Page 10 - Yachter Spring/Summer 2022

10 NEW MEMBERS
RSYC NEW MEMBERS’
PERSPECTIVE
We both started sailing in dinghies; Caroline in a Duckling at West Wittering Sailing Club and later a Gull then a Laser. I started in Albacores and Fireflies at the Limassol Services Sailing Club in the early 1960s, and later sailing a variety of boats whenever given the opportunity. I bought and fitted out a new Seawolf 26 in 1979, which was my first cruiser/racer, also my first exposure to the Round the Island race and the cost of owning a big boat.
We then chartered various yachts including
a Sadler 34 Jeito from an RSYC member in the early 1980s, whilst sailing Lasers at Dell Quay. I was keen to own my own yacht again and ended up buying a Contessa 32, Fiddler of Hornet, at an MoD auction in 1991. We substantially refitted and upgraded her. We had two very young sons by this time
so that was holidays fixed for the next few years.We cruised the Solent and South Coast, Channel Isles and Northern France. I also raced with the RNC, RAYC and JOG. Fiddler was a fairly spartan boat although seaworthy and fun to sail so we bought a Scanmar 35 in her place in 1998, to provide more comfortable and drier cruising.
By this time, we had done another 10 RtIs and a few RNC (Royal Navy Club) and
RAYC (Royal ArtilleryYacht Club) autumn and spring series.Work took us to CapeTown in 2001 so the Scanmar was sold. I joined
the Royal CapeYC and raced primarily
on a Farr 40. On return to England I sailed with a couple of friends, until a visit to the Southampton Boat Show showed how far yacht designs had progressed in a few years. I was taken with the Pogo, but the RM was more civilised.
We visited the RM factory in La Rochelle for a trial sail and placed an order for a RM1070; delivery for July 2018.We made more visits to view construction, which is unusual in that the hull is made from epoxy impregnated marine ply.We also agreed
to be the RM display yacht at the 2018 Southampton Boat Show. Delivery ended up in August immediately followed by the French national holiday, so it was a mad
rush to sail into Southampton for the show. Four days, instead of the planned four weeks leisurely cruise. In 2019 we sailed to the Isles of Scilly and enjoyed lots of local sailing, getting used to a boat with a lifting keel and twin rudders.
COVID then stymied ambitions for
any more recent extended cruising but a favourite stopover was the Beaulieu River; we were also looking for aYacht Club to
join and the RSYC looked a promising choice.We contacted Maggie who was very welcoming and helpful and in the short time since joining we have been to a New Members’ Evening, a rally at Bembridge and the Trafalgar Dinner.These were all very enjoyable events and confirmed that we had made a good choice for a new club.
In 2022 we plan to join some of the rallies and attend Club functions when possible. The opportunity to moor on the shoreside pontoon makes attendance at Club events much more appealing than driving there and back. Gins Farm is a beautiful location for a club and staff and members have been very welcoming – Thank You.
David and Caroline Fortune