Gunfleet Members Look Back At A Mamentous Year

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its Annual General Meeting when Commodore Richard Walker looked back on a very successful year which included two major activities that would be long remembered.  The first was the rebuild works to the Clubhouse, including an extension that housed both an entrance lobby and a race box; this had been, primarily, carried out by members and was a fitting testament to the commitment and enthusiasm that abounded at the Gunfleet.  The second event was the holding of the Comet Dinghy National Championship which spanned over four days and saw 29 boats taking part; the owners coming from as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall.  It was, once again, thanks to the hard work of the members that the event was such a success and, amongst the very many letters of thanks and appreciation received, one visiting Comet sailor recorded “It was a championship that will go down in Comet folklore”.

The Club had seen the rapid rise in the number of RS Aero owners and the fleet was now into double figures with the promise of more in 2026.  There had been consistent activity on the water with no less than 56 races between March and the end of November, and while competition had been keen, it was always with a good sense of humour and much camaraderie.  The Club’s annual Regatta had been run in near-perfect weather conditions and it had been good to see so many boats on the water, enjoying both the sailing and the refreshment on offer once back on land.  Class racing had proved popular with a five race series spread across the season and featuring separate courses, starts, and trophies for RS Aeros, Lasers, Solos, Comets, and Toppers.  The Club’s Fitting-Out Supper and Laying-Up Dinner had both seen house-full signs going up, and members had rallied round to carry out the annual Cliff Clearance and Work Weekend.

The Gunfleet continued to communicate on a regular basis with all its members, including the production of a quarterly hard copy Gunfleet Gazette magazine, monthly electronic Newsflashes, and emails.  On a sad note the Club had lost two of its longstanding members; John Murrison, a founding member of Gunfleet and former Director, had been instrumental in helping to build the Club and steer it through its early years, and Eddie White, who had been an inspiration to everyone; he loved sailing and the Club, and left many a legacy with the work he had carried out over the years.  

Club Treasure Peter Downer took the members through the year’s accounts, identifying the careful management of Club funds to not only pay for the rebuild but also invest in a new engine for one of the safety boats.  Chairman of the Directors of Gunfleet Sailing Club Ltd., Malcolm Jolly, reported, in detail, on the major works to the Clubhouse and praised Downer for the meticulous way he continued to manage the Club funds.

The meeting concluded with the election of officers to serve on the Committee in 2026:

Commodore:          Richard Walker
Vice Commodore:      Martin Chivers
Rear Commodore:      Malcolm Jolly
Sailing Secretary:      Tim Dye
Social Secretary:     Elaine Dye
Cadet Officer:      Jo Taylor
Compound Officer:      Dave Ingle