Commodore's Update - The Season Ahead

Published 14:45 on 21 Jan 2024

Happy New Year!

Given we are now in 2024, I thought I should get tapping on my keyboard to give everyone an update on what's going on at the club.

First of all, I'm sure you would all like to know that sailing will restart on Easter Sunday (Sunday 31^st March). We typically start sailing on the first Sunday in April but, given that would be the 8^th April this year, we decided to bring sailing forwards a week. I hope to see you there!

As a result the Spring Working Parties will be happening on 17^th & 24^th March. If you can, please do come along and help us wake up the club for the year ahead. More details will be released closer to the time.

You'll also notice that the club calendar is filling up on the website. You'll see most events are down as provisional, and so may yet change. Nevertheless, here are some dates that can be pencilled into the diary:

• 26^th May - Discover Sailing Day
• 11-12^th May RYA Dinghy L1 Sailing Course
• 26^th May Discover Sailing Day
• 29^th June North East & Yorkshire Youth Traveller Series
• 24-25^th August The Grassholme Cup 2024
• 1^st December End of Season Lunch & Prizegiving

Given the sailing season is coming up, you'll also have noticed that membership renewals went live on Friday, during the January Committee Meeting. Thank you to everyone who has renewed so far, including one eager beaver who had renewed before we even finished the meeting!

Inevitably, given the inflation experienced during 2023, the Committee have had to take the decision to raise membership fees this year. We've also had to account for the fact there is no equivalent grant to the Queen's Jubilee Activity Fund, or the Together Fund, available. The club benefited from both these grants over the past two years, which helped fund the club. Details of the 2024 membership fees are available at: https://www.tdswc.org.uk/our_club/membership

As a club, we're committed to making sailing as accessible as possible, and so we've been careful to ensure that, despite the fee increase, the club remains one of the best value and budget friendly sailing clubs in the area.

Finally, a note of thanks. Over the winter Jake has stepped down from the Committee. I'd like to thank him for the time he has put into the Committee over the past couple of years, especially his assistance with grant applications. Jake will still be a member at the club, and hopefully will now have a bit more time to enjoy being on the water.

Well that's all for now. I hope to see you all in the spring when hopefully it will have warmed up a bit!

Best wishes,

James

Commodore