The Yachtsman 2017-2018 RPAYC Yachtsman 2015-2016 | Page 6

COMMODORE

COMMUNITY AWARDS , CLUB FACILITY DEVELOPMENTS AND EXCELLENCE IN SAILING
CLUB REPORTS

In this year ’ s edition of the Alfred ’ s Yachtsman , members provide a good glimpse of some of the history behind our rich heritage and the foundations on which our great Club has been built . Not only in terms of the physical assets but in a culture of sailing achievement and support for the sport across all levels .

In this , the Club ’ s 149th year , we can also reflect proudly on how our wonderful legacy is being further enhanced across all areas including continued Olympic representation since 1964 , where Bill Northam collected the Olympic Gold Medal , to Jason Waterhouse ’ s selection for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch at the Paralympic Games . Our sailing pathways programme and extensive calendar of sailing events which caters for a cradle to the grave involvement in our sport across all levels and sailing interests ; community engagement initiatives utilising our expertise in sailing , including our Award winning IdS programme ; and of course a World Class Facility and on water assets which allow us to maximise our access and participation in sailing across our magnificent waterways and beyond .
Of course the Club is also blessed with a unique spirit across the entire Club Community which has both underpinned these unique achievements and also allowed us to collectively deal with the most challenging of circumstances which occurred this year with the death of David Booth and serious injury to Billy Stevens .
Most members will have heard me publicly and privately speak of the Alfred ’ s as the best Yacht Club in the world , a statement I firmly believe in for the reasons outlined above and many more and I look forward to celebrating more on the Club ’ s history of achievements during our upcoming Sesquicentenary Year and what I am sure will be an equally successful period as we move beyond 2017 into the next half of our 2nd Century of operation .
As always I look forward to seeing everyone making the most of our wonderful sport of sailing and our wonderful Club .
IAN AUDSLEY COMMODORE

I look forward to celebrating more on the Club ’ s history of achievements during our upcoming Sesquicentenary Year

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