Important joint cruiser racing news -
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It’s all change at Dabchicks following the recent AGM
-
Stewart Williams
becomes IT Administrator
-
David Page stays on as
IT Assistant
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New web team lead by
Abbey Dix are busy designing a new website for 2019 and
beyond.
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Andy Bair becomes Hon.
Membership Secretary
Membership Subscription
Renewals will now be due annually on March 1st, starting this
year!
Commodore’s Report 2018
The year has flown past and suddenly we are back post-AGM. It
feels like we have achieved a tremendous amount building on the
excellent foundations left by the outgoing Flag Officers and
committee.
As we embarked into 2018 the new committee spent some time
reflecting on the role and purpose of the club to ensure that
future plans and decisions were both relevant and achievable but
most importantly kept the DSC history and traditions. Using this
as our handrail Simon and the Sailing Committee and Charlotte
and the House Committee set about their work.
The sailing committee worked particularly hard to provide enough
quality events and opportunities for all the various sailors.
Sam Caslin and Andrew Stebbing championed dinghy and cruiser
sailing respectively and Sam has worked hard to make racing
available on a Sunday to those that want it. The numbers have
not been as high as we would have hoped but it was a big step in
the right direction. The weekday series remains as popular as
ever and my thanks to all those volunteers that support it by
driving the rescue boats. Friday night cruiser racing continues
to flourish although numbers are dwindling a little. John Fisher
continues to champion the cause and provide great races and
great fun afterwards. The Sunset Series was, as ever, an
enormous success and my thanks to Chris Burr and his team for
the long hours and huge effort they put in. The flow into Cadet
Week is seamless.
The key to success on the water is a vibrant and active club and
club house. It creates a positive circle as more people enjoying
themselves leads to greater membership and thus the ability to
invest on the water and in the clubhouse. The decision to hire a
club manager has worked well and our accounts this year reflect
the success that having a full-time manager has been. Rachel has
stepped across from being a committed member to a committed
employee and member. We have invested in the bar with a new
automated till and in the apron with planters and lighting. The
latter has caused some angst in the Village and given a very
vocal minority an opportunity to vent at the Club. This has
taken up a phenomenal amount of time and is a sad reflection of
the modern society where the few can create pain for the silent
majority.
Our accounts show a positive shift in the financial health of
the club and we need to continue the momentum into 2019.
Volunteering remains our Achilles heel as increased regulation
and the expectation of the membership falls upon a very small
band of dedicated volunteers. The Committee has decided to
invest in increased automation and a new website. The intention
is that we will reduce the administrative overhead that falls
upon the few. Hence, we have recommended that we move to a
direct debit system for membership subscriptions which will be
collected from members in March. There will still be the
opportunity to pay membership at the till for those “less web”
minded. It is our hope that we will release the burden of
processing cheques, chasing late payers whilst also moving the
payment to a more user-friendly month. I would like to thank
David Page for his services to the club over several years as
the webmaster. He has built and maintained an excellent set of
services and his unstinting commitment and long service has
served us well. He has promised that he will continue to offer
his help as we re-platform the club over the next few months.
We have recommended a small increase in the club fees again this
year. The Dabchicks membership is remarkably good value. The
marks, rescue boats, committee boats and other paraphernalia
like the weather station supports a great deal of activity on
the water and not just that of club members. We also offer a set
of club boats for hire at a phenomenally good price. Maintaining
the assets and the club house is expensive and it is vital that
we sustain the level of investment. In 2019 we are seeking to
refurbish and bring back to an almost new standard Dabchicks 1
and 3. We are also proposing further investment in the powerboat
school. Analysis of our membership shows that our cadets leave
us once they reach 18 – this is a common observation across all
sailing clubs. For the future of Dabchicks and the good of the
sport we are proposing to introduce a young person membership at
the rate of £20 per annum to the age of 25. Between the hire
boats, support boats and a lively racing programme and bar we
hope we will encourage cadets to stay on as members in their own
right. The Dabchicks is a not for profit members club and we
would encourage those that use the facilities without renewing
their membership to look to their conscience. The membership
fees are a bargain.
Finally to the committee. It has been
a year of hard work from all concerned. I am extremely grateful
to Simon and his sailing team for their commitment. Charlotte
Powell joined the committee as Rear Commodore and I see it as a
real sign of the Club’s intent to have a Flag Officer who was
both female and under the age of 30. Charlotte has been a
whirlwind. Sonia Tough our Treasurer has been brilliant once
again and kept us on the straight and narrow. Sonia has
indicated she will step down this time next year and we need a
replacement. The social team have been simply incredible again
and provided bands, galley services, amazing parties and largely
the life and soul of the club. Indeed the entire committee has
given over of their time too – beyond that which is reasonable
to expect.
Without them the Dabbers would not function –
my thanks to them.
Just 3 years before the start of WW1
Dabchicks was founded
May 20th 1911 -
a meeting was held at the Victory Hotel to form a sailing club
for small craft. It was decided that the club be named the Dabchicks
Sailing Club and
the following members were elected officers: theRev.
C. F. Yonge, Commodore; Capt.
Harden, vice-commodore; H. Welham hon. Secretary; W. Trim, hon,
treasurer – with Messrs. Ben Hewes, A Mussett, Sam French, G.
Littleshales, H Banks junior, A Stoker, C Mussett, F. Wyatt, J
Mussett, H. Hewes, William Wyatt, C. Hewes, C. Woods on the
committee. Jess Pullen was starter/timekeeper. (Text from the
clubs history)
Sadly looking at the
list of names, it seems very likely that some of the fallen
would have sailed at Dabchicks
The silhouettes standing in the water we
all love, form an amazing memorial
Mersea
Island's Tribute to Our Fallen
Sundower week ends with a stunning sunset and party!
SUNDOWNER AND MID-SUMMER FEST
After a windy start to Sundowner 2018 the sailors were blessed with lighter winds, sunshine and high tides. Congratulations to James Brosnan-Wren for winning the series, followed by Will Powell in 2nd and Bruce Woodcock in 3rd and and thankyou to all those who volunteered during the week. Our inaugural Mid-Summer Fest wrapped the week up last night, and saw over 140 of our Members doing what they do best - party! The summer night was long and warm, the food delicious and the disco got everyone raving up until last orders. We raised over £1200 for the RIB Fund - Thank you! |
Saturday Dinghy Sailing with Jade Fleet - News up-date
Committee boat duty – a volunteer’s account of the day! Read more
Its not very pretty, but did you know the clubs blue waste bin is greener than you think!
Our waste contractors CSH Enviromental have one of the most advanced recycling centres in the region
and aim for a Zero To Landfill Target, read more
The 2018 Dinghy Racing Chart is available now! Laminated copies are available to purchase from the bar for just £2.50, to stick in your boat.
  
Dabchicks Sailing Club has been a special place for its members for over 100 years. In 2011, Dabchicks celebrated 100 years of sailing on the waters of this unique and beautiful place of Mersea Island. Did you know its now possible to leave your club a lasting legacy |
