COMMENT

Comment. Since my last news there have been a few changes made in club personnel. At the AGM. Charles Lloyd was elected to be the new Rear Commodore after the resignation of Martin Dooley, due to pressure of work. Trevor Roberts assumed his duties as our new Yard and Berthing Master. At the same meeting David Warren was elected to be a General Committee Member. W. Woods has resigned as a member of the Sailing Committee and Ian Cowell and Peter Williams have resigned as members of the Handicap Committee. I do not have a complete list of Sailing Committee Members or House Committee Members to hand at present.

As we are having sunnier days some of the time, more people are giving thought to their boats in the yard and preparations for the coming season. As well as boats to be fitted out it is important to add your moorings to your list of things to be done. There is no point in spending time and money on your boat if you do not have a well founded mooring to keep your boat secure. Looking at the moorings in the river it is evident that there is a great deal to be done before they are fit for use. It saves a lot of hassle later. If you are not sure what to do about your mooring there will always be some one with good experience to advise you. There has also been a request that everybody should read the club rules in their diary relating to moorings and to sailing.

This year is the International Year of Bio-diversity. This year is designated to remind us all of the importance of our natural environment, which seems to be declining at a fast rate, as habitats are lost and some species become extinct. An important part of our locality is of course the welfare of the red squirrels. They appear to be on the increase very slowly after almost two years of disease. As we are well into February we will find that the bird visitors will begin to return to their breeding grounds. The Pink Footed geese will begin to move off to Iceland, although not all at the same time. Martin Mere advises that the Whooper Swans will return to Russia. They are more predictable and can be seen taking off from the Mere on the 20th February. If you are interested in seeing a thousand swans take off for their journey ring Martin Mere or go on line for details of the experience. By March the comparatively very small birds will start their hazardous journeys to Spain and to South Africa. We can all contribute to the care of the environment in small ways, they do add up. Pat.

The February General Committee Meeting was held on Tuesday 9th February 2010 and the following are some notes from that Committee Meeting.

There was an apology for absence from Bob Chamberlain.

The Commodore opened the meeting. He told the committee that the Fitting Out Dinner had been a great success. Mark thanked all who had helped in the preparation and on the night. Bob Berks was the MC. All the visitors enjoyed the dinner and a letter of thanks has been received from Royal Mersey Club.

The Vice Commodore. Phil gave the notes from the Sailing Committee meeting.

Meeting of Sailing Committee held on Tuesday 2nd February 2010

1) Present: P Wright (In the Chair), I Cowell, A Lee-McGurk, P Williams, C Loughran, M Kennan, D Wilcocks, A Bridges, T Roberts.

2) Apologies: Simon Markland

3) Minutes of Sailing Committee meeting 1.12.09: Noted.

4) Matters Arising from the Minutes:
a)Race Officer Training: P Wright said with only 8 or 9 members signing up to the Race Officer Training he wondered whether it could be justified. The view of the meeting was that an effort should be made to hold such training in the hope that once arranged more members might come forward.
b)Winter Lectures: C Loughran had suggested that a Boat Owner Pre-Season meeting should be held and P Wright said it could coincide with a speaker on Life-jackets. It was also suggested by P Williams that the latest techniques on artificial resuscitation should also be demonstrated. Dr Welch is to be approached on this subject.
c)Eddie Breen & Josh: M Kennan said an appropriate letter had been sent to Eddie Breen which would be discussed at the General Committee Meeting to be held on 9.2.10.
d)Starting Procedure for Races: P Wright re-iterated the established procedure for starting races in Club events and it was agreed these starting procedures should continue.
e)Club Year Booklet: I Cowell reported that the Club Secretary was now in possession of the Proudman Institute tide tables based on Gladstone Dock which meant any time adjustment at the River Alt would now be 10 minutes and not 20 minutes as previously. The tide tables would be reproduced with an acknowledgement to the Proudman Institute in this year ‘s Club booklet.
f)Visit to the Dee Sailing Club: The question of a visit to the Dee Sailing Club was discussed. There were concerns about the tides and the arrival times and it was felt that a visit to the West Kirkby Club would be more appropriate and could be achieved on one tide. This would be discussed with the Commodore.
g)Draft Sailing Season 2010: After circulation of the draft the following amendment was made: Saturday 31st July House Members Race. It was also suggested that consideration be given to an around the Windmills Race at a date to be set during the season.
h)Handicaps: I Cowell has resigned as Handicap Secretary.
i)Land Opposite the Alt Centre: M Kennan said this would be discussed at the General Committee Meeting to be held on 9.2.10.
j)Valuation of Club Trophies: This was discussed and. the file had been handed to the Treasurer and was now in possession of D Griffiths who was to get an estimate of the premium involved.

