TROON CRUISING CLUB
NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 2016
COMMODORE’S REPORT
I would like to thank the Club for accepting me as your new Commodore for the following year. I would also like to thank John Haston for all the work he has achieved over the past year as Commodore.
I am sure the Club members would wish to thank Jack Gairns for all his hard work as Moorings Convenor over a long number of years and wish him good health in his retirement from club duties.
At a recent meeting with Troon Yacht Haven management, considerable mileage was gained in improving the working relationship between the Club and the Marina.
Looking to the immediate future, a survey of the wall mooring area has been commissioned by the club and the Marina will be replacing the ground chain.
The lift in date has been set for Saturday 9 April and I hope for a day like we had for the lift out day.
I look forward to seeing you around the club.
Ewan Black
Commodore
JOHN McFARLANE TROPHY
It was with great pleasure at the Annual General Meeting, John Haston, outgoing Commodore presented the John McFarlane Trophy for 2015 to Kyle Stewart – a very worthy winner we are sure you will all agree.
Council for the year 2016
| Commodore | Ewan Black |
| Vice Commodore | Bill Stewart |
| Rear Commodore | John Woods |
| Honorary Racing Secretary | Jonathan Dickie |
| Immediate Past Commodore | John Haston |
| Secretary/Treasurer | Babs Henderson |
| Council | |
| Retire 2017 | David Lacy |
| Retire 2018 | George Whiteside |
| Kyle Stewart | |
| Retire 2019 | Bryan Hull |
| Robert MacIver | |
| Elaine Nicoll | |
| Carolyn Voisey | |
| Co-opted | Don Lindsay |
| John Hall |
The amendments to the Constitution and Rules of the Club were approved by the members attending the AGM and an amended copy is also attached with this newsletter. Membership Cards will be printed as soon as all the information required is collated and forwarded in due course. It may be that they will be available for pick up on lift-in day.
Compound
Lift in date is 9th April 7.30 am start.
Compound security
It has come to my attention that compound security has become quite
lax. Could I remind all members that during the winter period when the boats
are stored in the compound that club security is of paramount importance. It is
the responsibility of all members to make sure that the garage, club house and
gate are all securely locked when you leave the club premises even though there
may be cars left in the compound don’t assume someone else will lock up. All
members should have a set of keys with them so this should not cause any
problems. I hope I can rely on your cooperation in this matter.
Moorings
There are plans to replace the mooring ground chain and risers along the wall.
The boats currently on these mooring will be accommodated between the club and
the marina time frame and details to follow.
Sanders
There are two complete sanding & dust extraction units at members’ disposal which are available on a first come basis. Sanding discs can be purchased for £0.70 each. I would urge you take advantage of these sanders as they were purchased by the club to alleviate environmental and health and safety issues associated with anti-fouling and to cut down on dust contamination on surrounding boats.
Kyle Stewart – Compound/Moorings Convenor
GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING
CCTV – The information from the CCTV demonstrates that there could be confusion over clubhouse security. A person can vacate the clubhouse and leave the premises, nothing that there are vehicles still in the compound, so leaves the clubhouse unlocked.
The remaining members subsequently drive out without visiting OR CHECKING the clubhouse – they never used it! The last one out may have locked the gate, but the clubhouse is still open, possibly drawing the attention of unwanted guests.
Last person out should be responsible for TOTAL security – garage, clubhouse and compound even if they only went straight from their car to the boat and back.
THE CRUISING REPORT
The cruising season will start again on Saturday 30th April with the opening muster in Largs Yacht Haven. The berthing this year is £21 for the night.
As yet I have not got a price for the meal in Largs Sailing Club but will have it nearer the time.
THE PROGRAMME FOR 2016 IS AS FOLLOWS
30 APRIL/1 MAY LARGS ~ OPENING MUSTER
28/29 MAY ARDROSSAN
18/19 JUNE KINGSCROSS
1/2/3 JULY ROTHESAY
3/4 SEPTEMBER TARBERT
10/11 SEPTEMBER LARGS ~ CLOSING MUSTER
EWAN BLACK
CRUISING CONVENOR
RACING REPORT
Firstly I would like to thank Arran for all his hard work as Racing Secretary over the past three years. He has made an invaluable contribution, and has made a number of improvements which have benefited all of us who race with the club. I hope to be able to build on his achievements in the coming year.
I would also like to thank Jimmy Short for his contribution to the Racing Sub-Committee, in particular ensuring we have always had an OOD on Wednesdays (often selflessly standing in at the expense of his own racing). We welcome Charlie Shaw and Andy McRoberts onto the Sub-Committee for 2016, along with Stuart Powrie and Robin Ferguson.
