Welcome to the 2015 Summer Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE 2015 SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Vice Commodore’s Foreword 3

Forthcoming Events 4-5

Rear Commodore Membership Report 6

Rear Commodore House & Finance Report 7

Rear Commodore Sailing Report 8-9

Captain of Racing Report 10-11

Captain of Cruising Report 12

Race Management Report 13

From the Younger Members 14– 15

Olympic Benefit Update 16– 18

RTYC Charitable Trust 20-21

Royal Thames Yacht Club Secretary’s House Notes 22-26 60 Knightsbridge London, SW1X 7LF Tel: 020 7235 2121 Email: [email protected] Website: www.royalthames.com

VICE COMMODORE’S FOREWARD

the London has carried out considerable refurbishment work that has greatly improved the ambiance of its club

house. Members visiting Stockholm will be welcome at KSSS and we look forward to welcoming their teams to future RTYC events. I will meet many more of our

reciprocal-club members in Cowes and San Francisco over the summer and those visiting London will receive a warm welcome in Knightsbridge.

With our focus on yachting it is easy to forget that we are also a part of the London community. Each of the The starting cannon has been fired on the sailing London clubs has its focus and there is a general season and those contemplative winter evenings are cooperation between them. Within this broader now being turned into action on the water. Our racers community we offer honorary membership to the Naval have already been in action in Anzio and Stockholm Attaches posted to London and it was within this context experiencing the balmy winds of the Mediterranean and that the Secretary and I attended the ANZAC Day the 30 knot blasts of the Baltic. The Spring Excuse memorial at Australia House, which was a particularly sprung and cruisers have enjoyed the Canal Du Midi poignant occasion this year. and Turkey. The origins of ANZAC were brought sharply into focus It has been a busy six months since our last newsletter. when we visited Gallipoli on the Turkish Cruise, where The Club’s strategy has been agreed and an action plan we paused for a few moments of remembrance and is in place to ensure that the strategy is carried through respect for both sides engaged in that conflict 100 years to every part of the Club’s activities. Both are on the ago. From the Dardanelles we sailed on down to Cesme member’s section of the web site for you to peruse at with a few stops at places of interest on the way: Troy, your leisure. Two new initiatives within the strategy Pergamon and a selection of vineyards made for an have moved forward. The Heritage group is widening its interesting and rewarding voyage. interests and a considerable number of members have Our best wishes go the Club teams competing across indicated an interest in motor yachts. Both groups will Europe and the US this year. In particular the crew welcome further members . participating in the NYYC Invitational in Rhode Island As I write, the audit of the 2014/5 accounts is taking will be vying to improve on their impressive third place in place and there is every reason to expect that it will the last edition. reveal a solid financial performance. Thanks to the attention to detail by the secretariat and those members The Cumberland Regatta was as expected a convivial organising events, gatherings in the Club have been weekend when our racers, J/70 sailors, young members well attended and enjoyable. Thanks also to the team and cruisers met and sailed together. This is the highlight of our Club sailing year and included the from Thomas Franks, our caterer, who have provided th excellent food and innovative special menus. More are annual dinner that celebrated the 240 year of the planned for the future and Sunday lunch will continue to Cumberland Sailing Society. I enjoyed meeting many of offer a fine opportunity for friends and family to meet you and I look forward to meeting others at the informally. Charitable Trust’s reception on TS Tenacious at the end of the month. The VC’s cocktail party in February was a resounding success and we welcomed new members who Best wishes to you all for fair winds and safe arrivals. demonstrably appreciated the champagne and canapés and who will make a valuable contribution to the Club in the future. Equally successful was the Fitting Out Dinner graciously presided over by the Commodore and with Captain Ian

McNaught, Deputy Master of Trinity House, as our guest speaker.

It has been my pleasure to meet the Commodores of Bernard Kinchin two of our reciprocal clubs, the Royal London and the Royal Swedish. Members visiting Cowes will see that Vice Commodore

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

AT A GLANCE! Cowes Week Cocktail Party—Sunday 9th August

Tuesday 16th July Join us for our annual Cowes Week Cocktail Party Younger Members’ Drinks on Sunday the 9th of August. Tickets are £40. & Monthly Members’ Drinks Time: 6:30pm Date: Sunday the 9th August 2015 Time: 6.30pm– 8pm Sunday 9th August Tickets : £40. Cowes Week Cocktail Party Time: 6.30pm Tickets: £40 Cowes Week After Party Dinner– Sunday 9th August

Sunday 9th August As last year The Boathouse Restaurant will be Cowes Week operating during Cowes Week in Commodore’s House and we have made arrangements for After Party Dinner +Drinks Members to stay on after the Cocktail Party for a Time: 8:45pm/9pm two course steak supper from about 8.45pm/9pm. Tickets: £35 + Drinks Maximum capacity is 100 and Members will need st to book by 31 July to take advantage of the Wednesday 12th August advance price of £30 to include coffee and service.

Younger Members’ Cowes Boathouse wines will be available to order with your meal. Week Drinks Party During the changeover from cocktail party to restaurant mode those staying for Time : 6.30pm dinner may enjoy a drink on the roof terrace of Commodore’s House at an additional charge of £5/head. Thursday 13th August Cowes Week Crew Dinner Date: Sunday 9th August 2015 Time: 8.45pm / 9pm Time: 7:45– for 8.15pm Tickets: Dinner only £30 per person Tickets: £28 Cocktail Party + drink on the roof terrace + dinner £75 per person

Monday 21st September Cowes Week Ladies Lunch - Monday 10th August Wine Tasting

Time: 6.45pm Join us for the Cowes Week Ladies' Lunch which Tickets : £18 will be held at the Sir Max Aitken Museum (The Prospect). Enjoy a glass of Champagne on arrival Tuesday 20th October and a three course lunch, including the ever- Laying Up Dinner popular Isle of Wight Lobster, accompanied by Time: 7.30pm for 8pm Club wines. Guests are welcome! Dress: Mess Kit/ Black Tie Tickets : £65 Date: Monday 10th August 2015

Time: 12.30pm for 1pm Thursday 29th October Tickets: £45 Talk at 60 Knightsbridge ‘Time for Navigation in the For more information or to book these events contact Lucia in the Secretariat on Chronometer Age’ by David 020 7201 6267 or at [email protected]. Rooney Time 6.45pm Tickets: £10

