We are drawing towards the end of the sailing season – prizegiving suppers for each section, the Laying up of Boats service and preparation of next year’s sailing and social programme. As part of this your Flag Officers have been working hard on the accounts for 2011 and the budget for 2012.

Despite the lack of any decent weather during the season, the sailing achieved by all sections of the Club this year has been tremendous and you will see when the Flag Officers report that the enthusiasm and fun on the water has been as prolific as ever. Our social events have been well supported too.

We have managed to hold to our budget for the year and we hope, as the books are closed, that with your support and involvement we will be able to show that financially we are just ahead of predictions. A most significant part of this effort is the fact that membership numbers have been maintained and we must all try to see this is continued into future seasons.

In planning for next year in a very uncertain financial climate where we recognise that many families are finding their incomes constrained while costs are going up, we have thought long and hard about how to provide for the financial security of the Club in 2012. You will see, when invoices come out in the next few weeks, that increases to subscriptions and fees have, in the main, been limited to about 3%, somewhat below the current rate of inflation. We have also made adjustments to some categories in order to try to support the continued improvement in membership numbers. The basis for membership in 2012 will, we hope, allow everyone who is a member to continue while at the same time be competitive in attracting new members.

The economic climate presents challenges to membership and Club alike, but I am confident that together we can maintain our Club as a special part of our lives, as we also look forward to some memorable events, not least the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, in celebration of which we are planning a Diamond Ball for 2^nd June, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Additionally great effort is already being applied to our traditional events such as Junior Week, our Club Regatta and the Racing Programme, all of which I look forward to enjoying with you.

In the meantime there are some 2011 events that could do with your support, such as the Carols in the Club on 20 December and the New Year’s Eve Review. In the sailing programme the winter series continues and some great racing is on offer.

With kind regards,

Ron Hastie
Commodore