As always any ideas or feedback from the membership as a whole is extremely welcome, so please feel free to get in touch. The 2016 programme will be finalised and made available in the coming weeks.
All the best for the coming season, fingers are all crossed for some better weather, hopefully see as many of you as possible on the water!
Jonathan Dickie – Honorary Racing Secretary
RENEWAL FORMS
There are still a fair number of renewal forms which have not been returned especially by mooring holders, and as these are essential for the Moorings Convenor and his team to be aware of what moorings will be available come the end of March, please return your form at the earliest possible time. Meantime thank you to those who have already done so.
Fees
Subscriptions are due NOW and no later than the end of February and that is giving you a week’s grace.
| Full Member Subscription | £66.00 |
| Associate Member Subscription | £20.00 |
| Berthing Rights Fee – Payable by every mooring holder annually | £66.00 |
If you wish to make a small donation to the RNLI, please add it to your subscription, and these funds will be forwarded in a lump sum from the members of the club to the Local Branch in due course. If of course you already have an association with the RNLI this does not apply.
Thanks to all those members who have already paid their subscription.
These fees are payable in one of three ways
- By cheque made out to Troon Cruising Club (TCC will do) and forwarded to Babs Henderson, 61 Marr Drive, Troon KA10 6PP or dropped into the committee room at the clubhouse.
- By Bank Transfer – Sort Code 82 68 21 Account Number 30531227
- By Cash – Arrange a time with Babs to collect it at the clubhouse
The charge for a wall/trot mooring for 2016/17 is £619 and will become due on 31 March 2016. The bank details for this payment are Sort Code 82 68 21 Account No 40528098.
Island Pontoon mooring holders will be advised individually in due course what is due once the places available have been filled from the waiting list.
Social Report
I have to report that the Burns Supper was well attended by approximately 70 members and friends and that Dundonald Bowling Club did us proud with excellent fare. They also donated a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of vodka for our raffle which was very generous of them. I believe one of our members also expressed an interest in becoming a member of the bowling club. The event was very successful with excellent speakers and entertainment from Mariea Black, Heather Stewart and Thomas Beard (son of Phil). A very big thank you also to Mark, who piped in the haggis, ably addressed by Angus McFarlane. David Lacy very kindly inveigled two gentlemen, one, Fraser Aitken, to propose the toast to the Immortal Memory, and David Gemmell who provided the Toast to the Lassies, both producing lots of laughs! Ian Broughton gave us Tam O’ Shanter in his own brilliant imitable style. Bob Assur proposed the Toast to the Club with memories of long ago. I would like to thank very sincerely, George Hunter, who strung the evening together with great aplomb! The raffle provided many great prizes from our friends at P & O, Hillhouse Quarry, Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, and many many more.
The next date on the social calendar is the lift-in on 9 April. Once again I shall be looking for volunteers to assist me in the galley. A list will go up on the notice board in the near future. Just a couple of hours each of your time is all that is asked.
The usual social events i.e. Curry Night and Mediterranean Evening will take place on dates to be announced shortly. I hope that all members (not just the usual stalwarts whom come year in year out) to give consideration to participating in said events, as the social side of the club makes a considerable contribution towards the funds of the club, which offset non-paying events.
It also gives people the chance to meet new members and make them feel welcome. I know that such events might not suit everyone, but if there are any members that have any other suggestions which we could organise, please do not hesitate to come forward and let me know.
I shall consider organising a dance/ceilidh later in the year, but only if there is sufficient interest from the membership, as these events take considerable effort to organise and are only viable if there are sufficient numbers to make it worthwhile.
Once again, from 1 to 8 October I will be chartering yacht/yachts out of Corfu depending on numbers. At present there are 5 club members going, but anyone who might be interested should please get in touch as soon as possible so that I may sort out suitable yacht/yachts, depending on final numbers. These holidays in the past have been very successful, with many people coming back year on year. They are reasonably priced as I tend to negotiate direct with the companies involved to obtain substantial discounts. At present the cost of flights to Corfu out of Edinburgh are around £200, and depending on numbers, I envisage the cost to be less than £200 per person for the yacht. These prices are considerably cheaper than brochure prices which are in the region of £600/£700 per person, and do not include flights. See photographs below from last year’s trip.
Should you require any further information on any of the foregoing, please do not hesitate to call me.
John Woods – Social Convenor
Mobile Number 079558853558
