This afternoon provided the first opportunity for the Flag Officers to meet formally face to face at the Clubhouse following several weeks of the Club being locked down, and for the first time in 162 years we have been unable to fly our flags from the Club mast. Unprecedented times indeed. While we share Member’s frustration in not being able to visit the Clubhouse the Flag Officers are pleased to report that Junior has done an absolutely magnificent job in not only securing the premises but also maintaining them with the generous assistance of several Club Members and we are grateful to Gail Dickerson for providing Junior with a lawn mower in order to “while away his time” and maintain the Club’s Ndongeni Lawns in the manner to which members have come to expect. Without the added wear and tear from the usual traffic the lawns are indeed looking splendid, and we are also able to report that the Club cat, affectionately known as Shed, is in good health looking fairly rotund and clearly keeping a good handle on the local rodent population. While the Flag Officers spent a great deal of time on developing a plan on how to navigate the Club through these difficult times we are at least now beginning to feel more comfortable that there is “light at the end of the tunnel” as the country begins to move towards level 3, notwithstanding the difficult times which lie ahead. We recognise that we are in unchartered waters and it is only likely that our normal operations and recreational sailing activities are only likely to commence again when the country eventually reaches lockdown level 1. In the meantime the Flag Officers are exploring every opportunity in order to make the Club’s facilities available to Members in line with the prevailing regulations and while ensuring the safety of our members and staff. Members will appreciate that this National Disaster has placed the Club in a most difficult situation, perhaps not seen since the 1940’s. The Club was in poor financial shape going into the national lockdown and regrettably we have been forced to furlough all our staff. This is indeed a most dreadful state of affairs as it has left all our loyal and longstanding staff and their families without a source of income. We appeal to Members to help us to ease the financial pain being felt by our staff by paying your accounts and membership subscriptions timeously so that we can retain our staff. Although the Club has benefited from the Unemployment Insurance Fund TERS scheme it has only provided about 14 days relief for some of our staff, a far cry from the 70 days of lost income to date. Members wishing to contribute to the Staff Welfare Fund are urged to donate generously and any funds deposited to the Club’s bank account with the reference “Staff Welfare” will be distributed to the staff in lieu of their usual earnings. While the regulations remain unclear we are certain that we will not be able to enjoy large social gatherings, sporting events and alcohol or food sales for the foreseeable future. In the interim the Flag Officers are exploring the possibility of making the Clubhouse and its facilities available to Members for the purpose of hosting business meetings especially as many small businesses have been forced to give up their business premises and offices. More details of this initiative will be provided by the General Committee in due course. Members will have read elsewhere that the Sailing Committee and Rear Commodore have been liaising with their compatriots at the Point Yacht Club with a view to forming a single committee to organise sailing events as soon as we are permitted back on the water. This initiative is to be embraced and we look forward to developing closer relations and cooperation with our friends at the Point Yacht Club as was the case during both the First and Second World Wars. There is no doubt that the current circumstances will require us to reinvent the way we live, work and play. It is perhaps again no better time and highly appropriate for us to quote, and indeed reflect on the remarks of the President of the International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICoYC), Andy Anderson past Commodore RNZYS, at the opening of the ICoYCWorld Forum hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 2015: “Clubs must evolve to maintain their relevance and position to keep pace with a constantly changing world. In a time of changing demographics, a changing regulatory environment and a more competitive arena for pastime activities, Clubs need to find creative ways to change as well, while preserving and leveraging tradition and recognising the historical lineage of each club. That need will require clubs to embrace change and create an environment relevant to new generations by seeking innovative ways of effecting evolution…. The challenge is on to look at how we do things and ask ourselves ‘is this the best way’?” While we all face our own personal challenges during these difficult times it is always comforting in times of need to be part of a larger family and the Royal Natal Yacht Club is privileged to be a founding member of the International Council of Yacht Clubs. Recently fellow member club, the San Francisco Yacht Club and Rear Commodore Christopher Lacey, no relation to our longstanding member, launched a worthy initiative and along with the Royal Cape Yacht Club we are proud to be part of the CG1 program which we believe underlines the Corinthian Spirit of our Club. Herewith the message from SFYC Rear Commodore Lacey: “Greetings from the San Francisco Yacht Club. I hope this email finds you all safe and healthy. Although the attached story was recently posted on the ICOYC website, I thought it might help to send directly to all of the member clubs to expedite this subtle but powerful message of Corinthian Spirit. Please join us in displaying “C” “G” over 1, which means “I will stand by to assist you”. During these very difficult times a sign of unity and strength offering help to our members and community at large can be delivered in the simplest of ways yet speak volumes to those in need. Currently, we are aware of 17 yacht clubs on 3 continents sharing this message to their members and communities. Below is a link to Sailing Illustrated’s TFE-Live Show #295. Our story starts around 22:45 and lasts until about 60:00. https://www.facebook.com/SailingIllustratedBlog/videos/694371554653791/ Stay healthy and safe and should you display CHARLIE – GOLF - ONE, please send us a photograph so we can recognize and thank you here in California!! Fair Winds and Following Seas,” For those members wondering the significance of CG1 you might be interested in the story: San Francisco Yacht Club to the Community: I Will Not Abandon You Accordingly the Flag Officers of the Royal Natal Yacht Club this afternoon hoisted CG1 from our ceremonial flag pole overlooking the Ndongeni Lawns and the Club, while in distress herself, remains on standby to assist during these difficult times.
Stay Safe Commodore Durban 27th May 2020
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AuthorThe Royal Natal Yacht Club is the oldest yacht and sports Club in Africa and the oldest yacht club in the southern hemisphere. Read our Newsletter to find out more! Archives
February 2020
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