Vice Commodore’s Corner

Now is an unusually busy time for our small band of volunteers looking after the interests of our Association of Divisions.

Amongst other things, Maurice Gates’ bequest is contributing to the purchase of two yachts with other purchases in the pipeline; two of our Divisions are transitioning from unincorporated bodies to incorporated bodies (Companies Limited by Guarantee) with advantages for leases, ownership and trustees; the CSSC has proposed to change the agreement we have between CSSC and CSSA for ownership and operation of our yachts. I’ve heard it said that the CSSA is too slow. But we are all CSSA? Perhaps what is meant is that the General Committee is too slow, or the Management Group, or I am too slow? Or that we don’t have enough volunteers? Or that we don’t take sufficient account of others’ commitments? It is the nature of the Association that we all work to consistent rules to mutual benefit. Association-wide review of a proposal inevitably takes time. It is true that with projects in most of our Divisions requiring General Committee decisions and endorsement by our parent body, the CSSC, the Management Group and General Committee can become bottle necks. The CSSA General Committee is the sailors’ conduit to the CSSC, and comprises officers of the Association and representatives of each Division. The Flag officers of the Association comprise a Management Group which assures progress of Association business without absorbing volunteer time unnecessarily. The CSSC is always appreciative of the CSSA providing well thought out proposals requiring a minimum of CSSC officer processing time. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your views and ambitions between our Association AGM and other events at Rutland Sailing

Club, LE15 8HJ, on Saturday 23rd (and, for some, Sunday 24th) April 2022. We are all here to help each other go sailing. Fair winds for an enjoyable coming season, Paul VC