The Westerly Owners' Association - North Wales Group

AGM, dinner and talk on Saturday 15th November 2008

The meeting was held in the Deganwy Castle Hotel as usual, and 36 people attended. We were pleased to welcome our Commodore, Brian Easteal, and Denise.

After a meal which was up to the hotel’s usual high standard, we had our AGM. Brian Bell gave the Chairman’s report and thanked the committee for their work during the year. A successful and oversubscribed sea survival course was held in February, a dinner and talk in April, and the very successful Isle of Man Rally at the end of May. Reports of these events are on the website.

Treasurer Derek Lumb presented the examined accounts which showed an adequate balance with a small increase compared with the previous year.

Mary Boylan reported that she was investigating holding more courses in February, possibly in radar, VHF, and (again) sea survival.

The existing committee members Brian & Vi Bell, Peter & Mary Boylan, and Derek Lumb, were re-elected, and we were pleased that Bill & Gill Winter volunteered and were elected.

Commodore Brian Easteal addressing the meeting

After the formal AGM, Brian Easteal gave a short talk, reporting on some of the activities of the Association committee and of the activities of some of the other area groups.

While the projector and screen were being set up, Peter and Mary Boylan manned a table of Christmas cards and WOA regalia that they had brought along.

WOA members Martin and Angela Atkinson then gave a very professional and interesting talk on their several years of cruising in the Baltic. They dispelled some of the misconceptions about the area, for example that it is cold (they were swimming and sunbathing), that there are language problems (English is widely spoken), that it is expensive (the cost of living is comparable with the UK but mooring fees, marina fees and boat storage costs are much cheaper). Navigation can be tricky in the shallow waters between the hundreds of islands but the scenery is marvellous and the people are very friendly and helpful. Martin and Angela strongly recommended members to take their boats there as they would thoroughly enjoy it.

Martin and Angela’s yacht Moody Blue at anchor off the Royal Palace at Drottingholm, Stockholm