Cruiser Class AGM 2025

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introduction

2. Apologies

3. Minutes of 2024 AGM and Matters Arising

4. Racing Review of 2025

5. Cruising Review of 2025

6. IRC Report

7. Volunteer Programme

8. Viking and Ribs

9. Membership summary

10. RYA Training Centre status and offerings

11. Club Boat leasing agreements

12. Cruiser Survey feedback and Racing Programme 2026

13. Main Sailing Events in 2026

14. Election of Class Captains�15. Volunteer Opportunities

16. Any Other Business

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Welcome and Introduction

• Welcome to the Cruiser Class AGM of 2025
• Ned Winter (Cruiser Class Captain)
• Paul Browning (Vice Cruiser Class Captain) (Membership secretary)
• John Morrison (Rear Commodore Sailing)
• Ray Capp (Cruising Coordinator)
• Jon Stow (Volunteer Coordinator)
• Please keep questions and comments relevant to the item being discussed

Apologies

• Apologies have been received from members unable to make it today

Phil Gray, Stephen Homan-Berry, David Lees, Tim McKinnon, David Summerhayes, Thomas Rees, Gary Owens, Mairi and Simon Kershaw, Rodger Trim, Charles Fielder, Martin Dickson, Gary and Heather Evans.

Minutes of 2024 AGM and Matters Arising

Racing Review of 2025

• Prize Giving Dinner @ Oliveto in March – was well received, good size venue and food.
• Very full racing programme with 91 races scheduled and only 8 cancelled due to the weather

12 different Race Series to enter�New Spring Evenings series in April (Monday & Thursday evenings) 19 boats participated.

2 Crew Races – 1 cancelled due to weather�10 individual Trophy races (7 completed)

YTC Keelboat Regatta�New Autumn Pursuit Race

• 44 club Cruisers have competed in at least one race in 2025
• Tony Bennett had a good turnout of 9 and was won by a Dinghy!
• Autumn Series remains most popular of Weekend Series’.
• Open Day date was changed to July – the calendar should consider this as a priority date in advance
• Monday and Thursday evening racing was well attended as usual
• Short handed series a success – 17 participating boats at least 7 in each race.
• 9 Trophy races with attendance ranging from 3 to 7 boats
• ‘End of Summer Regatta’ One day was cancelled due to the wind – 3 races still sailed.

Cruiser AGM 2025 - CRUISING REVIEW

Ray Capp, Cruising Coordinator

2025 season kicked off with a cruising talks & social evening

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Members talks on cruising experiences e.g. Brittany, West Country

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Rustlers Hitch - slip knot aid for single handers

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Cruising Trophies presented to the 2024 winners

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Chit chat in the bar

Cruising Talks & Social Evening

Cruiser AGM 2025 - CRUISING REVIEW

Ray Capp, Cruising Coordinator

WSC Cruising in Company

11 Cruises in Company planned in the programme, 2 cancelled

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8 boats on shakedown day cruise to Worbarrow Bay

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Solstice Cruise to Cherbourg attracted a record 14 boats

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6 boats made the trip for Swanage Carnival

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Other destinations were Dartmouth, Ringstead, Solent and another channel crossing to Cherbourg for Bastille Day

Cruiser AGM 2025 - CRUISING REVIEW

Ray Capp, Cruising Coordinator

Evening Social Cruises

Sail around the bay followed by cruising chat in the bar

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A taste of cruising to members (especially new) without boats to crew without the pressures of racing

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Sharing cruising experience of technical issues, ideas and plans

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8 Monday summer evenings, 4 cancelled

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22 boat outings (13 boats), 28 crew outings (21 people)

Cruiser AGM 2025 - CRUISING REVIEW

Ray Capp, Cruising Coordinator

Cruising Trophies

2 Cruising trophies - The Passage Cup & Meech Barometer

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2024 winners: The Wizard - South Brittany

Double Vision - Maiden Channel Crossing

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Nominations for 2025 winners by email please - by end November (presented at Cruiser Dinner or Cruising Talks Social Evening)

Cruiser AGM 2025 - CRUISING REVIEW

Ray Capp, Cruising Coordinator

A couple of reminders: Cruising Web Page

WSC Cruising Telegram Messenger Group

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2026 Season: More of the same ?

Ideas please !

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Any Questions ?

To Finish

IRC Rating Report (John Morrison)

46 IRC applicants processed (7 new)- many thanks to Helen Webb for all the work.

�Subsided by the club £4422  with approx £3000 returned as voluntary payments.

�Cruiser survey- 33 happy with IRC class splits, 10 abstain and 7 disagree

�IRC 2026 rule changes do not significantly affect club racing (advertising,  foot offset of largest headsail, lifeline declaration, age date and transom mods)

�Same IRC application process for 2026.

