Update to Poole YC members as at 28th February 2021

The MMO have reviewed the response to their request for evidence on the Studland Bay MCZ. Their email is appended and many of you who made individual submissions will have received your own copy. The email has a link to the MMO website where all their lasted published information is displayed. There is much detail on their site and we have tried to condense it

What are the key points

The MMO documents are extensive and cover anchoring, mooring, speed, diving, PWC, all subsea types etc. They have now concluded they currently only need to address the risks from anchoring. They believe the evidence shows that it has an impact on the sea grass beds, and consequentially the health of the sea horse population. The options that they are considering could range from voluntary no anchor zones through to a total ban on anchoring

They have concluded that the current moorings ( 13 ) are not numerous enough to cause a problem and they are therefore not going to take any action. They have said that any proposals for increased mooring would have to go through their normal application process to be checked that they will not damage the conservation interests. They have indicated they are willing to work with interested parties to look at new moorings.

What is the next stage

The MMO next want to engage in a focused discussion with all stake holders to examine the way forward. In early March they will be setting up a virtual forum with all interested stakeholders. We will keep you posted. If you sent a response to the December MMO request, you should be invited.

This discussion is intended to allow them to come to a conclusion on the detailed actions they will take.

What is the Club doing?

We have had a meeting RYA and PYA. The RYA have said that they are happy to take the lead in putting forward recreational boating interests. We will continue to work with them and other interested parties. We now need to wait for the MMO’s invitation and their more detailed opinions

What do you need to do

If you are invited to join the consultation please do. If you want to see what the MMO said about your individual comments you can see this in their FAQ section by following the link in their email below.

While we wait for the next MMO communication you may still have comments. Please email them to training@pooleyc.co.uk where they will be collated.

Summary position.

The club recognises that having a fantastic natural environment on our door step is something that we should cherish. We believe that the best way forward now will continue to work positively with the MMO and other parties. We would want to press upon them that the Yacht Club community want to find a way forward that allows us to continue anchor or moor in Studland Bay in a way that is compatible with allowing the sea grass and sea horses to flourish.

In case you are not aware below is important information about flare disposal.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has opened a new consultation on the disposal of pleasure vessel marine flares, and is inviting comments on four suggested options.

The consultation specifically focuses on flares carried on board leisure vessels and does not include those carried on board vessels used for commercial activities.

The options are:

1. Allowing the current contract to expire with no further action.
2. Continuation of the existing disposal service.
3. Creation of a fully regulated framework for disposal of flares.
4. Creation of similar existing disposal arrangements by the pleasure vessel industry.

The consultation period will run until 15 March 2021. You can respond to the consultation by downloading the response form and emailing this form to TEPconsultation@dft.gov.uk.

The “Lilla” Salver is awarded annually by the Flag Officers to a Club member or group of members who have made an outstanding contribution or achievement to our Club during the previous year. It will be awarded at our AGM in March 2021.
The award is for achievements or contributions for the period January – December 2020.

Any Club member from any membership category is eligible to receive the award. Members of the General Committee and Club Employees are not eligible. The eligibility criteria encompass any outstanding contribution or achievement. e.g., An outstanding contribution to volunteering, a truly exceptional racing result, exceptional assistance to other members etc.

Whatever the reason for nomination, the person or persons nominated will have made a positive contribution to other members in the Club or will have put our Club in the spotlight in a very positive manner.

Our members will decide who they wish to nominate and submit such nominations to the Flag Officers. The Flag Officers will consider all nominations received and their decision will be announced at the AGM and the “Lilla” Salver awarded.

How to nominate a member for the Flag Officers “Lilla” Salver:

• Two members must propose the nominee.
• There must be a statement for proposing the nominee.
• The statement must be no longer than 200 words. If necessary, the Flag Officers may wish to discuss the nomination with the proposers to further understand the proposal.
• The proposal must be sent by email to our General Manager, Mark, headed “Lilla” Proposal: genmgr@pooleyc.co.uk
• Closing date for proposals is 28th February 2021.

