Page 41 - Masthead - Salcombe Yacht Club 2019 Yearbook

MANAGER OF SYC – A YEAR ON!
Where has the year gone! Having started at the Club Sept 2017. I am now ‘celebrating’ my first anniversary!
Being the Club Manager has certainly been busy and I can safely say never boring! Literally every day there is something which needs attention whether this is water pouring into the kitchen, no heating in the club or simply where to store 120 chairs with no storage space. It has certainly kept me on my toes and running up and down those stairs – who needs a workout!
Our vision to bring a bit more light and airiness into the Club came to fruition in March with the development of the bar area. I know change can be daunting and sometimes not to everyone’s taste but we have had some amazing comments and letters with regards the new look. Certainly, the new wood burning stove was enjoyed by many, last winter particularly, when the snow lay deep and thick around us! We also think the colour change in the dining room has given it a bit more warmth and managing to finally unseal the windows in there has let some well needed fresh air in!
This winter we are turning our attention to upgrading the Ladies Downstairs showers and sprucing up the décor in the Chart Room. We are also keen to put a glass front on the terrace balustrade instead of the wire meshing and we have already been generously donated £1,000 by two members to get this ball rolling.
On the event side, the Organising Committee has continued to produce a really varied programme; we hope more this year will join the SYC Rambles – a great way to exercise and meet new people then back to the club for a well-earned meal! We had some very interesting talks this year most with a meal included which all proved really popular. We are also thrilled that our Themed Suppers have been so
popular, and we have many more of those in the diary for 2019; they are a great way to entertain friends and family. Our fantastic new chef Stew ran 2 very successful cookery classes and more of these will be run in 2019.
We would like to thank all our members for being so patient with numerous teething problems on our website but also feel that the booking system is beginning to bed in for many and makes the club’s life much easier with knowing how many are coming with food ordering and payment etc. We hope you find the calendar useful as well as all the other areas on the website and don’t forget to let us know if there is anything else you would like to see. We are working closely with the software creator and hope to enhance booking in for sailing events to ensure we capture all information required.
The club are very lucky with our superb bar staff, headed by Auguste, who was very much thrown into the deep-end, alongside me as we were both newbies to all events this year including Merlin Rocket Week and two Regattas!
But her attention to detail has meant that our members have enjoyed many extremely well-
run events. Also, our Head Chef Stew King has come on board with excellent credentials and producing some delicious menus and ideas and with his great sense of humour has managed to weather numerous kitchen challenges!
It goes without saying that this
club could not run without the
amazing ladies in the office. This
year has been particularly challenging for Fiona, as we have changed payment
systems but she has stuck at it and only deep sighed twice! To this end, we would also as a club like to thank our stalwart Treasurer Martyn Fray who puts in endless hours and works tirelessly to keep the
club financially on track. Jayne has had another incredibly busy year with increased numbers of cadets, courses and sailing events. She never says no and continues to drive this club forward both on land and sea. Another huge thank you goes to Clare who pulls together the administrative side of the events and courses including Merlin Rocket Week (which did not occur without its problems!), and our regattas, she also keeps those of you who are social media savvy up to date with what is going on in the club.
Amazingly Woody has continued to ask me to crew for him (I think he just likes a joke) and I even crewed for him for Town Regatta, I only took one wrong port for starboard and ended up in the Fairway! I have also got to grips with results, flags
and helming safety boats; note to all, being in the Watch House is great fun
and not difficult, so do sign up!
What makes this club is, of course,
the members and I am very grateful for their continued support to both myself and the club. Every day I am captivated
by the view and reminded how lucky we all are to be part of such an incredible place. One last thanks must go to our
Commodore Martin Smout who has given me endless support and encouragement. Please do remember that our door is always open, and we are always happy
to discuss anything.
Here’s to another good year!
Jules McColl, Club Manager
Club News 39