News Update
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2011
The Northants Police Sailing Section AGM was held on Thursday, 20th January, 2011
Present: Phil Osborne, Steve Middleditch, Martyn Dearsley, Paul Beard, Ben Fathers, Richard Sivers.
The previous minutes having been read, the
secretary reported on a year of mixed results. The Section had completed the
local series for the Rose Bowl trophy, again held a Northants Police versus
Northants Fire Service regatta and organised the Northants Police Open regatta.
All the events had been well attended.
Unfortunately the Section had failed to attract any new members despite
investing to a new dinghy - the Lark, which had very little use during the year.
With some members indicating that they would not be continuing their membership
at NSC there was every likelihood of the Rose Bowl series being discontinued.
Financially we remained in good health. With exceptional support at the Open regatta we managed a small profit.
The Chairman Phil Osborne viewed the past year as one of achievement and hoped that not only the Local regattas but the Police v. Fire regatta could continue and that members of all the Emergency Services should be invited to take part. Phil spoke about the Open regatta being a good sailing event despite light airs. He thanked Steve and Dick for organising the event and especially for organising the Vulcan Bomber flying display!
The Racing Secretary reported that in the Local Series of races for the Northants Rose Bowl. 7 out of 8 of the local series were raced last year, all in Lasers which provided some good racing. This year’s winner was Steve Middleditch. Richard Sivers, Phil Osborne and Martyn Dearsley all took part in this year’s PSUK National Dinghy Championships. With our highest placed boat coming 13th. The ‘Police versus Fire’ regatta had 11 boats competing in very windy conditions with the Fire Brigade winning the regatta. The Northants Open regatta had 22 competitors this year making it the biggest Police Open regatta in 10 years (except for PSUK Nationals). The Open regatta will not take place this next year. The Fire versus Police will be held if there are enough boats sailing in the local regattas.
Election of Officers:
Ben Fathers replaces Steve Middleditch as Secretary.
Steve Middleditch remains as Treasurer
Paul Beard replaces Martyn Dearsley as Bosun
Sailing Programme for 2011:
The 2011 Local Series of regattas has been arranged for the following dates:
19th April (Tuesday), 5th May, 19th May, 9th June
14th July, 25th August, 8th September, 22nd SeptemberDue to the exigencies of the Service during this coming year -some of these dates may end up on a different afternoon instead of the usual Thursdays..
Police v. Fire regatta: Dick Sivers will pursue this matter to ascertain the interest from affected parties.
In general discussion during the meeting Ben Fathers, as the new secretary, outlined some of his ideas for promoting the Section, including the purchase of a different dinghy for the Section; something more suitable for introducing potential members to sailing also for the use of members and their family. Considering that Section membership had not been high for some years, he would aim to encourage as many as possible to try sailing and with that in mind that the Sailing Section should consider becoming a 'Watersports Section' with a view to attracting board-sailors or kayakers into sailing and subsequently racing, thus increasing members for the Section and the local sailing club.
He had made preliminary enquiries with Force members who kayak and stated that
they would be happy to affiliate with us as a Watersports Section and provide
the opportunity for us to use their equipment (canoes, kayaks) at Northampton
Whitewater Centre - and he would approach NSC regarding current membership with
this in mind. He was also considering running ‘Open Days’ at NSC and endeavour
to get potential members on the water rather than straight into dinghies, get
the social side of the Section going, also arrange some yacht trips; all with a
view to introducing more variety into the Section’s activities.
As a result, Steve Middleditch suggested that rather than the Section fold, the
year should be used to try out Ben’s ideas with a view to deciding the
construction of the Section in a year’s time.
The Chairman wound up the discussion by noting the meeting’s summation that we
should continue the Section in its current form and use the coming year as a way
forward by way of evolution rather than revolution; that we should use the year
to develop the suggestions made to provide clear indications and evidence in
order to review the position at the next AGM, also decide whether to change the
name of the Section – or otherwise.
The date of the next AGM has not yet been decided but will probably be in January, 2012.