The Westerly Owners' Association - Ireland Area Group

Any group of Westerly sailors will make a lively and jolly party but when they are Irish Westerly sailors you have a recipe for a pretty special kind of evening. So it was proved on February 27th when 48 Westerly sailors from Ireland’s coast came together for their 2010 meeting and dinner at Howth Yacht Club.

First to arrive were WOA Commodore Bernard Clarke and Jean. The rest of the company arrived in good time and after meeting and greeting we moved to the Asgard room to discuss the agenda of practical issues concerning our season’s program.

A useful debate took place under the headings of land fixtures, venues, fixtures afloat long and short, off shore cruising, number of events and formation of committee. After airing and exchanging views we settled on having one major destination cruise, an end of season dinner, and next February the 2011 AGM. Additional local short outings are hopefully to take place. The incoming committee will decide details of these fixtures in the coming weeks.

The outgoing Area Group representative Tom then presented Gary with the Area Group Rally flag Nuala took a photo and we proceeded to the Dinning room.

We enjoyed the dinner in a atmosphere of high good humour where sharing yarns and banter was the order of the day (or night).

The star of the show was Commodore Bernard who visited the various tables, giving as good as he got, and giving us an interesting and humours address. Nuala recorded the assembly on camera.

Boats represented were Seascapes, Eilish, Toby Too, Aviane, Wild Again, Katrina ll, Lady Frances, Zebek, Púcabán, RidireBan, Mary B, Sandpiper, Sea Dog, Fougere, Scarth, Massana, Fulica, Amelia Ann, Jabulani, Golden Eye of Chichester.

With 20 Westerlies represented and a gathering of 48 happy people, all agreed that the evening was a resounding success and look forward to the next.

I conclude with the piece of Gaelic learned by the Commodore – Sláinte!

Gary McGuire