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

AT A GLANCE! Wine Tasting ‘ The Rugby World Cup’ Monday 21sts September 6:45pm Many members will recall a surprising winner of our Thursday 5th 2011 Rugby World Cup Wine Tasting—a white wine November from Wales! Rio Olympic Benefit Dinner It went down so well that Victoria Aldwinckle is Time : 9.30 for coming back to run the 2015 Rugby World Cup 20.00pm Wine Tasting on Monday 21st September. Victoria Tickets: £70 / £50 (YM) has chosen eight wines from wine producing rugby nations for you to try. They will be tasted completely blind, and no-one except Victoria knows what she has chosen. Will Thursday 19th she put a gutsy front row wine from Samoa against a dashing All-Black Pinot, or a racy November RTYC/RIN Italian fizz against some French finesse? Will England make the cut, and will Wales play Joint Talk a red as well as they did last time in white? Anything can happen when you taste blind. Time : 6.45pm You will decide the winner and you may be surprised. We‘ll taste the wines blind, in

pairs. We’ll have fun trying to guess each wine, or grape variety or country of origin Monday 7th December before voting for our favourite wine of that pairing. The loser is revealed, and the winner Wine Tasting– Winter goes forward to the next knock out round until we have the Champion, our World Cup Walk around Winner. Time 6.45pm Tickets: TBC For more information or to book please contact Lucia in the Secretariat at [email protected] or on 02072016267.The Coffee Room will be open Wednesday 9th for dinner afterwards, to book your table please contact [email protected] December Ladies Christmas

Lunch Talk at 60 Knightsbridge ‘Time for Navigation in the Chronometer Age’ Tickets: TBC by David Rooney 29th October 6.45pm David Rooney is the Curator of Time, Navigation Lon- don, and the former Curator of Timekeeping at the Saturday 12th Royal Observatory Greenwich, part of the National December Maritime Museum . Families Christmas He has curated award-winning galleries on time and Party navigation and Transport at the Science Museum, as Time: 3-5.30pm well as the Science Museum’s critically acclaimed Tickets: TBC Codebreaker exhibition on the mathematician Alan Turing. Tuesday 15th He is currently curating the museum’s £5-million Mathematics Gallery project, due to December open next year. He writes and speaks widely about time, and his first book, Ruth Bel- Members Christmas ville—the Greenwich Time Lady, was published in 2008. He is a Liveryman of the Lunch Clockmakers’ Company, a Freeman of the City of London and a trustee of a number of Time :1.30-4.30pm chorological charities. Tickets: FOC– Members only. Date: Thursday 29th October 2015 Time: 6.45pm Tickets: £10 - including a glass of wine on arrival Thursday 17th December For more information or to book contact Lucia in the Secretariat on 020 7201 6267 or Members Christmas at [email protected]. The Coffee Room will be open for dinner after- Drinks wards, to book your table please call Reservations on 020 7235 2121. Time: 6.30pm

REAR COMMODORE MEMBERSHIP

I am writing this whilst trying to recover from the Racing members continue to raise the bar with their Cigar Dinner last night. From what I can recall it was achievements. There are more members racing in big brilliantly organised and executed by Rufus Gilday and boats in the Mediterranean than ever before as well as Henry Woods. Who would have thought that ladies continuing success in our inter club rivalries in the UK rolling cigars all day were read Shakespeare & The and the US. The new J/70s are a strong draw to Count of Montecristo to relieve the boredom? Hence the competitive racing and have already proved a popular names “Romeo & Juliette” and 'Falstaff”. incentive for increased membership applications among keel boat racers. Socially it has been a busy time in the Clubhouse with a Looking ahead, Cowes Week is approaching where I full showing at all key events such as the Fitting Out hope that the RTYC will distinguish itself on the Dinner, attended by the Commodore, along with a great water. There will be a cocktail party at Commodore’s turnout for our other regular Club social evenings. Most House. This year cocktails will be followed by dinner and recently, cigars aside, the Cumberland Ball was a huge guests will be very welcome. As ever success and I would like to thank Richard Powell for his numbers are limited so please book as soon as you have determination to make the Ball so enjoyable. Generally made your plans. when Flag Officers retire they slip away for a while to recover but Richard is unstoppable. I am extremely The combination of social, cruising and racing successes grateful to him for his and for his committee’s hard work. have undoubtedly contributed to more excellent proposals for membership. Each is accompanied by The cruising fraternity has been to Gallipoli for centenary good sailing CVs but it is important that we keep the commemorations, with George Ehlers leading a balance right. Our membership is diverse and we would significant number of our own yachts to the Dardanelles like to keep it that way. Experience and enjoyment of in company with our Vice Commodore. In the last 10 or yachting are essential prerequisites and we welcome 15 years the ambitions of cruising have continued to racers as well as those who sail purely for pleasure. grow with more far flung rallies. The journey to Turkey started last year in Palma, led by Peter Innes Kerr, and An important part of our ethos is that we have long Gallipoli was the culmination of that journey. For those welcomed women and men as members. Both are an equally important part of our club and I would like to who prefer to make their own way there are many extend a special thank you to those of you that have individual yachtsmen exploring the world and we raise nominated good sailing women members to the club in our caps to the sailors that quietly do extraordinary the past months. things under the Thames burgee. Who could forget Steve Powell’s trip to Antarctic? Yachts such as Watermusic sailed by Stephen Foot and Zaybo Simon Lavers skippered by John McMonigall sail back and forth from Turkey to the Caribbean without fuss and always under Rear Commodore our flag. Membership

( Members enjoying the Fitting Out Dinner)

REAR COMMODORE HOUSE & FINANCE

As I write this contribution to the Newsletter, the and sofas has been retained to allow for gatherings of Club's auditors have just completed their due diligence family and friends. on the accounts for the financial year. The draft accounts have of course been prepared by our Head of Finance, Garry Honeyman, and I am pleased to say that we will be able to report a substantial trading surplus which can be directed to Club reserves and to enhancement of Club facilities . Although the cost of sailing has surpassed budget expectations this has been covered by a better than planned trading margin in Cabins, Coffee Room and Functions supported by tight management of other costs and staff utilisation. The much better purchasing power of our caterer, Thomas Franks, has allowed food margins to be maintained whilst affording our chef Simon Refurbishment of the Britannia Bar completes this round better quality products to fashion our menus. We hope of enhancement of Club facilities. Over the summer we that you have been able to appreciate our table d'hôte plan major works to some of the cabins to allow for larger double beds, and refurbishment of one of the most frequented areas of our Clubhouse - the 'Ladies Powder Room'. The Club's assets now include two fleets of racing keelboats, supporting Ribs, pontoons and of course the Clubhouse and all its facilities. We believe this asset register is outstanding and befits a club of our standing, and provides facilities for our full range of membership. However, if there are further ways in which we can improve the Club offering then please let us have your thoughts .

menu which is changed every two weeks along with our themed events like the recent oyster week and special 'taster menu', and the upcoming mussels week. Cabin rates for members, when considering that they includes vat and service, represent extremely good value, but our cabin utilization still fluctuates. Of course the Clubhouse is always full at the time of Club functions, but occupancy levels are well supported by visitors from our reciprocal clubs without whose support we could not sustain our operation. Summer is now upon us and it is time to complete the changes to the Britannia Bar. We have been working towards bringing in a more contemporary feel whilst still maintaining Club atmosphere. The heavy arm chairs which have been taxing our house staff for years have just been replaced as have the rather solid tables and chairs on the upper level. The grouping of arm chairs Tony Hanna Rear Commodore House and Finance

