01/09/2026
Hi KYC members
Ian Howarth, commodore here.
Next Sunday Sept 5 is the KYC working bee. I know this also happens to be Fathers Day but a couple of hours in the morning from 9.00 am should not impact the day’s festivities too much.
We need as many members as possible to get the club ready. The annual event is to prepare the club for the new season AND in particular the Pipe Opener series where nearly 30 boats have already registered. With the Derwents’ on the water we could easily have over 40 boats and crews looking to Kettering Yacht Club to provide the usual high standard of racing and entertainment.
There is a list of job including cleaning, weeding and tidying the garden beds and areas around the club, shovelling out the fire pits and mowing some grass as well as split some firewood to have in reserve.
A few hand and power tools are required to fix the lock on the storage shed and to hammer in a few nails on the deck area. Some painting on the outside of the club where we have removed the roller door is needed. We will supply the paint. Just need a couple of brushes and rollers.
On a separate note we held the AGM last week and we have a new committee under the leadership of myself as commodore.
Stepping up as vice commodore is David Radcliffe. You’ll see David on the water in his Mottle 33 during the summer season.
Rear commodore is the regular raffle winner, Jason Byrne who races in his boat Aprodite and the new treasurer is Lyn Boulton who many will know from sailing on Meltemi and who also regularly serves at the bar.
Rags Raymond, Jennifer Birch and Gus McKay representing the Derwent Association, round out the committee.
David Bradley is staying involved as the KYC principal representative with Australian Sailing for the Discover Sailing program which is proving to be a great success.
All these great people are dedicated to serving the club and deserve the total support of all members.
So please show that support firstly by turning up to the working bee and then supporting the rest of the club’s activities in the coming year.
Next most vital thing is the annual membership renewal. You will receive your renewal notice very shortly.
These need to be paid promptly and certainly before the start of twilight racing to help the club fund itself for the coming year. Membership of KYC is very cheap and we want to see all members at the club as often as possible.
This year close attention is being paid to the membership renewals and anyone sailing without renewing their membership or not holding a valid sailpass will be recorded as Did Not Race when results are tallied.
This is all about safety as no membership or sailpass means no insurance coverage, creating a liability issue for the club and the person concerned.
So To ensure safe racing and to ensure the club nd everyone participating is covered by appropriate insurance your membership fees and race entry fees must be paid prior to racing. Boats racing this year will also be required to sign on to the committee boat before the ten minute signal to confirm intention to race and the number of people on board.
Its simply about safety
Very important also is that every boat racing puts up their hand to run the bbq and to volunteer on the start boat at least once a season. If your boat misses a race for that duty you will be awarded average points so you are not penalised in any way.
Its your club and its all about volunteers.
Finally the pipe opener regatta o n Sept 18,19 and 20.
A legion of help will be required to set up the club and run the event. Before it starts we need to move all the boats from the storage and ramp area to access for food vans etc. The fire pits need to be moved, marquees erected on the balcony. We need a list of volunteers to cook BBQ bacon and egg rolls for breakfast on Saturday and to help Greg Hawthorne on the committee boat on Saturday and Sunday.
Cleaning up after the big party on Saturday night and dismantling the marquees will require extra hands as well. Lots of job so please don’t just leave it to the few regulars,
It’s your club, get involved.
Contact any committee member to put your hand up.
There is a great season looming. Lets enjoy.
