Commodore's AGM Speech
24th September 2009
60th Anniversary -
This year is quite momentous as it is our 60th anniversary.
Our Club was originally formed in 1949 as the Cruising Yacht Club of Victoria and renamed in 1972. The Club was incorporated in 1986 hence this is the 24th AGM.
Year in review
This time last year we were facing a world of grave financial uncertainty. This had severe implications for the discretionary spending sport of sailing and especially the high cost end of ocean racing.
Within this climate it is pleasing that we have been able to continue our ongoing improvement plans which have made our Club the leader in our chosen sport.
Race Administration - Our race documentation can now be completed on line and results produced immediately, even before you get back to the marina. We have also adopted SMS notifications for weather and starting information which has been particularly useful in the strong wind conditions experienced this season. The SMS messages giving boat positions and finishing times (for long races) to next of kin has also been well received. We thank Simon Dryden and Don Fraser and their team for the innovations in this major part of our Club's activities.
Racing - This year's strong winter conditions provided a challenging and competitive sailing series climaxing with the exciting inaugural M2G race. The change of the last race to an inside course with Geelong as the destination was a popular decision with 51 boats entering. This change of venue was arranged after consultation with the entrants for the series. The Apollo Bay race was unable to be run due to the extraordinary weather conditions at the time.
Whilst some race entrant numbers have been down this year, this is not totally unexpected considering the financial conditions experienced over the past year. The Entire Cock of the Bay race however had more entrants than the much promoted Sydney to Hobart race last Boxing Day. At the end of last year we ran simultaneously three races to Tasmania which catered for a wide range of offshore sailors -
- The Kidder Williams Rudder Cup to Launceston - a testing but reasonably short Bass Straight crossing.
- The Heemskirk Consolidated Eastcoaster - a tactically challenging race to Hobart north of Flinders Island and down the east coast.
- The Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster - the traditional Southern Ocean race down the west coast to Hobart.
Sponsors - We can only operate at our present level with the special assistance we receive from our generous sponsors -
- Heemskirk Consolidated Ltd for our annual races to Hobart
- Kidder Williams provide financial support for the Rudder Cup race to Launceston.
We also acknowledge the support for many years provided for the Entire Cock of the Bay race and Double-Handed series by Peter Coleman.
- Entire Group
Race prizes - During the year we were able to award very useful prizes at the end of each race thanks to our sponsors:
- Gill Clothing
- Donaghys Ropes.
Next year McConaghys Boats are providing a fabulous new prize as part of the Offshore Championship series, a carbon steering wheel
A $1,000 cash prize will be offered to break the Rudder Cup race record.
Publicity - In the past it has been difficult gaining publicity for our events however this year John Curnow has joined the team and already his articles are appearing regularly in the electronic media. Your feedback about his unique style and knowledge has been encouraging.
Year Book - Last year Nick McGuigan undertook to revitalise this unique publication and the 2009 edition, with more improvements, will be distributed in October.
Training - This continues to be a very important part of our Club's activities. The Latitude series encourages new members to 'poke their nose out', the Sea Safety Survival Training is an invaluable experience for all who enjoy 'messing about on boats' and the Vanuatu series looks at the preparation required to compete in the longest races conducted in Australia.
This weekend the SSSC course will again be run and the RIP Tour will be conducted 25th October.
Many of the innovations the ORCV have developed are now being emulated by other clubs and we are keen to progress cooperative training opportunities wherever possible.
Next year's activities and beyond
In addition to our regular events we are adding a 'Gallipoli Commemoration' off Red Bluff on Anzac Day next year. It is proposed that this will be run in conjunction with the Black Rock, Sandringham and Royal Brighton Yacht Clubs.
In May our Club has been asked to provide the race administration for the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club's 'Around Lord Howe' race
The Melbourne to Vanuatu Race will again be run starting on the 4th July 2010 and a humanitarian activity incorporated into this international event is being arranged.
We have been asked to assist with the 2011 'Around Australia Race and Rally' and are delighted that the event organizer Bob Williams from Western Australia is here with us tonight. We will be organizing the Melbourne to Sydney race as part of that event - this race was last run in 1978. The magnificent race trophy is on display.
Staff
There have been some staff changes during the past year and we thank Guy Dwyer for his invaluable contribution over the past four years in his role as Office Manager. Dennis Livingston and Sally Williams are now providing the daily contact at the office and Neil Butler is attending to the accounting role.
Premises
Whilst the Club's Footscray premises have served us well, it is considered the ORCV should relocate to either the Bayside or Docklands area. We are considering several options at the present time.
An urgent requirement is to have premises where the life rafts can be cleaned and dried after each SSSC course.
General Committee
My sincere thanks to each and every one of the General Committee who have put in extraordinary hours (together with their respective sub committees) during the past year. Noel May is not renominating as Treasurer. After ten years in a committee position, both as Commodore and Treasurer, he is stepping down from the committee. Noel, you will be sorely missed.
Richard McGarvie has not renominated due to business commitments but will stay on as the Club's voluntary legal counsel.
I look forward to serving you as Commodore for another twelve months of great ocean racing and to seeing you on the water.
Thank you,
George Shaw
Commodore