REAR COMMODORE SAILING

It has been a busy six months for the Sailing Bart’s Bash which is taking place on Sunday 20th Department with the arrival of the new J/70 fleet, the September, followed by the Club’s random pairs team running of all of the usual racing and cruising events, two racing series: round 1 of the Mum’s Bucket Qualifiers will overseas rallies and the preparation and planning of the take place on Sunday 29th November. Please sign up new events. with the Sailing Office if you would like to helm or crew one of our boats. J/70s. Masters Members old and young have been out on training days and entering regattas. Ruairidh Scott, J/70 National The Masters have been particularly active this season, Champion spent a weekend training members in the finer with training events in the J/80s, and attending the points of making a J/70 go faster. Stockholm team racing event, where the team thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Masters will also be

participating in a number of international events throughout the rest of the year, particularly in the United States. If you are keen to join in with Masters’ sailing

then do not hesitate to get in touch. We can accommodate a wide variety of standards tailored to the

The J/70s are available for member charter for international, national and club events; our bosun is also available to run J/70 familiarisation days with any members who wish to pre-arrange a day. If you would like to try one or enter an event simply contact the Sailing Office and they will make the arrangements for you. Shepard's Wharf Marina is proving to be a most successful base for the J/70s, with our own workshop/ event. container, an additional RIB to support the fleet and the (Younger Members J/70 Training) development of the old Sugar Store into a dedicated regatta centre with briefing room, protest room, media centre and bar. We are planning more J/70 events this Autumn both intra Younger Members RTYC sailing and also against other clubs ,particularly the Squadron, so keep your eyes on the weekly sailing The Younger Members have continued to successfully newsletter and the website if you are interested in taking run a number of events this season, including; YM J/80 part. Sailing Day, the President’s Cup and a J/70 weekend. They have participated in the 2K Team Racing Circuit in J/80s Europe whilst also taking up crewing opportunities on Eight J/80s are now available all year round, and provide larger keelboats owned by members of the Club. Any the Club with wider opportunities for members to fleet, YMs who wish to be included in the YM Crew List should team or match race. The year kicked off with the contact the Sailing Office and submit a copy of their CV. Carmela Cup – the UK’s Open National Team racing Crewing opportunities range from spectacular classics championship, and culminated with the final of the Mum’s such as Eleonora to the smaller sports boats in local Bucket. The J/80s will be back in action in September, Solent events . the first event of the Autumn will be the world famous

REAR COMMODORE SAILING

Cruising The cruisers have had a particularly busy season so far, both in home waters and overseas. The Spring Excuse at Gins Farm was a great success, as was the Cumberland Regatta which featured a formal dinner in the RYS Pavilion as well as racing for the oldest trophy in the world; the 1776 Cumberland Cup. The Ca- nal du Midi inland waterways cruise proved to be a fantastic event, and the Gallipoli Rally took members on a tour of coastlines etched with history. The next cruising event is the Autumn Excuse, which is taking place on 16th, 17th and 18th October 2015. The Cruisers continue to plan a fantastic array of events for our members, and next year’s calendar is already looking like an exciting one. In addition to the (Etchells – Gertrude and Saida. Picture) usual events, a Cumberland Cruise will take place Communications along the South Coast of England in June, and a flotil- la holiday is being arranged in Croatia during Septem- There is now a dedicated weekly sailing newsletter to ber 2016. Further details about these events will be keep you informed of all the sailing events and we released soon. would welcome your input as to how we can continue to improve communication with you. Also, please do submit any information, news items or race reports which you would like to be included in future newsletters to the Sailing Office.

Sailing Office

Richard and Sarah in the Sailing Office have been joined by Becci Hooper to help cope with the increase in sailing activities. Becci brings with her a wealth of experience having previously worked in RORC’s Sail- ing Office. We have a wide range of sailing activities available to members of all ages and abilities so please join in!

Race Management The Race Management team, under the able leader- ship of Jenny Woods has continued to work hard, and has successfully run the Cowes Keelboats series. They are now gearing up for Cowes Week. This will be the first Cowes Week with the new race management system in place, RTYC and RLYC will take charge of the RYS battlements for the first four days of the event. It is felt that with more consistency within the management team throughout the week the com- petitors will experience even better racing than in pre- vious years. (Younger Members enjoying the J/70s) Our Race Officials will again be running the Gertrude Cup– The International Etchells Invitational which sees yacht clubs from around the world competing for Chris Griffiths the coveted title of Gertrude Cup Champion. Rear Commodore Sailing

CAPTAIN OF RACING

One of the most exciting developments so far this team racing event, which is always hotly contested. year has been the ‘launch’ in March of the Club’s brand Members enjoyed two J/70 open days, the first of which new fleet of six J/70s, based at Shepards Wharf in bore witness to gusts of 25 knots plus, and proved to be Cowes. As many of you know, our acquistion of the a rather exhilarating day, with expert coaching from J/70 fleet has bee due to the very generous financial Anthony and Charlie Esse. The second open day was assistance of three of our members and, on behalf of rather more welcoming with sunny skies and 12kts, the Royal Thames, I would like to record our sincere Charlie ran a series of short fleet races which enabled thanks to them. Encouragingly, feedback from those of members to get used to the boats, and forced them into us who have already sailed in the J/70s is extremely rather hasty hoists, gybes and drops all in quick positive. Two J/70 introductory days and a training succession. weekend for members attracted good participation and momentum continues to build within this fleet. J/70 National Champion, Ruaridh Scott ran a ‘Speed and Manoeuvring’ clinic in May which was very popular Sam Littlejohn and Tom Hebbert kicked off the 2015 amongst members who were keen to hone their skills season with a Carmela Cup win, these two continue to and focus on the finer points of J/70 sailing. We are compete in the 2K team racing circuit. keen to lay on more training weekends, in the J/70s, so do keep an eye on the weekly newsletter which will The Academy have been performing well, with teams inform you of upcoming fixtures. All Members are most competing in the Wessex Winter Warmer, the Anzio welcome to join in with J/70 sailing, do contact the edition of the 2K team racing event and the Wilson Sailing Office if you would like to arrange a day on Trophy, among many other events. RTYC Blue and board a boat. RTYC Red continue to go from strength to strength. They found the Wilson Trophy to be a particularly The J/80s are now at Queen Mary Reservoir year challenging event, as they sailed against world team round, which means that members are able to use racing champions, and both teams learned a lot from them for a far greater period throughout the year, and this experience. Their next big challenge is the RYS this year saw the first evening fleet racing take place. Bicentenary team racing which will be held in the RYS Four sets of crew made it out of London in time for the and the RTYC J/70s. We wish them the best of luck with start at 1900, and enjoyed a series of short fleet races, this. before joining the QMSC sailors in the clubhouse for a sailors’ supper. This proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we hope to run more events like it in the future. The next J/80 fixture is Bart’s Bash on Sunday 20th September. Members are welcome to sign up with the Sailing Office as an individual or as a complete crew.

