As another highly successful sailing season is coming to its end, the Royal Southern Yacht Club has once again given an excellent variety of silver and glassware upon its members and other winners at the Club’s annual Prizegiving Dinner on Saturday night, November 12.
Jeremy Robinson (right) receives an Honorary Membership to the Royal Southern Yacht Club from Commodore Mark Inkster. Photo: Mike Jones
The Commodore, Mark Inkster, was joined by Flag Officers and 175 guests in applauding the winners as they collected over 100 prizes handed out by Mrs Mandy Mead, supported by the evening’s organisers, Shira Robinson and Natalie Gray.
The evening’s highlights included the bestowing of an Honorary Membership to a very familiar name in yachting circles, Jeremy Robinson. Jeremy has raced a huge variety of yachts for over 25 years and has been a member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club since his very earliest sailing days in Optimist dinghies. His immense roll call of racing achievements, from his Oppie Championship wins to more recently achieving back-to-back Rolex Fastnet wins in 2009 and 2011 aboard Ran, together with Class wins in the Sydney Hobart and Middle Sea Race, has always commanded tremendous respect from his peers.
One of the Club’s most prestigious annual prizes, ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s Trophy’ is awarded on a revolving basis to a different division of the Club and in recognition of a special achievement each year. On Saturday night, the Trophy was presented by the Cruising Committee to Mike and Louise Dellar who sailed their Sigma 33 Vela around Great Britain. ