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Club News

Dear Members of Whitstable Yacht Club

Posted: Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

At Monday night's General Committee meeting, Commodore Richard Earland announced his decision to step down with immediate effect. Handover arrangements are in place, and it has been agreed by the General Committee that Vice-Commodore Andrew Jackson will be acting Commodore and Chair of the General Committee between now and the Annual General Meeting in March 2016.
A letter from Richard to the members of Whitstable Yacht Club can be read here.

Monday 19th October 2015
Dear Members of Whitstable Yacht Club

I have been a member of the club since 2000 (with a short gap between 2007 and 2009) and had the privilege of serving on a variety of committees for the past five years. As the Sailing Development Officer, Vice, and Commodore I have been involved in some very special events at the club. Together with other volunteers I have supported Open Days, The Art on Sea project, a Royal Visit, countless Club, Open and National racing events – to mention a few. I have personally led funding bids that have succeeded in inward investment for the club of £48,000 over the past three years. Most recently, I have supported the club development project (led by Andy Jackson and his development team). This resulted in the overwhelming majority of those who voted (whether by post or in the ballot at the Special General Meeting) supporting the recommendation of the club’s General Committee to apply for Grant Funding to develop the club.

Whitstable Yacht Club is well placed to make a creditable bid for grant aid and the opportunity presented by the emerging development plans has the potential to project the club in an exciting direction in the years ahead. There is much hard work to be done and I do not doubt the club’s ability to make a huge success of the opportunity now before it.

I have now decided the time is right for me to step aside as Commodore with immediate effect. Although the normal term for the Commodore runs to March 2016, I would ask members to accept my decision to step aside now for personal reasons.
I remain a member of the club and in that capacity I will provide whatever support Andy Jackson and the General Committee require in terms of pursuing the Grant fund application.

I would like to take the opportunity this note offers of thanking all those who have supported me in the various roles I have undertaken on behalf of the club. In particular I would like to publicly thank the Flag Officers, Robert, Jill and Andy for their hard work and fulsome support. Andy has been an excellent Vice Commodore and Robert the perfect Rear Commodore Sailing whilst Jill has done so much (often unseen and unrecognised) both leading the recorders and as Rear Commodore House. I also thank others on the General Committee who have worked selflessly for and on behalf of the members. I wish all at WYC the best of fortune for the future.

With respect and thanks

Richard Earland