Dear Members,
As far as DBYC is concerned 2008 was probably the best year ever. Lots of
new masts in the Marina as well as out on the moorings. The number of new
boats far outweighs the ones that left. The Club is going from strength to
strength.
When I was voted in, my major goal was to get some of the weight off Jim’s
shoulders and distribute it amongst members and especially the ones in the
Executive Committee. Last year we started by asking for volunteers to run
individual events and this year we had more of the same. It was not easy
because not everybody has the same experience as Jim and consequently
things were done in a way that could have been different. It took all of my
will power, sometimes, to sit back, not intervene and do things myself. In
this respect the Club was like a child learning to walk; you have to allow
it to fall if it is to learn. And in the end it paid off. This year we had
some of the most successful events ever. The TMR was a success in spite of
Marine Department prohibition to race north of the Tsing Ma Bridge which
caused a series of logistical booby traps but in the end was fun anyway;
next year we hope to restore it to it’s usual course. Andy’s second great
Stanley race. Ken’s Race Training day with the start line being constantly
re alligned according to the wind, Lindsay’s picnic, St, John’s (great)
Middle Island, Jim’s D.B. Regatta with Bounty as Committee Boat, and finally
Richard’s Soko Rally. The greatest example of the “new” spirit in the Club
was the Christmas Party which was put together by half a dozen people
working loosely together as a team, unpretentiously working together rather
than one person taking charge. The Christmas party was living proof that
people will take responsibility. And what a success it was! All of this
without the need for the Commodore to even be visible.
But the participation went well beyond the organisation of events. Thankless
jobs like Lindsay keeping the books and following the payments and accounts
(boring stuff) without ever complaining or Thom and Jan taking over the
website (which very few of you even begin to understand how time consuming
it is). New participation and support also came from unexpected quarters.
Peter Forsythe offering to help whenever there is need. Cadets from the
training like Kal putting in time to serve drinks on the Bounty. Faye
raising her voice in Cantonese in order to get the full attention of the
police in the ugly affair of the mooring robberies. Mike Huggins
illuminating (literally) the Soko barbeque as well as the Bounty. And what
lovely lights they were. Andy Pickles leading the way with the sensitive
issues concerning the Handicapping Committee. I don’t know if anyone has
noticed but there have been no complaints this year on handicapping. This I
consider almost a miracle. Well done Andy. Andy Kung getting the insurance
coverage finally sorted out on top of his already full time secretarial
duties. Jeremy and Shadow offering their apartment for the hosting of our
webcam (on their window overlooking the bay) which Thom finally got to work
and now you can see your boat on the mooring from anywhere in the world.
Tatiana and Stephan with the new shirt design and fabrication.
Ian offering his Seafary as support boat on almost all our events. Bart
offering the Rib as support/safety on several events.
And the list goes on and on.
Some of the events may have been implemented to a lesser standard than we
were used to when Jim was doing everything. True. But like the child that
has to learn to walk I find it very rewarding to see all these people trying
their best, and in the end succeeding in creating very enjoyable events. The
Club is proud of you all.
Myself and Jan on Thea, Skellum and Rosemary carried on the tradition of
training new beginner members who need to learn to sail . This has been
where my heart was all along since I believe it’s a Club’s responsibility to
introduce newcomers to the world of sailing through a training program. Soon
we plan to introduce a one or two-day advanced course for skippers. These
will include topics like motoring in Marinas, spinnakers and much more but
need bigger boats than Rosemary and Skellum. Any volunteers? Indeed, any
interest in participating as cadetts?
Sadly the year is closing on the negative note of the repeated acts of
vandalism on our moorings. I was hoping to boost our defences with a night
vision camera. Unfortunately it appears that the technology to illuminate
such a large area with infra red light is either not available or too
costly. When everybody is back we will have a skipper’s meeting to decide
what to do. In any event we will fight them collectively and individually
and we will win.
If I were to define 2009 I would say that it’s the year that DBYC has grown
up. It’s the year where ordinary members are not afraid to voice their
concerns openly in a constructive manner and when there are differences
compromises are found. A club where the Commodore has become largely
simbolic and the real power is in the Executive Committee. A club where the
members have taken charge and are doing a damn good job.
Kind regards
Paolo Alvera
Commodore