We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Month	19:00 (W) 20:00 (S) H, B & C*	17:00 Y & H*	18:00 (W) 18:30 (S) Social*	19:30 (W) 20:00 (S) Sailing*	19:30 (W) 20:00 (S) General**	19:00 Mem. *	19:00 IT*
Jan	11	11	11	11	FORUM-26 25	13	12
Feb	8	8	8	8	22	17	9
Mar	8	8	8	8	AGM-20 29	17	9
Apr***	12	12	12	12	26	14	13
May	10	10	11	10	24	12	11
Jun	7	7	7	7	28	16	8
Jul	5	5	5	5	26	14	6
Aug	No	Committee	Meetings	In	August	#	#
Sept	6	6	6	6	27	15	7
Oct****	4	4	4	4	25	13	5
Nov	8	8	8	8	29	17	9
Dec	6	6	6	6	20	15	7

* Meeting Times/Days may change please see agenda when sent out.

** Flag Officers meeting will be held thirty minutes prior to General Committee meeting.

Bank Holidays: 1 Jan; 2 Apr & 5 Apr; 3 May & 31 May; 2 Aug & 30 Aug; 25 Dec & 26 Dec.

British Summer Time Begins: 28th March / Ends: 31st October
*** Meetings start as per Summer times. **** Meetings start as per Winter times

Welcome to the 2021 Club Forum

Thank you for zooming into this important Club Event:

First off….a THANK YOU to the vast majority of members that have supported all the bulletins of dos and donts that have been issued over the last 11 months, necessitated by the Covid pandemic…it seems like a life time….As you can imagine, the Covid Group and your General Committee took no pleasure at all in having to put in place such draconian measures.

Whist in thank you mode, the hours put in by the Covid Group and other committees over the last year has been fantastic and we members do owe a big vote of thanks to those members for the all the time put in, also to our great band of Night Watch Team Member Volunteers. Thank you to our team of staff colleagues for all their efforts during the last year.

Past Commodores briefed me by saying “Being Commodore is easy peasy, just don’t drink too much at the round of Cocktail Parties you and Pat will attend….” Well, the first year has turned out slightly different than that, not so easy peasy and not a cocktail party in sight!

But let us hope that we may be beginning to turn the corner with this retched virus and we can, just may be, start to see our lives return to some form of new normality and the our Club can fire up again in the not too distant future.

So, now to the Club Forum:

Those member new to the forum process…..It is held at this time of year to give you, the members, the opportunity to ask questions to the panel.

Tonight we have Adam Deary, Vice Commodore Yard & Haven, Tracey Lee, Rear Commodore Sailing & On The Water Activities, Simon Philbrick, Rear Commodore House, Bar & Catering, Kate Mellor, Honorary Treasurer, Tim Edom, Chair of the Membership Sub Committee and Mark Fulton, General Manager.

Some questions have been submitted already and thank you for those.

There will be an opportunity for you to submit your questions live via the zoom chat box and this evening’s Zoom Administrator, Kate Macgregor, will help us through the zoom process. Lorna Whitehead is also assisting with the handling of the questions.

To start….The Flag Officers will each speak for a few minutes on their respective areas of responsibility and interest within the Club; looking at the recent past and turning to look towards the future.

We can learn from the former and work on the later. We will do our upmost to answer the questions as fully as possible during the Forum. If we need to research to give the answer, we will get back to however raised the question, after the Forum.

As in previous Forums, we do not keep minutes of the Forum, by Mark does keep notes so that we can capture these and raise them at General Committee for consideration or / and review.

Our Annual General Meeting is approaching:

I am very mindful that our AGM lead-in is almost upon us. I am sure that in recent years, as a result of the Forum, some members have decided to put in a proposition to the AGM for the membership to consider a Rule or Policy change. Will this year see the same?

Additionally, you may feel the time is right for you to consider standing for General Committee and / or one of the Flag and Officer positions. All Officers and Flag Officers have to be voted in annually.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my years on General Committee and the various volunteering jobs I have undertaken, and if you feel the time is right for you to stand, why not put your name forward?

Finally:

I have been proud and pleased to have been elected as your Commodore and I know that our Club is one of the best around. When asked, especially by prospective members, why I feel that; it just seems to work so well with all the various classes, events, members, the volunteering, fantastic club house, our team of staff colleagues and great access to one of the best stretches of water anywhere….

Whilst being your Commodore, I will do my utmost to ensure that the objects and traditions of our great Club are protected and nurtured and we will journey into the future with confidence.

Now to over to our Flag Officers….