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Commodore Report

DON JOHNSTON Commodore The last two months have been extremely busy at the Club. For me, this past year has been somewhat uncertain and, at times, a little volatile, which has made planning challenging. However, thanks to a supportive General Committee (GenCom), I believe we have ticked quite a few boxes along the way. We will see whether you agree at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

During the year, the Club managed to move from a Type B food and beverage facility to a Type C facility with the ability to operate Type D spaces, such as we did at 24 Hour Dinghy Charity Race. The staff were instrumental in achieving this by being fully vaccinated.

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We have also appointed a new General Manager, following the retirement of Rene Verhulst. Following an exhaustive five-stage recruitment and screening process, including independent and in-house interviews conducted in both English and Cantonese for all candidates, Paul Arkwright was selected as the strongest candidate for the role. Based on the feedback to date, Paul is a popular choice, and I am sure that he will continue to work for the Club in the same diligent and effective manner that he has done as Vice Commodore.

Some of you may recall a town hall meeting of members in 2019 to review changes to the Articles of Association. We explained a need to bring the Club’s Articles into line with the new Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622 gazetted in March 2014) and better align them with the Club’s current objectives and practices. As the vast majority of the changes were driven by the Companies Ordinance, we sought a policy statement of support from the Home Affairs Bureau followed by the approval of the Director of Lands (as required by the Club’s Private Recreational Lease). We now have this, and we are now seeking approval from the Company Registry. After this, we will conduct another members’ forum to update everyone and refresh memories about the key changes and why they are necessary. After that, we will call a General Meeting of members to seek your approval, which will probably happen in April or May 2022.

過去的兩個月非常忙碌。回望過去一年裡,本會面臨不少挑戰。幸得執行委員會的支 持,我們已合力解決了不少難題,年度股東大會上將一一闡述。

在這一年裡,本會餐廳成功從B類轉換成C類餐飲處所,部份區域甚至能以D類模式運 作,就如白沙灣遊艇會24小時慈善小艇賽的活動。是次活動的工作人員接種疫苗率為 百分百,因此能以D類模式舉行是次24小時慈善小艇賽。

另外,在人事方面,在Rene Verhulst 從本會的總經理一職卸任之後,本會需物色合適 人選填補職缺。經過五個階段的招聘和篩選過程,與所有候選人進行單獨面試和小 組面試,面試以英文和廣東話進行,Paul Arkwright被視為該職位的最強候選人。綜合 各方面因素,本會將任命Paul擔任本會總經理一職,相信他將繼續秉持以往勤奮、高 效的工作態度為本會服務。

或許一部分人還記得2019年的全民會議,檢視修訂後的本會章程。香港特區政府 於2014年3月,在憲報刊登的新《公司條例》(第622章),本會的公司章程亦需隨 之修訂,確保與新條例一致。大部分的修訂因應新《公司條例》而作出,我們已向 民政事務局尋求支持政策聲明(本會已取得該聲明),然後又向地政總署署長尋 求批准。在此之後,我們將舉辦另一個會員論壇,再次向會員介紹新章程裡的修 訂,然後召集會員大會,徵求會員承認新章程一事的同意,論壇估計在2022年4月 或5月召開。

We are just adjusting back from what will surely be seen as the best 24 Hour Dinghy Charity Race in the Club’s 19-year history. There are some impressive statistics: no injuries or accidents, an event fully compliant with pandemic precautions, 600 sailors registered, over 300 volunteers, and it looks likely that we will raise a near-record sum for charity to boot. This was a truly magnificent event, and for me was topped off by having the best big band in Hong Kong on Saturday evening and a prize-giving on Sunday. A hearty thank you to all involved in the event.

There is a lot of ‘back office’ activity right now: updated and enhanced staff contracts and staff handbooks are being rolled out. Solar panels have been approved for installation on the clubhouse, as has a new crane to replace the 27-year-old green Kobelco crane we currently use. The passenger lift and the refurbishment plans for the Garden Bar are effectively through the regulatory process, and we have also agreed to refurbish the Club’s washrooms and toilets. We also now have Town Planning Board approval to replace the garden bar tent with a permanent structure.

