As I sit down to pen this brief "Spring Message" my flight to Glasgow has just been cancelled and Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival has been abandoned, both due to winds gusting up to 90 miles per hour. Gaelforce is at the top of the slip, antifouled and ready to launch for the Early Series in two weeks. It is always hard to believe how quickly the weather improves at this time of year but improve it will and the Club, through the hard work and diligence of its committee structure, will be prepared to facilitate you in whatever way you enjoy your participation at ECYC.
House committee intend to build on last year's hard work and successes. Further improvements in Holm Bay Bar and the House facilities in general are planned in response to legislative requirements. Last year's greatly enhanced social programme has now become established. Please note that it is our intention to host the Committee Lunch at the Club this year on Sunday 20th April and the invitation for this function will be extended not only to committee members "past and present" but also to prospective committee members i.e. all Club members. I'm sure those responsible for the Club's duty rotas would ask me to encourage you to identify your duty dates and record them in your diary. More on House related matters in that sub-committee's report herein.
Sailing Committee's preparations for the season have thrown up some notable changes. We have, for some time, received complaints from other clubs within the Lough that EDYC run club racing in conflict with inter-club events and that we are generally poor attendees at such events. Whilst we do not organise racing in conflict with other club's regattas, at which EDYC members are always prominent, we take this criticism seriously and, in a sincere effort to repair relations, sailing committee plan to run the Early and Late Wednesday Series and the Early Saturday Series as usual but plan to reduce the Late Saturdays to a short four week series in September. This I believe is a positive and welcome development which might well encourage participation in this late series from younger sailors or those not able to commit to a full eight or nine week programme.
Congratulations are due to Alycone, Kestrel and Ruffyin who won the SLRW team event. Their trophy is on display in the Clubhouse. I am still seeking volunteers to represent EDYC on the organising committee for SLRW 2009.
Finally on sailing matters we say goodbye to an old friend and servant to the Club, the Darragh. It has been put out to grass and its replacement should be in service for open-day. We remain particularly indebted to those who continue to develop and facilitate training at EDYC. Power-boat courses, at the time of drafting this message, are underway and sail-training is programmed to commence on Sunday 16th March. More on these and other sailing related matters in that sub-committee's report herein.
Site Committee are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the Club. They continue to maintain the Club's facilities and this year funds have been made available to repair the fabric of the slip and a feasibility costing is currently being completed in relation to the concreting of the boat park and surfacing to the approach road and the circulation area at the front of the clubhouse. More on site related issues in that sub-committee's report herein.
The Club welcome new members at any time so for those of you out there with friends or crews not yet signed up to the pleasures of being part of something great, membership forms are always available online or in the front hall of the Clubhouse.
Please watch the web site and the notice boards for announcements of up and coming events throughout the season. I hope everyone has a great sailing season and if there is anything I can do to help, just contact myself or any of my fellow committee members.
James
Commodore EDYC
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