Commodores Report from the 2025 AGM
Published 21:26 on 29 May 2025
COMMODORES REPORT
As I complete my first year in post, I would like to provide you, our members, with an update on the health of the Club.
The headlines are that the Club is in sound financial health; membership numbers are consistent year on year; racing and cruising participation are flourishing; we have invested time and money in improving the Club House, its environs together with our sailing and rescue boat fleets; and we have strong catering, bar and management teams delivering a high quality of service to our members.
Notable on the water developments over the year are led by the resurgence of the Yawl fleet with the pontoon being a huge success. Participation in all our Club racing has grown significantly and the winter has seen many boats being brought up to modern racing standards. It is a wonderful spectacle with great competition on the water and camaraderie off.
Our Rear Commodore Sailing, John Burn, has introduced a number of changes to the organisation and timing of club racing and open meetings and these are proving successful both for adult racing and for our cadet training and racing, both continuing to flourish. Open meeting attendance and visitor numbers have increased although Merlin Rocket Week entries are down from their recent peeks, and we are managing our costs accordingly. I would like to thank Graham and Fiona Cranford-Smith for all their efforts in running MRW for the last 13 bumper years.
Over the winter, we conducted a major refurbish of all our rescue boats to extend their life and have completed the engine replacement program. We also added new Toppers to our fleet with further support via a grant from South Hams District Council. We continue to ring fence funds for future boat replacement and upgrades.
The cruiser fleet have had an active season of rallies to destinations along the south coast and some further afield. We have also been able to welcome a number of visiting Yacht Clubs who have been made very welcome at the Club. I would like to thank Graham Nurser, who has now completed his Rear Commodore Cruising duties, for all his efforts in these areas.
At the Club House, we have invested in new Chart Room windows and doors together with the balcony balustrade and, with the support of our partner Salcombe Retreats, the Chart Room has been redecorated to a high standard making it a wonderful venue for Club and members events. We will be further investing in bar and dining room furniture to replace the tired tables and chairs and improve accessibility. Outside we have cleared a lot of vegetation to clean up the terrace and garden areas. The main flag mast was damaged in the winter gales, and we are working on a long-term low maintenance solution.
Our catering service, which is franchised to Adam (Salty Sailor), has proven to be pitched appropriately for our members tastes and we are delighted that Adam has continued with us for at least another year. Footfall at the Club throughout the year has grown and the Club has benefited from increased bar takings where our Bar Manager Russell is providing a professional front of house service. Along with the whole hospitality sector in Salcombe we struggle to find regular experienced bar staff and have faced challenges at some of our busiest times. Consequently, we have introduced a program of training volunteers who can supplement our bar team at key times. You may see some familiar faces providing service and we beg your tolerance!
We are very fortunate to have a great group of partners who provide sponsorship for Club events and discounts to our members. I would particularly like to thank Salcombe Gin who will again headline our Regatta sponsorship, Helly Hansen who have taken headline sponsorship of Merlin Rocket Week and Silver Tiller weekend together with Bartons, Stones Boatyard / Yeti, Barney Greenhill and Salcombe Brewery for their support of our Open Meetings.
Finally, a big thank you to the team without whom the Club would not function. To Lucy for all her communications and photos and the profile she gives the club, to Jayne for the enthusiasm she brings to help people of all ages get out and enjoy the water, to Fiona for keeping a tight rein on the finances and to Jules, who through her unbounded energy keeps the show on the road through fair weather and foul.