The General Committee has carried on with the twin goals of good corporate governance and continuous improvement. We see many opportunities for improvement but four stand out:

• In the last 20 years, the Club has doubled its membership, and in the last ten years, the Club has quadrupled its sail training activities. Our infrastructure development has been outstripped, and our facilities are partly offsite, overcrowded and, in many instances, temporary. While there have been many achievements in the last four years, we are still barely halfway there; patience and tenacity will get us to the end of this journey. • We are constantly working on ways to improve our sail training for all and inclusive of both sailors wanting to race and those who prefer to sail recreationally. Part of this is the pathway for elite sailors, including closer cooperation with the Hong Kong Sailing Federation and the Hong Kong Sports Institute. • A staff engagement survey yielded an 88% response rate from our full-time employees. The survey identified areas where we are doing well and, more importantly, highlighted areas requiring improvements to become an employer of choice. Some improvements are easy and quick, but others will require more time and involve changes in behaviour, systems and facilities. • Occupational health, safety and sustainability are all opportunities for improvement, and both have been the focus of recent GenCom decisions to improve the Club’s safety and sustainability performance as well as raise the awareness of these issues among staff and members.

The Club continues to have enthusiastic and dedicated staff, and I express my gratitude to them all. To give effect to our dreams, we have an army of volunteers from our membership, treasured sponsors and hardworking members of sub-committees. Please accept my thanks for your support and hard work and my congratulations on all your achievements. This year’s General Committee has done an amazing job, despite the difficulties in coping with pandemic restrictions. It has continued to be a pleasure working with you.

As we head into the festive season, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a great 2022!

本會最近舉辦了19年歷史以來最成功的24小時慈善小艇賽。是次比賽沒有人員受傷或事故記錄,活動前後依循防疫措施展開。這次盛大的活動共600 名水手報名,300多名義工參與。我們當天所籌集慈善捐款極有可能是歷來最多的一次。那一個週六晚上,有全香港屈指一流的樂隊來表演,週日的頒 獎典禮亦十分精彩難忘。在此,衷心感謝所有出席是次活動的人士。

執行委員會堅持以良好企業管治和持續改進的雙指標管理本會。我們觀察到本會有許多地方需要改進,以下四方面尤為重要:

• 在過去的20年裡,本會的會員人數增長一倍;在過去10年裡,本會的帆船訓練活動數量增加了四倍。然而基礎設施不盡完善;部份設施須安置於 非會所的場地,有時設施出現過度擁擠的情況,也有不少設施屬於暫時使用性質;本會的系統也已經過時。雖然本會在過去四年取得了許多成 就,但仍未到達目標的一半。相信只要我們心懷信念和耐性,總有一日能達到終點。 • 本會一直致力為參與帆船比賽,或以帆船作爲優閒活動的所有人提供發展途徑。其中包括與香港帆船總會和香港體育學院加强合作,訓練精英帆 船運動員。 • 員工問卷調查獲得88%的回覆率。該調查顯示本會做得好的領域,更重要的是,本會也看到需要改進的領域,才能成為首選雇主。有些改進可快 捷落實;但有些則需要更多的時間,來改變員工行為、系統和設施。 • 職業健康、安全和可持續發展都是可進一步改善的方面,亦是近期執行委員會決策的重點,並進一步提高工作人員和會員對以上範疇的認識。

本會擁有敬業、盡責的員工,同時亦有大批會員義工、贊助商及小組委員會成員為本會的夢想付出努力。在此,我衷心感謝他們對本會的支持。儘 管現時疫情對我們的工作產生許多影響,今屆的執行委員會還是順利並出色地完成工作。我感到非常榮幸能夠繼續與各位合作並一起努力,為本 會共創佳績。

聖誕佳節即將到來,在此祝大家聖誕快樂,2022年事事如意!

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