rio Paralympics to contest another Gold Medal in the Scud 18s and Club Member Jason Waterhouse and his crew member and cousin Lisa Darmanin making their Olympic debut in Nacra 17 Mixed Multi Hull fleet . We wish both of these teams the very best and look forward to watching all the action .
It ’ s not just the big kids competing , the Club was excited to host the NSW IODA East Coast Championships for the Optimist and Laser 4.7 classes .
Back on land plenty more is happening with our beautification project of the front entrance being completed for our 2016 / 17 Opening Day . The Development Application for a new A Arm marina being submitted to Council and the construction of the world class disabled sailing facility in Crystal Bay .
These improvements to Crystal Bay will help focus the Club ’ s community efforts on our Integrated disAbled Sailing ( IdS ) program and help further extend our close association with Sailability and Soldier On . The success of the IdS has been recognised by the broader community last year with the Club ’ s efforts being recognised with two awards – The Marina Industry Association Best Community Program and the Club ’ s NSW Disability and Social Inclusion Award , along with the NSW government grant of $ 25,000 to assist in providing accessibility facilities at Crystal Bay . I know I speak for the greater Club community in saying we are very proud of the IdS program and thank all the members who contributed and the volunteers who continue to give their time , and staff who are so very committed to the cause .
Earlier this year our race management team employed the services of Dennis Thompson and together with Rear Commodore Ron Palmer and Director Rick Welch , have been involved in planning a more dynamic set of
race-courses and ensuring that our race management volunteers are maintaining their world-class and international race officer status .
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Flag Officers , Leon Wilson to cruising and David Taylor to Centreboard and thank our past Rear Commodores Jim Cormack and Andrew Tuite for their fabulous work .
The tragic loss of our great sailing mate David Booth and injuries to Billy Stevens earlier this year have fostered a deep sense of grief and disbelief of all our members and the broader sailing community and I would like to acknowledge the outstanding spirit of our sailing community which has provided a legacy from this tragic event .
I would also like to thank our General Manager , Suzanne Davies and all of her management and staff who provide the management framework and hard work to ensure that our busy club life flows seamlessly from one event to the next .
I wish you all an exciting and successful 2016 / 2017 sailing season and look forward to catching up with you all around the Club and on the water .
MICHAEL LOCKLEY VICE COMMODORE
CLUB REPORTS
YACHTSMAN 5