ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB 60 , ,S.W.l,

1st April, 1961

ROYAL=THAMES=YACHT=CLUB=SIX=METRE=SYNDICATE

FINAL REPORT

Royal Thames Royal Thames was re-commissioned in 1959 to defend the One Ton Cup for the in races sailed in Poole Bay and organised by the Club with the help of the Royal Motor Yacht Club. The Swedish yacht won the Cup against five competitors, Royal Thames being placed third. Royal Thames was not fitted out in i960.

The Syndicate, in reply to the last approach to them in 1959, were generally in favour of the decision that Royal Thames, having fulfilled her object by winning the One Ton Cup, should be offered for sale after defending the Cup in 1959- Few enquiries were received and the price was progressively reduced. In August, I960, a contract was entered to sell, the yacht to Docteur Pierre Blondeau, of Lorient, for 25,000 new francs, with the syndicate paying the cost of freight to Le Havre.

Unfortunately, no sooner had Docteur Blondeau agreed to buy than a higher offer was received from an owner in this country, who wished to race Royal Thames here and in the South of France. Your Committee, believing that the Syndicate would prefer to see the yacht remain under British ownership, approached Docteur Blonaea.u with a proposal that he should forego the sale on payment of a fee. This he was not prepared to do since, as he said, he was very keen to own Royal Thames and was not interested in receiving money in place of her.

Royal Thames has now been shipped to France and the sale completed, and £1,820 has been credited to the Six Metre Fund. The price included the full complement of sails and equipment.

The Home Office, when iney granted to the Syndicate the privilege of using the prefix Royal to the yacht’s name, ruled that, should Royal Thames ever be sold, her name would have to be changed. Docteur Blondeau is to call her Hatshepsit. He says that, being so beautiful and in view of her origin and royal, name, he decided to retain a royal connection by naming her after a queen.

Finance The balance of the Six Metre Fund at the close of the 1959 season was £642.3.3. Storage and insurance expenses during I96O/6I totalled £62.8.9, so that the balance of the fund after completion of the sale, with the cost of freightage and selling dues deducted, is £2,220. - 2 -

Disposal of Funds

A decision must now be taken as to the disposal of the balance of £2? 220. There would seem to your Committee to be the following three alternatives:-

(a) Donation of total amount to the Club's Regatta Fund with the express purpose of extending the Club's yacht racing activities. With the America's Cup in mind, the Club Committee have under discussion a proposal to foster a new interest in match racing and to give helmsmen in this country an opportunity of gaining experience and recognition in this form of racing by organising matches for popular classes of yachts at different centres round the coast.

(b) . Gift of the total amount to the Club, subject to .acceptance, for the purchase of a Club yacht or yachts, to be maintained by the Club’ ar kept at Warsash and to be hired to mmbers of the Club by the day Ox longer period for an adequate fee.

(c) Refund of the amount, on a pro rata basis to the 286 members of the Syndicate. The approximate figure to be received would be about 5/- for every £1 subscribed.

You, as a member of the Syndicate, are asked to complete the attached proforma and return it by the 1st May to The Secretary, Royal Thames Yacht Club, ■c/o The , 94 , London, W.l. An addressed envelope is enclosed for this purpose.

Note:- If you elect for alternative (b) you are asked to say Which class of yacht you would like to see purchased.

The Syndicate Committee reserve the right of the final choice of alternative. They will, however, be guided by members' views. In conclusion, they would like to thank all subscribers for their generous support which made the venture possible, and al~l those who sailed Royal Thames so expertly, thereby enhancing the prestige of the Club.

NEVILLE BLAIR Secretary.R.T.Y.C. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB

MEMBER’S NAME IN BLOCK CAPITALS ......

ROYaL THAMES YaCHT CLUB SIX METRE SYNDICATE

DISPOSAL OF FUNDS

I would like, to see the balance of the fund used for:-

(a) Donation to Regatta Fund

(b) Purchase of Club yacht or yachts

(c) Refund to members of Syndicate

Please strike out the two inapplicable alternatives.

If you elect for alternative (b) what class of yacht do you suggest that

the Club should purchase?...... «......

If you have any other suggestions, please write them below and the Syndicate

Committee will consider them.

Date...... Member’s Signature.... .

PLEASE P^yRN_THIS_FORM_BY_lst_MAY±1961_IN_ENCLOSEp=ENVELOPE