There was an outstanding turn out for the SCORA AGM and prize giving at the Royal Cork Yacht Club writes Claire Bateman. Representatives attended from all the South Coast clubs. The highly experienced executive committee under Commodore Derry Good had met prior to the meeting in a well known watering hole and had ironed out many of the issues involved.
On the agenda on Whitesail Denis Kiely decided that rather than opening the issue to the general body of the meeting at this particular time, he would discuss it with the individual clubs to reach a consensous.
On the subject of rating bands the Executive felt that as there was already a Grandfather Clause with regard to rating bands which would cover anomalies at Class Two level, if they raised the Class One upper limit for events with a large turnout this would sort out the problem at this time. The Treasurer, Michael Murphy, did point out that rating bands should be reconsidered at least on an annual basis.
After some question from the floor, the meeting concurred with the Executive’s suggestions and as well they approved the draft programme for 2010 that will include the Jim Donegan offshore series incorporating five races to include a race from Cork to Dun Laoghaire for the ICRA Nationals and a Gas Rigs Race.
Attention then turned to the final item on the agenda, the eagerly awaited prize giving. There was a glittering array of prizes on display and in the festive atmosphere of the club dining rooom it made for a wonderful occasion.
There were trophies and prizes galore. HM Yachts supplied the perpetual trophies and an amazing array of sailing apparel. In fact it was quite something to see recipients of multiple prizes from Hugh Mockler returning to their seats with their silverware peeping out of the tops of their wonderful holdalls also containing their other prizes. These were for the HM Yachts SCORA League.
It was then the turn of Des McWilliam of McWilliam One Sails to present the beautiful sextants and replicas which would proudly grace any sideboard. Noel Coleman of Coleman Blinds came on board with a magnificient trophy for Whitesail at Schull and the lucky recipient of this trophy was Andrew Lane. The SCORA executive had commisioned their usual very popular prizes of framed pictures of yachts from the year of sailing right through from March in Kinsale to November in Crosshaven and all this was topped off with delicious finger food from the Club restaurant. All in all, a highly successful and enjoyable conclusion to the SCORA year.