( Wilson Trophy)

The Younger Members once again ran a very successful President’s Cup, an event which sees Younger Members from clubs all across the UK competing in short course fleet racing, seven teams participated this year with Exeter University claiming the title. The President’s Cup will return to QMSC in February 2016.

Henry Arnold won the Mum’s Bucket which took place on 14th March, this is the Club’s annual random pairs ( Members enjoying Wednesday evening racing)

CAPTAIN OF RACING

Further afield, RTYC has been represented all over the Winners from all of our events will receive two tickets to international racing circuit, and for the third year in a our annual Prize Winners’ Dinner, which will take place row, an RTYC team entered the Bermuda International on Tuesday 10th November. Invitational Regatta which is raced in IoD 5.5 Metres. Henry Arnold, Olly Dix, William Edwards, Emily Parker and James Anderson put up a fierce fight, and won the trophy for Series A, which took results from the first half of the regatta. Unfortunately RTYC could not maintain their winning performance into the second half of the regatta and narrowly lost the lead to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (who have a home fleet of IoD 5.5 Metres). No doubt the team will return for the 2016 match in the hope of taking the title.

The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup team are gearing up for this year’s event which is raced in Swan 42s from 12th – 19th September. The team, which has been training in the Solent in William Edwards’ J/109, they will also use the Match. First 40 RYS Bicentenary Let me end this report with a few words from RTYC Regatta as a training event. Following their third place member Russell Peters about his experience in the in the 2013 event they are keen to bring home the Club’s J/70s. Finishing a very impressive 2nd overall in trophy this year. Members are most welcome to head the Warsash Spring series out of a fleet of 24, Russell to Newport to support the team. had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of weekends racing in the Club’s brand new boats. Aspirin Trophy - 30th May “Having just finished the Warsash Spring Sadly the racing side of the 23rd Aspirin Trophy was Championship over the last two weekends, I just cancelled this year due to strong winds, however the wanted to tell you how much fun I had as well as how formal part of the event went off with it's usual well organised the set up is: Red Jet to Cowes, step on merriment. The dinner this year was combined with a a brand new J/70 with sails on board, push off and race farewell to RBYC member, Charlie Pitcher who in central Solent against 25 one design J/70s with three thankfully was in no need of Aspirin the next day as he or four excellent windward/leeward races, and head back in, step off the boat and go straight to the pub or Red Jet - fantastic!”

What a great testimony! I hope many more of our members are encouraged by Russell’s words and will make the short trip over to Cowes to try out our new J/70s very soon.

rowed off attempting the first Round Britain and Ireland solo row.

His amazing progress can be followed on www.charliepitcher.com Many thanks to the RBYC and RBOD fleet for putting on a superb dinner, and as ever Angus Prentice for Max's specials! Dates for the return match at the Captain of Racing Paracetamol Trophy will be announced soon. 8 June 2015

CAPTAIN OF CRUISING

The Cruising for 2015 got off to a great start with ever-improving events calendar to ensure a varied and eight yachts attending the Spring Excuse organised by diverse Rally diary. We have been very cognisant over Tom Dyke. We used a new venue for Saturday evening the years that some locations are difficult to access and entertainment in the form of Gins Farm in Beaulieu. This can be very expensive if chartering a yacht for the has proved to be an excellent location mooring all the period of the Rally. In light of this we are investigating yachts on their private pontoon allowing members to the option of working with a charter company who can socialise and relax amongst fellow sailors. The weather deliver a more package style trip with flights and spaces for sailing proved to be challenging with a hard beat to on boats for an inclusive price. This should allow more the finish line meaning some of the smaller yachts took members the chance to get away and enjoy some of the over 4 hours to complete the 11 mile race course. Quite wonderful events that the cruising team organise. We a lot of tide and westerly breeze meant many more will be posting an event for next year shortly which will miles were sailed to get to the finish. Peter Bainbridge in be a two week cruise to Croatia; the committee feel that his newly acquired Rustler 33, which really does look this location is excellent for chartering but also beautiful and sleek, took line honours on handicap. accessible for Thames yacht owners who are already in the Central and Eastern Med. Lets watch this space but By the time this goes to press the yacht club will have the committee is fully committed to provide cruising to been to the South of France to take part in the Canal du the whole membership and make joining a rally easier Midi event organised by Andrew Collins and Hugh then ever. Kitchen. This event saw Thames members and guests cruise down the Canal du Midi passing through the At the beginning of June, hence the reason for not historic town of Carcassonne. This event really took off attending the RTYC Rally events I set of to sail our and was much enjoyed. The event attracted eight large yacht fully crewed with Thames members to Portugal for canal boats and over 45 people. I attended the pre some sun we hope! This will be an event that is event dinner at 60 Knightsbridge where Andrew went organised by the World ARC Rally Association. I have through the plan, which looked amazing taking in lovely to admit they really do know how to make cruising restaurants, and of course the obligatory wine tasting. It hassle free and enjoyable. does show that we might be a yacht club but we enjoy I do hope you enjoy your summer of cruising; please let all forms of transport on water. I am getting late reports the team know if you have any locations that you would that we had three “man overboard” during evening like the cruising committee to look in to for future festivities. I will try and get some photos for the next events. We are always looking for Rally organisers even review. for the Solent based events so please get in touch. It never ceases to amaze the committee on how much Happy Sailing and Fair Winds. effort members will put in to organising events for other members to enjoy and we are very lucky new events and locations are so popular. Dates for Cruising 2016 The other event that fell on the back of the Canal trip was the Gallipoli Rally, which took many months to  22-24 Apr Spring Excuse organise. George Ehlers should be congratulated on the  17-19 Jun Cumberland Regatta effort he put in. Over 10 yachts were signed up and nearly 50 people participated in this two week event.  20-24 Jun South Coast Cruise You may remember that the calendar was originally set  10-24 Sep Croatia Rally for Gallipoli in April but due to an amazing amount of red tape this event had to be moved to early June. In  14-16 Oct Autumn Excuse the end it allowed members to see some of Turkeys beautiful coastline but also to take some time to remember the huge sacrifice that many nations suffered during this conflict.

