The Westerly Owners' Association - AGM

WOA National AGM and Formal Dinner - 30th January 2010

153 members attended the 43rd AGM at the Holiday Inn, Filton Road, Bristol on Saturday 30th January. Tea and coffee were available from 10am and members had the opportunity to visit the trade stands, jumble, RNLI, Coast Watch and Area Group displays. A larger area was devoted to trade stands and displays following their popularity last year.

The Commodore, Brian Easteal opened the formal proceedings by welcoming members from South Coast, South West,, East Coast, North Wales, Bristol Channel, Ireland East Coast, Scotland and Westerly Club Nederlands. Reports were given by the Commodore and the Treasurer.

Bernard Clarke, John Maries, Liz Truscott (secretary), Christine Bull (Magazine Editor), George Pickburn, Jill Pickburn, Robert Jones (Technical Editor), Mike Mason and Gerry Beddoes (Commercial Manager) were elected to the Committee. The positions of Commodore, Bernard Clarke, Vice Commodore, Judith Symonds and Rear Commodore, Andy Truscott, were ratified.

Full minutes of the meeting will be available to all members in the normal manner.

The AGM was followed by the presentation of gifts and prizes.

Gifts of engraved whiskey glasses were presented to retiring Committee members Denise Easteal and John Hasker. Peter Boylan was unable to attend and will receive his gift later.

The Magazine Editor presented prizes to Mike Collins (Best 2009 Article) for ‘Flamingo Lady Crosses the Atlantic’, Bernard Moles (Best Technical Article) for ’Sugar Scoop Noise Reduction’ and to Andrew Moncrieff (Best Log) for ‘Twin Keels Around Britain’.

Navigators and General donated a new trophy this year for the best photograph of a Westerly. Brian showed a selection of pictures, some dramatic, some picturesque and numerous sunsets! The winner was Christine Bull for her photograph ‘Reflections’.

The Commodore’s Clock was awarded to Ian Cochrane for the exceptional help and support he has given the Association over the past 10 years.

The Rayner Challenge plate went to Andrew Moncrieff for ‘The best Cruise Undertaken in a Westerly’, a mostly single handed circumnavigation around Britain in his Fulmar, Snow Goose.

Following an excellent lunch the new Commodore, Bernard Clarke, presented a gift to Brian and a bouquet to Denise.
This was followed by two speakers. The first presentation was from ‘Stokey’ Woodall’ entitled
‘Satellites to Stars’ He gave an amusing account of navigating without the use of electronic aids including use of a medium wave radio and a frying pan!

The second speaker was Sam Llewellyn whose subject was ‘The Minimum Boat’. He described his sailing experiences from his childhood on the Scilly Isles and how this evolved sailing with his own family in later life.

In the evening 63 members attended the New Commodore’s Dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening with excellent food and good company. The speaker was again ‘Stokey’ Woodall who spoke very amusingly about ‘The Life of Stokey Woodall’.