May 31st 2023

May 31st Updates

General Updates:

Notable cruises: Martin Goodrich and Kevin Wheelen are making good progress in their round Britain sail and are now in Dublin.

Friday was Big Crane Day - with a hired crane lifting masts and other things around the yard. Notably, Tahira, the cat of sadly deceased member Roy Meynell was lifted back into the water. Although it did not look exactly smart, this boat was well loved and cared for - and we could not be more pleased that she floats again and did not need to be scrapped. Huge thanks to the yard team who worked a long hard day and achieved wonders.

The management of the clubs finances is a huge challenge and the workload exceeds what can reasonably be expected of volunteers. Late last year, our Treasurer, Paul concluded that he could not cope with the workload and wished to hang up his calculator in the first half of 2023. Since then we have been working on a new approach, which includes:

• Employ Brenda Miskin as (freelance) bookkeeper to keep on top of the day to day work.
• Move to a new accounts system (Xero instead of Kashflow).
• Appoint a new Treasure, at some point.
• Launch a new online member’s portal. In time this will link to the accounts system and allow some automation.

A special announcement provides more information on renewing direct debit mandates for those of you on monthly invoicing - and our efforts to chase unpaid invoices.

Cruisers:

Members wishing to crew on yachts, please see the list published in TNA or speak to skippers.

Last Sunday, the cruisers raced in the summer series and an open race. Some stayed for the BBQ at Thurrock YC, two of their boats joined our race. Thank you to Jim Four who manned the race hut and Chalky White for running sailors to and from the trots.

Not all boats sailed the course or demonstrated best seamanship. It is unsportsmanlike and doesn't go down well with other competitors. No protests were received.

Duke of York Challenge (open race)

1. Naiad
2. Lo Flyer
3. Mesečina
4. Keelboat
5. Blue Moon
6. Talulah
7. Cataleya
8. Midas Touch

Disqualified - Lili

Westerly Challenge (summer series race 2)

1. Naiad
2. Talulah
3. Lo Flyer
4. Ahoy Keelboat

Disqualified - Lili

Coming up:

Oven’s Buoy Race (summer series race 3) Sunday, 11th June, briefing 0700; start 0830 Trot boat after the briefing

RNSA Trophy (summer series race 4) Sunday, 18th June, briefing 1230, start 1400

Dinghies:

This Sunday, 4 June, we have the Courage Shield dinghy race. Approved helms should book online.

Volunteers needed: for the above dinghy race, we’re in need of a race officer, two safety crew and an approved helm to take out new club members in the club Stratos. Let Toby know if you can help.

Next events, along with briefing times:

18th June 12:30 pm – RNSA

1st July 10 am - Commodore Jubilee Trophy

Watch this space: we’re looking to add additional events to the calendar this summer, including beginner-focussed dinghy races and cruises. Beginners will be charged £13.50 per person and approved helms volunteering in a training capacity for these events will not be charged and the events will not impact results in the summer series. Let Toby know by email if you’re interested in taking part in any capacity (safety duties / race officer / approved helm / beginner) and if you can make the first of these which could be on 10 June. Further details to follow. First come first serve.

The dinghy section welcomes you to join us regardless of your sailing ability! All details are in the FAQ.

Rowing:

The row on 21st May was a lovely row to Erith. We had two full cutters Cito coxed by Paul with support from trainee cox McDevitt; and Buccanneer coxed by Jack. That's 16 folks in total, 6 of them were guest rowers. One of our guest rowers was a very experienced rowers from a rowing club in San Francisco - it was an absolute pleasure having rowers from around the world row with us. The seals came to check us out on our return journey which was amazing, unfortunately we did not have any mackerel to give them.

The next dates for the diary are as follows some :

• Sunday 4th June - Row to Westminster Boating Centre
• Saturday 10th June - Paul, our cox trainer, has agreed to do another Cox training / refresher / practice session.
• Sunday 18th June - Row to Isle of Dogs
• Sunday 2nd July - Olympic Park
• Tuesday's 5, 12, 19 and 26 September @7pm till 8pm- Cox theory will be taught by Peter Waugh.

