Page 5 - Yachter Autumn 2023

FROM THE BRIDGE
By the time you read this we will be well into the Autumn and activity on the river will have slowed down as the season draws to a close. However, on shore in the Clubhouse you will still find the same warm welcome you have always done, and this is due to the dedication and professionalism of our fabulous staff. Following the problems caused by Covid and lockdown many hospitality businesses have struggled to find experienced staff. We on the other hand should consider ourselves very fortunate to have not only recruited, but also retained some excellent staff this year. We are reminded of this quite regularly when we receive e-mails and letters from members and visitors wishing to express their thanks for the exceptional experience and service they have received from the team when they visit us at Gins.
In the last edition of Yachter I reported that our editor, Natalie Hamilton, was stepping down after having brilliantly curated our magazine for the last few years. Her departure created an opportunity for someone new to take up the reins and continue this important task. I am therefore delighted to announce that we found that person in Zoë Darby, who has volunteered to join the team and we wish her a very warm welcome and look forward to many more bumper editions to come.
Evolution often inspires innovation, or
is it the other way round? Either way, the squeeze on budgets brought about by the ever-increasing cost of living crisis has focused us on the need to save money where we can, and your Executive Committee is no stranger to investigating ways to reduce the Club’s overheads whilst maintaining the level of service the Club provides. This is always a delicate balancing act and requires careful consideration before action. The way we produce this magazine has often come up for discussion and indeed it has again recently. This has resulted in our decision to adopt a more modern approach to how we distribute Yachter and therefore from this edition it will be made available as an e-publication accessible via the Club’s website. We will continue with a hard copy edition as well, which will be available to collect from Gins. You could even make a meal of it and stay for lunch at the same time.
The beginning of October saw the start
of the Winter Series in Southampton Water, which is our final series in the calendar for 2023 with only the Charity Pursuit Race
left to go. This is a great race which always attracts a good field of entries, and so it should because not only is it great fun to compete
in, but it also raises valuable funds for the Royal Southampton Yacht Club Trust, the charity I chose to support during my tenure
as Commodore. The funds help the Trust to continue its valuable work providing young carers in Hampshire hugely deserved respite from their daily care duties by getting them out on the water and allowing them to enjoy being young, whilst learning new skills. To find out more, take a look at the feature on page 20.
In 2024 the Club will be celebrating the
60th anniversary of Gins, and what better way to start off that year of celebrations than with our newly formed partnership with MDL Marinas. I am delighted to announce MDL has become the boat and title race sponsor of the Southampton Water and Double-Handed race programmes, starting in January 2024 with the Frostbite Series. This exciting new 24-month partnership will see MDL Marinas provide berthing at its flagship Ocean Village Marina in the heart of Southampton for the Club’s two racing support vessels, The Hound and RSYC RIB. The RMT will also have unlimited access to the marina’s recently refurbished facilities.
On the subject of the Race Management Team, it is with immense pride that I received
a letter from the organisers of Cowes Week 2023 praising the professionalism and expertise of our RMT for ‘more than maintaining the reputation of the Club in running the highest quality of racing for the J70s, SB20s and other classes.’ Praise indeed, and a team we can be truly proud of!
I am sure all those involved will no doubt have many stories to tell at the prize-giving on the 25th November, and I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Before then however, we have a lot of polishing Trophies
to do!
See you at the bar,
Robin Funnell Commodore
FROM THE BRXIXDXGXE 5