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Volunteer Report (Jon Stow)

Overview of 2025

• WSC is a volunteer run club, so we are heavily reliant on everyone to do their bit
• Good early response to fill volunteer slots at the beginning of the season
• Volunteer slots more difficult to fill later in the season
• All volunteer slots filled so far in 2025
• No racing cancelled due to lack of a race team
• WSC requires all members to perform two duties - 124 members fulfilled this requirement out of approximately 470 members (26%)
• 25 members do 10 or more race duties
• So far this season it hasn’t been necessary to allocate duties to members

Current Reward System Overview

• All members required to perform at least two race duties
• Points allocated to duties based on complexity and training required
• Membership fees can be discounted by £5 per point up to a maximum value of £100
• The first two duties are not counted towards this discount
• The financial cost to the club of running this reward scheme is between £4000 and £5000 per year
• The financial cost needs to be reduced

Ideas for changes to the current system

• Points awarded for tasks other than race duties
• Reduce the value of a volunteering point down from £5
• Remove the cash discount for volunteering entirely
• Volunteering points are taken into consideration when assigning moorings so these cannot be used elsewhere
• Allow members to exchange volunteering points for club merchandise
• Points could be used when reducing IRC payments
• Make sure that all volunteers are recognised properly - website news
• Amend the points awarded dependant on the amount of time and effort involved. RO and Safety Boat Driver points increased from 2 to 3
• Social events designed specifically to reward volunteers
• Free tea and coffee for volunteers on the day
• Snacks provided for the race team

Thank You!

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A huge thank you to all the volunteers that keep WSC going

• General Committee
• Sailing Sub Committee
• House and Social Teams
• Painters and Decorators
• Club Trainers
• General Maintenance
• Viking and RIB Maintenance
• WSC Open Day

• Trustees
• Mooring and Yard Team
• IT Sub Committee
• YOBs Helpers
• Cruising Evenings
• Mark Laying and Recovery
• Cruiser Lifting
• Galley and Bar Helpers

Viking and Ribs – Equipment report

• Season has gone well with the volunteers with few Viking slots unfilled - volunteers are mainly from Cruiser class so a big thank you.

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• Also to say that please could Viking drivers help the race team once anchored- I know many do, particularly as the race teams are increasingly very busy.
• Contact Dave Lees direct if anybody wants training - I generally do one to one sessions that take about 2 to 3 hours mainly on the water and concentrate on practical aspects. However, they will need to commit to driving minimum of 2 times per season to keep skills sharp.

Membership summary

Total Members: 402 Total Memberships: 279 Joint/Family Memberships: 91 (190 members)

Source: Stephen Homan-Berry

Membership summary

Source: Stephen Homan-Berry

Membership summary

Critical to keeping the new members who come along is a Mentor Process

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• Membership and IT are working together to create a tracking system within SCM
• We need as many new mentors as possible. Please let Membership Secretary know if you’re willing to help.
• We need crewing mentors as well as boat owners – please talk to your crew.
• We need owners willing to take new members – even though we don’t know their skill levels

RYA Training Centre – offerings and changes

WSC have extended its capabilities as an RYA Training Centre

• In addition to Day Skipper Theory courses and organizing First Aid Training the club can now run the following courses:

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RYA Dinghy scheme courses Including:�Adult levels 1-3,�Youth levels 1-4,�Start Racing�Sailing with spinnakers.��RYA Powerboat courses including:�RYA Powerboat level 2�RYA Safety boat

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Further courses as they are required will go out to tender to Local Sailing Schools

Club Boat leasing agreements (John Morrison)

• Trial to evaluate leasing to promote sailing and also establish a sailing pathway
• Aim to make it accessible, simple to use, fun, cost effective with an active racing programme (very important)
• 2 off SB20s available (1 on loan from class + 1 purchased by club) plus one privately owned
• Opportunity to use these over the winter period for a trial and familiarisation
• Recognised that greater promotion of these and Squibs required
• Create momentum to increase numbers on the water and then in the club

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Club Boat leasing agreements (John Morrison)

1. Dry sailed initially.

2. Options can be investigated to have on pontoons

3. Class boat to be available on short term with regular access

4. Purchased SB20 for use via syndicate model with 3-5 pers. over 3 years?

5. Non-profit making model

6. Annual lease fee with maintenance and repair responsible of leaseholders

7. Cost to include yard/mooring fees, racing insurance etc (estimate £900/annum)

8. Storage in yard over season with limited space for 3 over winter

9. Racing - mix of one design and also incorporation into IRC class

10. Dry sailed options can be looked at if successful (approx. 7k per unit)

11. Further requests welcome on a model that works for you!

Cruiser Class survey – results and further discussion

Question:

Weymouth Sailing Club intend to introduce a Race to Alderney and back in 2026. I would be interested in taking part.

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I would be interested in a race from Weymouth to Alderney on a Friday morning. Rest for a day in Alderney on the Saturday. Race from Alderney to Weymouth on the Sunday. - 21

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Not interested – 14

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On the fence about racing and would consider cruising in conjunction - 16

What is the right balance of race courses for you.