If you are interested in any of the dates above please email.

Training:

New RYA Powerboat Level 1 course for youngsters - 31st May

The course is for young people aged between 12 and 16 years.

1 place remaining

Time: 0900-1630

Instructors: Steve and Paul

No of Places: Six (5 taken)

Cost: £40

RYA VHF SRC course - 4th June

Time: 0900-1730

Instructor: Tony

No of places: 10 (7 taken)

Cost: £90 Members, £110 Non-Members (Book included)

Plus an extra £70 to the RYA for the examiner and certificate.

Intensive course so homework advisable!

‘Taster’ sail - 17th June

Time: 1300-1630/1700

No of places: 10 (8 taken)

Cost: £30

Social:

The Midsummer Madness, En Plein Air, Sunday Painters on June 18th is attracting a lot of attention - but, members, do remember as an artist, there's lot to capture around the club for you and any creative acquaintances.

Tuesday 4th July is US Independence Day, so there will be a short table-top quiz on things American

On Saturday 15th July, there is a Village Summer Fete on the Green the other side of the Ecology Park. Some volunteers needed to position a dinghy and trailer and others required to staff the event - wearing GYC and sailing kit - to promote membership and support the local community.

'Jeux sans Frontieres' - date to be arranged but volunteers are needed to champion and organise activities and participants. These are to take place around the yard. Here are examples: - 'Bale-Out' (individuals to compete to use balers/buckets to empty a water-filled vessel); Trolley Race (pairs to obtain any type of conveyance to do circuits around the yard - changing over at the halfway stage); Life-saving Obstacle Race (Individuals to complete a length of the yard, donning life-jackets, picking up a life belt and a fender before crossing the line)...

Jazz and Jam Session, Thursday 21st September (Autumn Equinox) - with acclaimed pianist, professional rock session musicians but, most importantly, any club members who sing or play an instrument.

Other suggestions and volunteers for Social Events are welcome so please get in touch.

Sustainability:

The Sustainability and environment team has arranged for the disposal of old paints, waste oil, anti-foul waste, marine batteries, anti-freeze and other hazardous waste. If you have any of these materials ON CLUB PREMISES please contact Michael Teo or the yard team.

On Tuesday the 20th June at 1900, our neighbor Greenwich Peninsular Ecology Park and Terry Paterson will be presenting their environmental vision and also introducing the iNaturalist app created by The National Geographic. Please extend this invitation to your friends who are passionate about nature conservation and the environment.

Environmentally minded members are welcomed to join the GYC Environmental Sustainability Chat Group to share their ideas, rally activism and discuss environmental matters that concerns the club via this link.

Yard and Harbour:

Volunteer(s) required to paint some of the exterior of the shipping containers.

The mezzanine contains a number of unlabelled items, including off white seating from a motor boat and numerous cushions. The Label it or Lose it team will be unleashed on the mezzanine in mid-June. If you have left any items in this area please check to ensure that they are labelled. If not, they will soon be gone.

Volunteering:

GMV Summer Fete organiser - the housing complex are organising a Summer Fete for July 15th - and it is proposed that GYC has a stall there, and possibly wheels up a dinghy to show off! We need a volunteer to help organise the GYC end of things.

Website Procurement - we intend to replace the club website but need some help to oversee the procurement process. The volunteer should have relevant professional experience.

LED Lighting Wrangler - this is a one off piece of work to help identify best lighting strategy for the workshop to replace the sodium lights with LED's. Some work has been done, but we need someone (with appropriate pre-existing skills) to get into the detail, talk to the various stakeholders in the club, research products and agree procurement strategy with Michael, Norman and the Commodore. There is a window of opportunity as the shed will shortly be vacated by Njord.

Gallery:

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