Thanks John for making time on the stand so easy, turn up and talk about Albacores - I have to agree that this was one of the better shows for a variety of reasons, sure we had a load of regular faces, and the I sailed with my dad comments that are always great to get, we do have a lot of nostalgia in the fleet I love it, but this year there was just not as many people at the show. So why was it better? Well from my point of view, I attended the RYA National Dinghy Forum; I will post a report in due course.
Then it was on to the stand and apart from a quick trip to the facilities it was pretty much non-stop, indeed thanks to Jeremy I even got a cup of coffee. Jean was busy taking subs after the inevitable “are you a member” question and they all seemed happy to stump up on the spot, I think maybe five paid whilst I was there. More than that people I have never met sounded genuinely happy to be sailing an Albacore. One couple said that their fleet had grown from seven to twelve over the winter and when it was seven they got five out regularly so the are looking for double figures, maybe an open meeting for the future!
Four O’clock came all to fast and the “Committee” members left Derek Simmonds looking after the stand. The meeting lasted till just after 5pm and I think it was very productive, thanks Jean for typing the minutes. The one major item on the agenda was the rules re-write into the closed format which is now the required format at both RYA and ISAF levels, given that the Committee was first given approval to do this at Torquay and at each AGM since I would like to say that Michael MacNamra and his various helpers have achieved what some said was impossible, thank you Michael for your efforts and diplomacy over the last four or five years, yes it’s been a long haul.
So hello new and old faces, more money in the pot, two good meetings, and if you want to know what other things went on at the show, ask someone else I was to busy being nostalgic!
Derek Gibbon
NAA Chairman
7176 Katsie Weightsie