Racing includes many variables which dictate the course a Race officer might choose on any given day. In consideration of this and the difficult task a Race officer has to keep everyone happy, what is your preferred mindset Race Officer should adopt when determining courses for the Cruiser Class.

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1. Variety - change the course format and length of laps whenever possible and at Race officers discretion.

27 Votes

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2.  Predictability - keep course types the same for each race in a series, Race officer provided with instructions on course requirements.  ��16 Votes

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3. Balance - races to be predominantly one course type for a series with Race officers given outlined guidance for courses and some room to add variety.  

13 Votes

'Average Lap racing should be introduced for 'IRC All races' on a Monday evening series and for the 'IRC All short handed series'

Agree 20

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Disagree 12

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Abstain 18

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Comment from Phill Samways:

Discontinue having two races during evening races�These are better suited to weekend racing �There is not time for two proper races�It can be dangerous when other classes are racing their own race as happened this year with boats finishing when a second race is starting�It also makes everyone late in for supper�and does not help the bar or caterer when some go straight home because it is late

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Trophy Races have the lowest level of participation in Cruiser Class Racing racing, yet potentially you have the greatest reward!

Would you prefer trophy races to be:

1. Scheduled as they currently are on available Saturday's in between the Spring and Autumn Series, often corresponding with dinghy racing.  19 Votes

2. Scheduled on Sunday mornings as self managed races, freeing up more space for Saturday series to be extended where appropriate.  11 Votes

3. Scheduled on Pre-determined Sundays as integrated races within the Spring, Autumn, and Winter Series, with some of the traditional Trophy races remaining in tide appropriate weekends in the summer.

12 Votes

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Comment from Phil Samways:

All In Racing - Phil would like a trophy to be awarded for each class that participates�This was the case in previous years, but believe it was discontinued as if we recall correctly "it took too long to give out the trophies" when they used to be given out one trophy at a time�As trophy collection/award is now carried out in a different manner, an extra trophy will not make that much difference �It will also encourage more participants��

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Compliance to minimum safety equipment standards is a mandatory element of the WSC Sailing Instructions. I would not object to competitor crossing checking (peer to peer) taking place at random points throughout the season.��

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Agree

26 Votes

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Disagree�10 Votes

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Abstain 

13 Votes

'Average Lap racing should be introduced for 'IRC All races' on a Monday evening series and for the 'IRC All short handed series'

Agree 20

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Disagree 12

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Abstain 18

I am happy with the class split under IRC racing at WSC.��

IRC 3 – 8 boats entered at least 1 IRC 3 class race so far in 2025 – AVG 13.2 Races per boat

IRC 4 – 19 boats entered at least 1 IRC 4 class race so far in 2025 – AVG 13.7 Races per boat

IRC 5 – 14 boats entered at least 1 IRC 5 class race so far in 2025 – AVG 4.7 Races per boat

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Agree

33 Votes

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Disagree�7 Votes

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Abstain 

10 Votes

WSC End of Summer Regatta��

The WSC End of Summer Regatta has been held in September for a number of years, originally it was scheduled to be held at this time of year to capture boats returning from Dartmouth Regatta to provide them with a weekend's racing on the way home. However, in the last few years the regatta has not been open to non club entrants, largely due to the changed status of Yacht Clubs of Weymouth and the declining non WSC entries each year. The additional burden on volunteers, administration and marketing was deemed an unnecessary effort with limited reward.

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Happy to retain the Current dates of the WSC End of Summer Regatta

22 Votes

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Would like to consider a date change

18 Votes

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Would like to keep the event as a WSC members event�15 Votes

�Would like the event to be promoted more widely to attract outside boats

25 Votes

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2026 Sailing Programme (John Morrison)

• Programme being compiled over next 2 months will be driven from 2025 and also survey output (e.g short handed)
• Some key launch dates 21st, 22nd March, 4th and 5th April and 18th and 19th April. Sunday 5th Easter.
• WSC Regatta (possible open event) 12th and 13th September. To be joined by K7 nationals.
• Keelboat regatta with CCSC 18th and 19th July
• Cherbourg Solstice Cruise (race?) 18th/19th June.
• Youth Lark Nationals April or May 2026
• Squib Southerns aligned with Keelboat regatta date.
• Aim for destination races/cruise (Alderney and also offer from Poole]

Election of Class Captains

• Ned Winter would like to stay on as Cruiser Class Captain
• Paul Browning would like to stay on as Vice Captain

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Would anyone like to stand for either position?�

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Further Volunteer Opportunities

• Cruiser Class Trophy Coordinator – Vacant – please express your interest

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• Cruising Coordinator – Ray Capp will be stepping down in the next year and would be happy to talk though the role with anyone who might be keen to take over.

Any Other Business