Commodore's Message

Published 08:27 on 13 Mar 2015

Dear Friends,

I have been taken aback by the many messages of encouragement and kindness shown since I and the rest of the flag officers were elected. I hope that we can repay your faith with action to ensure that Thames Sailing Club is a place to sail and enjoy oneself.

As I outlined at the AGM I want every member to enjoy their time at the club, feel part of a supportive family and intern support other members in whatever they are doing. Sailing is a sport where there are a number of inherent dangers and we rely upon all those sailing around us to ensure that we are all safe and well. I wish that we carry this ethos with us in whatever we do at the club.

I hope that you feel all of the committee members are supportive and approachable; we are just members like yourselves, and try to ensure that everything that we do is seen as in the benefit of all. Inevitably there are decisions that we will have to make which not everyone will agree with, but we make those decisions with the majority of the club's membership in our hearts and minds.

There are a number of things that I wish to attend to early on as Commodore, I will communicate these in due course, but rest assured that the first thing on my mind is to make the sailing experiences at TSC enjoyable, or as much as we can make them enjoyable given the conditions that we often experience.

The Club has spent some considerable efforts on researching and making draft plans for a development programme. My intention is to drive the development process focussing on the modernisation of the changing facilities at TSC which I am sure we all agree need updating.

The season is nearly upon us and so I would encourage the Merlin and Handicap fleets to enjoy the Easter Regatta, as this is a great start to the season and since few, if any, Raters are out of their winter hibernation it is a chance to own the river. I am sorry that I will not be there but I have a prior sailing engagement in Marseille, where I am attending the 50th edition of the SNIM regatta as part of a J109 crew.

Looking further into the season and for those of you that have not been to Bourne End Week this is a must. The sailing is not too taxing but very competitive with 2 races a day and the social functions are a great way to bond with fellow club members. Accommodation is relatively easy to find and there is always Sin City where you can camp. By the way I am not sure as to why it is still called Sin City, as the sinners seem to have disappeared.

I wish you all successful and enjoyable season of sailing at TSC.

Miles Palmer