The committee have been working very hard to work through plans for the next few years so that we have an Nick Atkinson Captain of Cruising

RACE MANAGEMENT

The first six months of 2015 have proved to be The next few months may prove to be the most most exciting with the prospect of new and challenging challenging yet. We are relishing the opportunity of events to be involved with. I have no doubt that our working with big boats at the inaugural Queens Cup Race Management team will man up to our usual high Super Yacht Regatta in Barcelona in September. We standards for all of these regattas. will be privileged to have such a stunning vantage point but our priority is to give these Super Yachts the best During a windy winter and spring at Queen Mary we racing possible within the parameters of wind and managed to turn out and successfully run the Carmela course requirements. Cup in January with our International Race Officer David Arnold heading up the team, as he did for the RTYC events have given our Race Officers and Mums Bucket. Our J/80s have been used for corporate umpires the opportunity to hone their skills, try out new charters which has given our Race Officers the roles on the committee boat and umpire on the water. opportunity of running fleet racing. A new arrival on our This has lead to a number of the team sitting and racing calendar has been Wednesday evening racing at passing their RYA examinations and some are now Queen Mary and it is hoped that this will become a looking to even higher qualifications. We aim to provide regular feature over the months ahead. both formal and informal training for any club member who wishes to become involved and are planning to run With the arrival of the six new J/70s on the Solent a Club RO course at 60 Knightsbridge together with members have been jumping at the opportunity of Mark Laying familiarity on Thames 5 (our designated experiencing these sports boats. Great things are mark laying boat) on the Solent. We are always looking planned for these boats and it is anticipated that Race for rib and Thames 5 drivers so, if you already have Management will be involved with running fleet racing RYA Power Boat Level II, we need you. Our pool of on the Solent. umpires continues to flourish and David Lees, the Club’s Chief Umpire, aims to have a couple of talks a year on the rules. Both David and I can be contacted through the Sailing Office so do get in touch and try a day on the water. It really is worthwhile and good fun.

The Royal Thames ROs and Umpires have been faultless over the past six months and I thank them all for their contribution and support.

The RTYC Race Management team is currently concentrating its efforts into running the Cowes Keelboat Series, two major Etchells events and the first four days of Cowes Week where we will be seen, in force, on the Royal Yacht Squadron Platform. The Royal Thames ROs continue to volunteer their time and expertise providing these Solent classes with a valuable resource enabling them to have racing with both fixed and laid marks.

Jennifer Woods

Chair of Race Officials Committee 13

FROM THE YOUNGER MEMBERS

What a great start the YMs have had to 2015 and

what a summer of sailing we have to look forward to.

The annual YM Ball got the year off to a flying start. The theme was a hint of the Buccaneer and as always led to some interesting twists on the tradition- al black tie. The event was well attended and kindly sponsored by Mount Gay Rum which is a favourite

tipple of yachtsmen and women around the world. On the water the YMs have run events both at Queen The YMs sat down for a fantastic dinner and then Mary’s and on the Solent. The highlight of the sailing danced into the early hours to the Fabulous Feed- calendar so far this summer has been the addition of

back band. A lucky few came away from the night the new fleet of J/70s. The weekend of the 30th-31st May with the iconic Mount Gay Red Caps and we thank saw the YMs descend on Cowes for their annual Solent the sponsor and the staff for their fantastic work in weekend. The event sold out within minutes of making the event a success .

advertising and a full fleet went out for some exciting The Younger Members committee, working with the racing on the Saturday. Before the racing there was sailing office have introduced an exciting new Big some familiarization as some of the YMs were more Boat list. This initiative offers YMs the opportunities used to sailing the J/80s but the new asymmetric to sail and gain experience on larger and more spinnakers were soon flying downwind in the eastern sporty yachts both in Europe and abroad than they Solent. A fantastic day’s racing was had and my thanks would otherwise normally get the chance to sail on. go to Jamie Foot and Matt Blachford for organizing and This is the first year of the initiative and we look for- Richard Ambler as Race Officer. Special thanks also go ward to this program going from strength to strength to Charlie Esse and Jason Sivyer for their coaching and in the coming years. expertise.

After a fantastic day’s racing, first place went to Charlie Lowe, Amelia Boadle, Jose Pettorutti and Emma

Burrows. After an excellent meal and tour of Cowes nightlife, racing was unfortunately cancelled on the Sunday due to high winds. The J/70 fleet is a fantastic addition to the club and I implore you to go and give them a try if you haven’t done so.

FROM THE YOUNGER MEMBERS

Looking forward for the rest of the summer we have BRIDGE EVENINGS 2015/2016 monthly drinks at the Clubhouse in Knightsbridge. These monthly gatherings allow YMs the opportunity to Open to all members and their guests. meet and network with other YMs and plan sailing and social events in equal measure.

Each month we sit down to a simple supper, followed by extremely social, and not very high pow- ered, duplicate bridge. The emphasis is on fun - only basic conventions are allowed. It is not scary, just sociable, easy going and a good way to spend the evening. RTYC Members can bring a non-member guest to play if they wish. We also have Cowes Week fast approaching and with it A snip at £22, for a two course supper and an even- our annual Cowes Week drinks party on the ing of mellow bridge. Wednesday night of Cowes at the Prospect on Wednesday 12th August and I look forward to seeing 2015 Dates: YMs and their crews for a drink in one of the most Tuesday 13th October lovely settings in Cowes. Wednesday 11th November I am due to step down as Chairman of the Younger Wednesday 9th December Members Committee towards the end of this year and I would just like to say thank you to the committee who 2016 Dates: have supported me and worked with me through out my Wednesday 13th January tenure as chairman. It has been a privilege and a Tuesday 9th February pleasure to lead the YMs of the Club and I look forward Tuesday 8th March to seeing the Club going from strength to strength after Tuesday 12th April my retirement. Tuesday 10th May

If you are interested, please contact Barbara Ehlers on [email protected] and she will keep you informed.

Will Jackson

Chairman of the Younger Members Committee

OLYMPIC BENEFIT UPDATE

We are now well into this crucial 2015 season of Olympic Qualifying regattas and ISAF World Cup events. It is really exciting to see how well our RTYC members of the RYA Olympic Squad have been doing in the tough months from January to May. We should all be very proud of some top results achieved by our sailors, the proving grounds which punctuate weeks and weeks of arduous “training blocks”.

At this time of year, I would not be complaining if I was sailing every day in Portugal or Mallorca, instead of the cold and windy Solent, where we ordinary mortals find our weekend sport. But seriously, it is physically very demanding, and every day must be planned with objectives for each session on the water, specific goals for every training session in the Here is a quick summary of some outstanding gym. And someone has to do all the administration as results : well: booking flights, booking accommodation at regatta Miami ISAF World Cup Regatta venues, shipping boats all over the world, making sure new equipment and sails get delivered on time – not Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark – 470 Women – much time to relax, not much time to sit down with a drink (non-alcoholic of course ! ). Silver Medal

( Saskia and Hannah )

Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves - Nacra 17 Cat –

Silver Medal

Palma de Mallorca – Princess Sofia Trophy John Gimson and Hannah Diamond - Nacra 17 Cat – Silver Medal (Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves)

Hyeres, France – ISAF World Cup Regatta Hannah and Saskia - 470 Women - 4th Overall Ben and Nicola - Nacra 17 Cat - 5th Overall

OLYMPICOLYMPIC BENEFIT BENEFIT UPDATE UPDATE

One thing we must all remember, these are not OLYMPIC BENEFIT DINNER: SAVE THE DATE any old training regattas. Some regattas are scoring points towards getting your country a slot in the Rio Olympics. Other events are qualifying sailors for their Class world championships later on in the season, and there is also the RYA’s system for deciding who will go the August Test Event in Rio ( The Pre-Olympics ) where we can only have two entries in each class. With so much at stake, it is easier to understand why the training blocks are so important. Any testing of new equipment and new sailing techniques must be done in training, so that the speed and boat handling are optimised for the big events.

 Date: Thursday 5th November  Time: 7:00 pm - 11:30 pm

 Dress Code is Suits or Reefer Jackets, with col- ourful ties, and Party Dresses for the ladies.

 The emphasis is on bright colours and glamour, to brighten up Guy Fawkes evening !!

(John Gimson and Hannah Diamond)  Tickets will be £ 70.00 for members and their guests, and £ 50.00 for YM's ( max two tables ) Finally, there is the chance of early selection for the Rio Games, for any crew who can win a medal at both their  Dress Code is Suits or Reefer Jackets, with col- world championships, and at the Rio Test Event. ourful ties, and Party Dresses for the ladies.

Don’t forget to follow our Sailors on their journeys. You  The emphasis is on bright colours and glamour, can access their reports online by going to; to brighten up Guy Fawkes evening !!

https://www.royalthames.com/Racing/Keelboat-Racing/ For more information or to book please contact Lucia in Road_to_Rio_updates.aspx the Secretariat at [email protected] or on 020 7201 6267.

Ian Mac Donald Smith Olympic Benefit Dinner Chair

OLYMPIC BENEFIT DINNER

It has become a Royal Thames tradition to hold a fundraising evening in November, to support our Olympic trial- lists who are in line for selection to the British Olympic team. So far, in every Olympic Games since 2004, we have been able to follow a few RTYC members, who have achieved the honour of representing their country at the Games, in sailing of course !

The high point of this support came in Weymouth, in the London 2012 Olympics, when Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark won their silver medals in the Women’s 470 Class. They narrowly lost out to the New Zealand pair, with whom they were tied on points going into the final double points medal race. We also had Lucy and Katie Macgregor, with Annie Lush, competing in the Women’s Match Racing event, and finishing sixth, after missing out on the semi-final by a whisker.

With this background of achievement, we are holding the Rio Dinner on Thursday 5th November, with high expectations. All our Olympic sailors will be present, and they will give us a video presentation in the Britannnia Bar, before our dinner in the Coffee Room. So we will see close-up action of their training programme and get a feel for the high performance boats which are raced at the ultimatelevel of our sport. The 470 girls have just beaten their Kiwi rivals in the ISAF World Cup regatta in Weymouth, so their chances of getting selected for Rio are very high, and we also have three teams competing for selection in the Nacra 17 cat- amaran. We are confident that there will therefore be two RTYC boats competing in Rio, so there is plenty of nail- biting action to look forward to, over the coming months. And it is our intention to cheer them all the way to the Rio Games, in August 2016. Please come to the Rio Dinner on 5th November, and show them how much we support their campaigns and ap- plaud their achievements.

For more information or to book please contact Lucia in the Secretariat at [email protected] or on 020 7201 6267.

Iain Macdonald-Smith Chairman Rio Olympic Dinner Committee

RTYC CHARITABLE TRUST

launched their own charities which is as welcome as it is laudable.

None of this could have been done without the generosity of members. The response to our appeal sent out with this year’s subscriptions has been heart- It was 10 years ago that the trust was formed and during warming and we are extremely grateful for a generous that period we must have sent about 500 deserving legacy from the late Julian Hooper although we would young people away to sea on voyages; voyages that not still rather have your company, Julian. only will they remember for the rest of their lives but also Nonetheless the need for funding is ongoing. In fact as on an experience that will hopefully have been formative our work becomes better known, the Trust receives in those lives. The reports which we get from the young applications from fresh sources of deserving youngsters people themselves express their sense of joy, and we get the feeling that we are looking only at the tip appreciation and achievement but it is the comments of the iceberg. from their teachers and supervisors which remind us of During the winter months when we forecast our the real benefit derived by them, our beneficiaries. allocations for the forthcoming season we have also For those who are unfamiliar with our activities, the Trust been involved in running fundraising events for the gives an opportunity to young people from charity:- disadvantaged backgrounds, whose futures are  In October a thoroughly enjoyable horse racing restricted simply by the misfortune of having had a rotten start in life, be it parental neglect or incapacity, having evening was kindly organised by the Social had no experience other than living off the state or just Committee. The many members supporting the being brought up in circumstances which offer them no occasion entered into the spirit of the event in opportunity. Our work involves identifying these young whole-hearted fashion and, supposedly, some people and offering them the chance, without cost to may have come away the richer. Anyhow the themselves, to go to sea on a sail training vessel as part purpose of raising money to help fund our work of a working crew. This has proved to be a most was certainly achieved and a big thank you to all effective therapy as they have had, for survival, to work involved. as part of a team which, coupled with the sense of  What we hope to have been the first of a series of achievement which they derive, is an enormous boost to self-esteem. backgammon evenings was held in the Clubhouse in February. The click of dice and counters was

reminiscent of an oriental café. Mrs Hunt proved

her gaming prowess and our thanks to all who

attended to make it a happy evening and to

George Ehlers for organising it all.

 In mid-April your Trustees and Officers welcomed

representatives from the sail-training organisations with which we work for a day of ‘light-hearted’ racing in the J/80s on the Queen Mary Reservoir. We were blessed with perfect conditions (for any time of the year – let alone In setting up the charitable trust, the Club, once again, early spring). An enjoyable day of sport and profile has lead the way and in subsequent years a number of raising. other yacht clubs, both in the UK and overseas, have

RTYC CHARITABLE TRUST

As your Trustees are currently in the process of deciding how most effectively to spend the hard earned money provided by members generosity, we are also mindful of the need both of bringing our activities to the attention of members and of asking for your continuing support and with these objectives in mind, please note the dates of the following events at which we hope to see you:-

Do please support us by coming to the events or more directly by way of a donation, standing order or a mention in your will (although we hope that the last mentioned is looking far into the future). Means of achieving any of these generous acts are shown on our website (as is much about our activities) at www.rtyccharity.org . Please remember that a gift of  Tuesday 30 June: Reception on STS £400 plus Gift-Aid will send one young person away to Tenacious in Docklands. Drinks and canapés on sea for an experience that may change their lives. the largest wooden ship built in UK in the last century for £35 a head. Bring friends and family. A final word to thank my co-trustees, Doug Harckham, To get tickets and to attend please contact Lucia George Ehlers and Mike Halstead, our Hon Treasurer, Mihohkova on +44 (0) 20 7201 6267 or Rupert Salmon, our Hon Secretary Gwynne Lawrence, [email protected] or by writing to Martin Lindsay (who looks after the website) and last, her with your cheque in favour of “RTYC but definitely not least David Freeman whose help and Charitable Trust” at 60 Knightsbridge, London support is invaluable. SW1X 7LF.  September: Chance of a flight in a Spitfire. We hope, once more, to offer the chance of having a

half hour flight in one of these historic aircraft taking off from Goodwood. Perforce of circumstance the applications for this will appear

at fairly short notice, so keep your eyes peeled!

