The prestigious Royal Southern Yacht Club is proud to present its newly elected Commodore, David Mead. He has vowed to ‘make use of the legacy that the highly successful 175 celebrations this year leaves astern of us.’
Commodore David Mead - Photo by Micheal Austen
David Mead was elected Commodore at the Hamble-based Club’s recently held AGM, replacing Mark Inkster who had completed his two year tenure as Commodore during what has arguably been the Club’s busiest two years in its 175 year history.
The new Vice Commodore is Tim Robinson, previously Rear Commodore House, and Karen Henderson-Williams has been elected Rear Commodore Sailing, whilst John Roberts has been elected Rear Commodore House.
David Mead has been a member of the Club since 1994, most recently serving as its Vice Commodore and Chairman of the Executive Committee. He sat on the Sailing Committee for two years and was Rear Commodore Sailing from 2004-2006. Mead also has a passion for motorboats and spent ten years powerboat racing in the 1960s and 70s. He has spent many years as Chairman of the Club’s Motorboat Committee so has a thorough, all embracing view of how he wants to see the Club grow in both yachting and motor boating arenas.
A key part of David Mead’s early remit as Commodore will be to help steer through some exciting plans for the development of the ‘Prince Philip Yacht Haven’ for which the Club hopes to obtain planning approval in the early part of 2013.
This 175th Anniversary year and all the activities associated with it has seen the Royal Southern Yacht Club become more publicly recognised as one of the premier yacht clubs in the world. Commodore Mead has said that it is his intention to continue the successful development of the Club’s yacht racing activities closer to home, working with other local clubs and classes to help maintain the Club’s profile regionally and nationally as well as internationally.
Huge talent (& a lot of hard work) is rewarded with America’s Cup GBR Youth Challenge selection for Andrew Sinclair.
Andrew Sinclair was recently awarded the Royal Southern's William Sparshatt-Worley Memorial Trophy for 2012, seen here being presented by Yvonne Curtis. Photo: Waterline Medi
Andrew Sinclair, aged 19, is a second generation Club member who has sailed with his parents since his very early years and he has already racked up some fantastic racing successes for a sailor of his age. Andy’s latest success potentially puts him on another level altogether.
Andy has recently been announced as having been selected for the GBR Youth Challenge for the America’s Cup GBR Youth Challenge, campaigning for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup 2013. This entry as an individual team is currently being assessed by the America’s Cup Race Management for a place at the trials during February in San Francisco.
Andy is a member of the Royal Southern Academy and was recently on the Academy Committee, is helped with funding by the Royal Southern Trust, and is already a World Champion catamaran helmsman. The Club also believes him to be the youngest ever member of RORC.
Meanwhile, Andy isn’t resting on his laurels but is racing hard in the ARC Racing Division on board the Grand Soleil 43 Quokka8 owned, campaigned and skippered by Royal Southern member Peter Rutter and as the Club goes to press lying in 12th place with a little over 1,000nm to go.
