REDHOUSE YACHT CLUB g
 2009/10 Sailing Season


Hello all,

The RYC 2009/10 Sailing Season is upon us with the opening cruise and regatta scheduled to be sailed on the weekend of 05 and 06 September. Please diarise and keep this weekend free for sailing as well as the social event on the Saturday night.

This Weekend All RYC Members keen to enjoy an early start to the season are invited to test sail one of the brand new RS Feva or RS Tera sailboats that have just landed in South Africa.

The RS sailboats will be on display and available for anyone to sail during the following times:-

  • Saturday 22 August from 12h00 till 16h00
  • Sunday 23 August from 11h00 till 15h00

The RS Tera is a junior racer and the RS Feva a two person racer. A total of 20 RS Tera and 6 RS Feva have already been imported and following the RS Sailing display at the National Boat Show last weekend another full 40ft container has been ordered for delivery in September.

Both craft are ISAF International Classes and will be participating at the forthcoming East Cape and Natal Provincials. For more information on these awesome new boats visit www.rssailing.co.za

The 2009/10 RYC Sailing Program is a full and exciting program both for sailing and social activity. A few changes to it are to be expected between now and the end of the new sailing season as are the addition of several more social events.

The full program may be viewed and downloaded at www.ryc.co.za/program.html.

The 2009/10 RYC Committee elected at the AGM June had their first (and rather long) meeting this week and have put a fantastic program in place that all members, both on and off the water, will benefit from.

Most important is the sail coaching program for both our junior and senior sailors that has been put together by Steve Arnold who is our new SAS approved Club coach. The new sailing school will focus on existing sailors only for the first few weeks of the season resulting in the 2009/10 junior sailing school (for new members) only starting in October after East Cape Provincials.

The 2009/10 Redhouse Yacht Club executive committee elected to serve the Club and its members during the following year are:

Paul Pettitt - Commodore
Andrew Butler - Vice Commodore
Benno Badenhuizen - Treasurer
Esme' Girldestone - Secretary
Di Robertson - Bridge Officer
Anton Viviers - Club Handicaper / Scorer
Robin Waters - House and Grounds Officer
Stephen Arnold - Sail Training Officer
Eugene Tulleken - Hospitality & PR Officer

The contact telephone numbers for all committee members are listed at www.ryc.co.za/contacts.html.

Other important issues impacting the new sailing season are:

  • 2009/10 Club Subscriptions: The increase in the Club membership subscription fees that was approved at the last AGM will be reflected on your club account soon to arrive in your postbox.

    I once again stress that our members are more important than money and that any member who may encounter difficulty in completing payment of the increased club subscription may privately approach any of the Club committee members, advise them accordingly and provision will be made for that member.

    Our pensioner members are likewise reminded that they too just need whisper their request for the 50% pensioner rebate to any committee member to receive it.

    We value our members and their support and under no circumstances will RYC allow affordability to play any part in a member choosing to not renew their membership. I personally promise any member needing to request a subscription rebate that confidentiality is assured.

    The new Club membership subscription fees are listed at www.ryc.co.za/membership.html

  • Junior Sailing Committee: Nominations for new Junior Sailing Committee reporting directly to the executive committee will be called for early in September.

  • Building Renovations: The long awaited renovation of the ablution facilities is in progress and Robin Waters has promised that we will all enjoy sparkling new bathrooms by the opening of the season weekend. Pledges and donations to assist in funding the renovations are still welcome.

I look forward to another year of sailing with you, at what has to be the best Club in our city, and to welcoming many new members and sailors to Redhouse Yacht Club.

See you at the RS Sailing demonstration this weekend!

Yours in sailing



PAUL PETTITT
Commodore
041 581-5394