5) Yard & Berthing Masters Report

T Roberts reported on electrical work that had to be done in the Yard including the upgrading of a socket linked to the winch should welding equipment be used in the Yard and the repair of other sockets in the Yard. An estimate was also to be obtained for time switches to be fitted to each of the electrical sites in the yard so that electricity could not be used during the late evening or night time. Trefor also expressed concern about cables being littered about the Yards and is to obtain cable protectors. D Wilcox said an instruction had been issued during his time in office that cables should be removed each day when the boat owner was working on his boat. Trefor also expressed concern about the state of strops used when trailers with boats on were being raised or lowered into the River Alt. Trefor will also discuss insurances at the General Committee Meeting. Mention was also made of work being needed on the 2 emergency moorings and the ODs mooring. Trefor has also repaired the main gate into the Yard and put a stop on it so it would not open outwards
.
6) Club Captains Report

: M Kennan set the Spring Working Party date as 3rd April 2010 at 9am. He has also organised groups of members to clear the mud with the Club’s pump from the slipway(s) on 6th February (A Roe i/c); 6th March (W Woods i/c); 3rd April – as part of the Yard Clearing programme; and also a group on 22nd May. On the 3rd April perching would also be done by 4 groups; Group 1- A Bridges; Group 2 - Graham Cummings; Group 3 - W Woods; Group 4 - P Wright.
7) Any Other Business: a) Altmouth Cup 2011 - P Wright said there was a need to obtain tide tables so as to set dates for next years Altmouth Cup prior to the Kindred Clubs Meeting to be held during April 2010. I Cowell said the tables would be in hand for the meeting on 2nd March. b) Budget: P Wright said there was a need to draw up a Sailing Committee budget for the year. c) Help Team: P Wright said there was a need to review the composition of the Help Team in the Club Booklet. d) Winch Key Holders: A new lock is to be placed on the winch and key holders will be: P Williams, M Parker, A Bridges, D Wilcox, W Woods, T Roberts.
8)Time & Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 2nd March 2010 at 8pm.

Footnote to above report.
a. The Boat Gulmarin has now been secured as the Race Officers Boat for the Altmouth Cup.
b. The Race Officers Traing Day will go ahead as other clubs have expressed a wish for their members to attend.
c. The Land by the slip is in the hands of the Sefton Planning Committee.
d. The members who have resigned from the Handicap Committee were thanked for their work.
e. The first group of people in line for clearing the mud have done so. Mike said it was an excellent job and wished to thank A Roe, J Coady, A Bridges T Roberts and C Hardman. And J Hall. Ed.

The Yard and Berth Master
Insurance. David Griffiths attended the General Committee Meeting and answered questions concerning the club’s insurance on all matters. There is a change this year to the insurance for boats in the yard and on moorings. The Insurance company instructs that a copy of the boat owners insurance certificate must be handed in. To this end there will be a change to Bye law No. 9.in the rules.
(This is not a new thing it is the way it was always done before the endless changes and wrangling began a few years ago Ed)
The Yard and Berth. Master pointed out that boat declarations MUST be handed in 3 weeks before launching.
Will new members please read their diaries concerning applying for moorings especially Bye Law 5a.
The Fence round the yard has been repaired and the hedge will be cut and the gaps filled in with new plants.

The Rear Commodore Charles reported that a new radiator had been installed and arrangements are in place for the insulation of water pipes in the loft to prevent freezing.

Bar Prices are being reviewed. Waverleys are increasing the price of their beer.

A complaints book will be made available shortly. (These two items are not related! )

The Hon Treasurer reported that the subs are not being paid in very quickly. Most bills have been paid and the rent is up to date.

The Hon Membership Secretary reported that there has been one resignation, Ian Lloyd.
Two new Hose Members wer recommended to the General Committee and both were voted in. Many members already know them. Please welcome Marian Howells of Hightown and Louise Hollick of Waterloo.

The Hon Secretary. Bob has dealt with outstanding correspondence and will send out letters as necessary from this meeting. Invitations have been received for flag officers to attend West Lancs Dinner and Pilkingtons Dinner.