 Tuesday 6 October: Pub Quiz. An evening to compare your working knowledge of trivia to that of others. Get together a team of friendly egg- heads (they need not be members of the Club) and come and enjoy the evening.

 November: Backgammon Evening. Time to rattle the dice once more in aid of charity. Andrew Collins Chairman

Royal Thames Yacht Club Charitable Trust

SECRETARY’S HOUSE NOTES

THE ROYAL LIST THE BRITANNIA DECK Members will be pleased to know the Their Royal High- Due to the popularity of the deck and the demand for nesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined seating, we have increased the number of tables and the Club’s Royal List. chairs on the deck. Tables cannot be pre-booked and the deck may only be used for social purposes: NEW ARRIVAL business meetings are not allowed on the deck to I am delighted to report Jack Henry Brandon was born to ensure a pleasant environment for social users. Rosanna Wise, the Assistant Secretary, When other members are present, mobile phones on 2 June. Rosanna is the Club’s Assis- should not be used for making or receiving calls on tant Secretary and we send her and hus- the deck so as not spoil the enjoyment of others. band Matt congratulations on the safe Please observe the rules for use of the deck that form arrival of their first child. As you know part of the House Bye-Laws and which are published Charlotte McDonnell is currently acting in your Members Handbook and on the website. as Assistant Secretary during Rosanna’s maternity leave. MODEL ROOM CATALOGUE There are a few copies of the bound copy of the Model Room catalogue available for members to purchase at the price of £10 per copy. Please let Charlotte, the Assistant Secretary know if you would like to purchase [email protected],

DRESS CODE Some members may not be aware that a smart casual dress code applies at all times in the Britannia Bar and on the deck. The minimum acceptable dress in the ground CATERING floor public rooms and on the Britannia Deck is polo shirt, chinos and sailing shoes or equivalent. This also applies in Thomas Franks has been operating as the Club’s rooms being used for the breakfast service. No denim is caterer for nearly two years and the Club has extend- permitted except after 1600 on Friday - 0700 on Monday ed their contract to 31 March 2017. Bernard Moray when the weekend dress code is smart casual that may continues to lead the catering team as Food & Bever- include denim (not frayed, holed or dirty). Full dress code age Manager, Rakel Armor is the Deputy F&B Man- details are available in the House Bye-Laws that are repro- ager and we have recently welcomed Mark Nolan duced in your Members Handbook and on the website . (Function Manager) and Ana Pereira (Function Su- pervisor). We now have a fully staffed kitchen led by MEMBERSHIP CARDS Simon Morris and the quality value of both the food Members are requested to carry their membership cards and wines in the Coffee Room continues to be com- when visiting the Clubhouse. Not only will this speed up mented on very favourably. If you haven’t visited the the security checks that the reception staff are instructed Coffee Room lately do give it a try: with the members’ to carry out, it will also enable members of staff to check discounts available it represents excellent value with entitlement or attempts of fraudulent use of the Clubhouse, one of the best restaurant views in London. and to put food and beverage expenditure on members’ accounts if these have been set up.

SECRETARY’S HOUSE NOTES

Members’ Discounts Half Board rates Significant discounts are available to members who The popular half board rate for residents’ offers charge food and beverage expenditure to their monthly discounted meals in the Coffee Room. Members account, supported by a monthly Direct Debit. The taking overnight accommodation can enjoy a two- current discounts are as follows: course Table d’Hôte lunch for just £15.65 or dinner for £18.65. Just obtain your coupon from reception Coffee Room: 20% off 2 course Table d’Hôte Lunch or to receive this additional members’ benefit that may Dinner – cash equivalent off A La Carte 20% off wines. not be used with other food discounts available, except the 20% discount on Coffee Room beverag- Bars: 20% off all drinks for consumption in the bars or es supported by a monthly Direct Debit. cabins. PRIVATE FUCTIONS Over 80% of members now have a monthly Direct Debit set up to enable them to benefit from these discounts. Members electing to select food from the Coffee Why not join them? If you haven’t already set up a Direct Room menus for service at lunches or dinners in private rooms are reminded that we are happy to Debit this can be easily done by contacting the Finance provide this facility but this is only possible without Assistant, Mousey Brown: [email protected] further food charges if the function can be staffed or tel: 020 7201 6264. Don’t miss out on these savings wholly from within the Club’s staff resources. If on your Clubhouse expenditure. agency staff has to be brought in for members’ pri- Please note that these discounts are only available for vate events, 25% will be added to the Coffee Room food & beverage expenditure in the Coffee Room, bars prices to cover agency staff costs; these charges and with the Night Porter. Discounts are not available are automatically built in to the food charges from for functions, and members’ functions charges may not the functions or bespoke menus. Members are be put on account unless specifically pre-arranged with reminded that there is a discounted room hire the Head of Finance. charge associated with booking private rooms but, for small groups, the Secretary should be consulted Restaurant billing procedures. to identify if further reductions are appropriate. In order to improve the efficiency of the billing process in USE OF RCC LIBRARY the Coffee Room it would greatly assist the staff if members dining in groups but who wish to pay Members are reminded of the terms under which individually would advise the Duty Manager running the RTYC members may access the RCC Library service at the beginning of the meal. This will enable the which is the lower of the two RCC rented rooms. orders to be input separately and thus avoid delays at 1. Access is permitted on days when the rooms the time of settlement. It would also be helpful if are not required for an RCC function or event. We members wishing charge their meal(s) to their membership account would confirm this on arrival and currently hold meetings and dinners each month offer their membership card to open chits in the correct from October through to May, usually but not exclu- name to ensure the correct discounts are applied in sively on the first Thursday of each month, and advance of presenting your bill. Your assistance in this there are other occasions when our members may matter would be much appreciated as we strive to be holding a private function, in which case we improve your experience in the Coffee Room. shall give your Secretary reasonable notice of such an event. 3. Full access to the Library will continue to be enjoyed by RCC members at all times

SECRETARY’S HOUSE NOTES

2.The Library is available for access by your members MERCHANDISE as a ”quiet room" in which they can relax and read the The Club’s merchandise list is available on the website. newspaper and suchlike. We ask that they are consid- Please review the Club’s current range and contact Lu- erate to other users, and in particular refrain from using cia with your orders or for further information. mobile telephones when other persons are in the Li- brary, and that they do not hold any social gatherings ROYAL THAMES MESS KIT or meetings without our prior consent. Royal Thames Mess Kit is the preferred dress at formal 3. Full access to the Library will continue to be enjoyed Clubhouse dinners. Details of tailors who have provided by RCC members at all times. satisfactory made to measure Mess Kit to members, without any Club endorsement as to quality or finish, are provided on the website. Second hand items are occasionally made available and these are advertised on the website and in the weekly e-newsletters.

LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION Members are reminded that a Letter of Introduction is usually required when you are planning to visit one of our reciprocal clubs. Please ask Lucia to arrange one for you, giving as much notice as possible. We continue to receive urgent requests from members who have turned up at reciprocal clubs without their membership cards and/or without having requested a Letter of Intro- duction. Members may not receive a timely reply to WINE SOCIETY requests, particularly at weekends, so please - think ahead, ask for Letters of Introduction to cover all even- The Club’s ’Wine Society’ offers a range of discounted tualities during your travels and carry your membership Club wines, and special offers from time to time, to all card at all times. Letters of Introduction will only be pro- members. Updated Order Forms are available to print vided to members whose subscriptions and accounts off from the website and completed forms should be are paid up to date. sent to the Finance Assistant, Mousey Brown or the Sommeliére, Mariyana Radulova, for processing. Col- WEBSITE lection of your order from the Clubhouse is preferable The Club’s website is linked to Jonas, the Club’s Inte- as the cost of administration and delivery reduces the grated Management System, and includes a number of attractiveness of the offers. The Wine and Cigar Com- features including improved access to members’ infor- mittee has this month introduced a new scheme to offer mation. Members are required to register for the web- members the opportunity to purchase cases of wine site and then set up their own usernames and pass- that the committee has chosen fro the Club’s list. Look- word. Separate instructions are provided on the login out for these quarterly offers in the e-newsletter. The page to help you do this and we hope you find the site deadline for ordering will be just a few days. easy to use, but do ask if you need help. However, less CIGARS than 35% of the membership has registered to use the website so please register to access the benefits that The Club holds a range of cigars to suit all tastes and the functionality provides. Once logged in to the mem- pockets and the deck is available until 11:00pm for bers’ area, as well as being able to register for events your enjoyment. The humidor is located in the Britan- on-line, you will have access to a range of facilities in- nia Bar until about 8.30pm after which it is transferred cluding the members list, your own personal information

SECRETARY’S HOUSE NOTES

Charlotte, the Assistant Secretary: [email protected] CAR PARKING AT 60 KNIGHTSBRIDGE or Lucia, the Membership Administrator: member- [email protected] will be pleased to assist you. This is an ongoing problem for members and we continue to liaise with the Embassy staff to resolve Mobile access to the Website. There is a mobile version of the issues that persist. The terms of the leases the website available. When you visit and tenancy agreements with the Head Lessee www.royalthames.com on devices such as smart phones and Sixty Knightsbridge Limited provide for the and tablets, the page below will appear. Please enter your Club to have permanent use of four car parking username and password to login and gain access to the spaces in the garage. After 6.30pm until 8.00am full mobile version. If you have not registered for the web- members may also avail themselves of any spare site please click on ‘Menu’ in the top left hand part of the spaces in the garage that are occupied during the screen then select ‘Full Site’. This will direct you to the day by vehicles belonging to the Embassy of the main website where you will be able to register by selecting State of Kuwait. Between 8.00am and 6.30pm the ‘Member Login’ in the top left and following the instructions. forecourt and ramp spaces may only be used for a If you experience any problems please contact Charlotte, maximum of two hours by both RTYC members the Assistant Secretary. and the Embassy staff. Only members who are resident in the Clubhouse or present in the Club- Members’ Reports. The appeal of the website will also be house on business may leave vehicles unattended enhanced by reports and news items sent in by event man- on the premises. Space on the forecourt is at a agers and by members who can help by keeping us in- premium and parked vehicles can cause difficulties formed of your successes and interesting activities. If you for delivery vehicles and taxis. Regrettably some are involved in anything that would be of interest to other members are still ignoring the rules by parking on members please forward reports and photographs to Ro- the ramp and forecourt for longer than two hours, sanna for posting on the website. or parking their vehicles and leaving them unattended whilst away from the premises without in- forming reception. This causes the Club’s staff significant difficulties, particularly when dealing with the Embassy staff that we also have to encourage to obey the provisions of the leases. Persistent offenders will receive one written warning to adhere to the parking regulations: a further offence after a written warning will result in parking privileges being withdrawn.

SECRETARY’S HOUSE NOTES

AND FINALLY. There is a lot going on in coming 21st AGM months. Lookout out for details of these upcoming 29th Talk – ‘Time for Navigation in the events in our weekly social and sailing e-newsletters and Chronometer Age’ on the website: November 5th Rio Olympic Benefit Dinner June 2015 10th Prizewinners Dinner 30th RTYC Charitable Trust Reception onboard 12th YM’s drinks TS TENACIOUS, Docklands 19th Joint Talk with the RIN July 24th Cruising Dinner 1st – 5th Henley Royal Regatta

6th Wine Tasting – ‘The Spurrier Master Class’

16th YM’s drinks

20th – 24th Cowes Classics Week

23rd – 26th America’s Cup World Series Racing, Portsmouth 25th – 31st RYS Bicentenary Inter Club Regatta, Cowe Captain David Freeman LVO, Royal Navy August Secretary 8th – 16th Clubhouse closed for deep cleaning/ refurbishments – limited B&B 8th – 15th Cowes Week 9th RTYC Cowes Week Cocktail Party, Commodore’s House 10th RTYC Ladies Lunch. The Prospect 12th RTYC YM’s Cowes Week Drinks Party, The Prospect 13th RTYC Crews’ Dinner, Royal London YC 17th – 21st Clubhouse partially open for B&B and Britannia Bar, inc light snacks. 24th – 28th Clubhouse partially open for B&B and Britannia Bar, inc light snacks. September 1st Clubhouse fully open after late August Bank Holiday 11th – 20th Southampton Boat Show 18th – 31st Oct Rugby World Cup 21st Wine Tasting – ‘World Cup Wine Quiz’ 24th YM’s drinks 30th Visit to Royal Opera House (waiting list)

October 6th Pub Quiz Night in aid of RTYC Charitable Trust 15th YM’s drinks 16th – 18th Autumn Excuse 20th Laying Up Dinner

ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB

Royal Thames Yacht Club 60 Knightsbridge London, SW1X 7LF TEL: 020 7235 2121 FAX: 020 7245 9470 www.royalthames.com

Secretary Captain David Freeman, L.V.O. RN 020 7201 6261 [email protected]

Assistant Secretary Rosanna Wise ( Maternity leave ) Charlotte McDonnell (Maternity cover) 020 7201 6263 [email protected]

Membership Administrator Lucia Mihokova 020 7201 6267 [email protected]

Chief Sailing Officer Richard Ambler 020 7201 6265 [email protected]

Assistant Sailing Officer Sarah Hornby 020 7201 6262 [email protected]

Sailing Administrator Becci Hopper 020 7201 6266 [email protected]

Head of Finance Gary Honeyman 020 7201 6269 [email protected]

Finance Assistant Mousey Brown 020 7201 6264 [email protected]

Functions Coordinator Siobhan Ginty 020 7201 6283 [email protected] 28