From the Quarterdeck — A report from Rear Commodore, Mark Sigglekow

It is a privilege to write as the DYC’s new Rear Commodore. At the recent AGM our outgoing president Bill Jaques highlighted that it was the 99th AGM of the Devonport Yacht Club, with a club history spanning 117 years. The traditions of the club have served it well and I’m sure contributed towards our stable membership.

As a member and regular Friday-nighter for some twenty years it has always been humbling to interact with those that have vastly more significant sailing exploits under their belt than myself. Many had blue water experience in an era before GPS, VHF and weather forecasting. 

Back in the 2010s I worked initially with Commodore David Stone and then Commodores Sue Johnson and John Ford for the clubhouse redevelopment. The Club enjoys a great location and tenure that has allowed us to make the best out of the clubhouse. This process was rewarding and a good insight into the club and it’s workings. At a recent meeting with Yachting New Zealand, surprise was expressed at the number of volunteers that we have running the club. May this long continue. (They had expected some paid persons!)

My sailing history: I learnt to sail as a Wairau Sea Scout operating out of Milford estuary and went on to crew on a friend’s 24 foot Mullet boat. I joined Milford Cruising Club as a teenager and raced my OK dinghy off Castor Bay. As a young man I had a friend (also a current club member) with a Cavalier 32 and we raced that for quite a number of years. Later, twenty two years ago, I purchased Kudos, a Townson 34. The sight of thirty odd dinghies converging on a lovely beach at the back of Motutapu with the occupants having a lot of fun at a BBQ was found to be DYC. That sealed the deal and I joined the club shortly after. At the time I was the scout leader for Calliope Sea Scout Group adjacent to the club. 

On purchasing Kudos I thought I should scrub up on seamanship so did the Coastguard Coastal Skipper course (now has a different name). Bill

Jaques was the tutor and later when he was Sailing Master I was on his Sailing Committee. Again, humbled by the maritime experience of our members. This was a time when we still used charts, not Navionics and Bill’s signature was on the charts! (from his navy hydrographer days).

I really enjoy sailing our club programme on the inner gulf and confess that I have no plans to extend this to blue water sailing. The crew seem to enjoy it as well and have become long termers, some joining the club. Long may we sail together.

The new committee (with very few changes) are getting into it…... Included in current focus are an improved membership database and completing the activity risk assessments for our Health and Safety Policy. The YNZ 3-star Clean Club Rating recognising the club’s leadership in environmental procedures is something we should all be proud of, the first boating club in NZ to be certified. 

Extending member participation in nonclubhouse events is something I wish to encourage. We are really blessed with idyllic spots for the evening barbecues on our sailing programme and a great camaraderie on the beach. It would be great to welcome more boat owners to these, no need to be in the race.

The boating season is approaching fast and we look forward to the summer. Kudos is ready. We are going out for a warm up on a Townson Rally 1 October with similar boats. A rally is supposed to be non-competitive however we only know one way to sail! However, the weather packed up so chalk up one for the weather for our first event of the season.

All the best with your boating and club socialising.