Another Great Year For Gunfleet

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its Annual General Meeting last Sunday 3 December when Commodore Richard Walker welcomed those members present and invited them to look back at a full and successful year of sailing and social activities on and off the water.  Treasurer Peter Downer reported on the Club’s finances and gave reassurance on the financial soundness of Gunfleet; he went on to thank the generous sponsors – Orsted, Odiin, and Nucleus for their continued support.  Commodore Walker then looked back at another very successful year for Gunfleet, with over forty races taking place, a popular two-day Regatta that raised £438 for Clacton Lifeboat Station, and a Wednesday evening series that ended, each time, with bacon baguettes and a drink at the bar; a perfect opportunity to relive the race.  There had been three new trophies presented to the Club – the Ken Dye Cup, the John Venables Trophy, and the Coronation Trophy, and some new types of races to provide a wider variety.  The Cadet section had continued to grow and the Club had held a Gunfleet Splash during the school summer holidays, for the younger members, which had proved very popular.

The Chairman of the Directors of Gunfleet Sailing Club Ltd., Malcolm Jolly, reported that the Club had commissioned a structural survey of the Clubhouse, and site as a whole, and went through the findings. This detailed certain areas that needed attention which provided the Club with the opportunity to carry out some further improvements in order to enhance the facilities.  He then went on to explain that the sport’s governing body – the Royal Yachting Association required all affiliated sailing clubs to meet a higher level of standards and protocols, which Gunfleet was exploring thoroughly further, with the RYA, over the coming year.

The meeting concluded with the election of officers to serve on the Committee in 2024, and they were:

Commodore:  Richard Walker
Vice Commodore:  Robert Mitchell
Rear Commodore:  Malcolm Jolly
Sailing Secretary:  Chris Maloney
Social Secretary:  Sandra Walker
Cadet Officer:  Jo Taylor
Compound Officer:  Brian Allen

The Club Treasurer, appointed by the Directors of Gunfleet Sailing Club Ltd., continued to be Peter Downer.