Welcome to another season at the RFYC!  The Club is privileged to have a superb 250-year old building with a fantastic view overFindhorn Bay and an outstanding sailing area.  The Club’s future looked rather bleak only a fewyears ago and while we are not out of the wood yet there have been improvements in the Club’strading income in the last couple of years.   Membership level is the key to the Club’s future and Iwould ask that we all remember that we - as members  - are the mainstay of the membershipdrive, so please encourage people to come along and join. Start with your own family! 

We aim to be a very family-orientated club and work hard to provide both on-water andclubhouse-based facilities and social events to suit. A recent reorganisation and redecorationnow provides a kids’ play room and family lounge and this year we will develop further our Youth Sailing Section. 

For our very active dinghy section we have organised racing every weekend and on manyweekdays throughout the season.  There are additional events almost every day during theschool holidays. 

Recognising the increased number of small cruisers in the Club, this year club cruiser racinghas been reinstated and there will be a cruiser start every time that there is a Firth race fordinghies. You don’t have to race hard, just come and sail round the course to soak up theatmosphere. There are also a couple of rallies/picnics in the bay and an Old Bar overnight event. 

We are an RYA-recognised training centre and run a variety of training courses from time totime.  Findhorn Marina are the best people for basic training but we have a wealth of experienceamongst our members and are concentrating more on coaching and development - particularlydinghy racing, race management and power/rescue/safety boat. 

Catering is “under new management” this year and I expect to see further development inthe service that we are offered.  The Dining Room has had a makeover and bar meals areavailable at weekends (more often during the peak season).  Youngsters are welcome in the bararea for meals until 8pm - accompanied by an adult, of course.  We are holding a wide range ofsocials, a few of them formal but most more casual:  casino nights, supper dances, discos, musicnights, fancy dress, games nights, quiz nights and much more.  If there are any particular eventsyou would like to see, just let us know and we will see what we can do. 

The Café and Coffee Shop, which is open to the public, will operate throughout the season.This means that late breakfasts, light meals and snacks etc will be available to members duringthe day as well.

Over the years the club has been the hub of many people’s social lives and we now haveseveral families into their 4th generation. We are, however, a volunteer club.  We do have a fulltime steward to look after our clubhouse, bar and catering but all other activities are provided byvolunteers, from race management through to minor repairs and maintenance. DO TAKE PART.If you see a job that needs doing, do it. If you own a lawnmower and the tide is unsuitable forsailing feel free to mow the club lawn! If you want something (eg a sail) ask anyone who isaround. There is no ‘us and them’ – just ‘us’; we would welcome any support that you are able tooffer – supporting us, supporting you. 

I look forward to seeing you on the water, or with a beer in hand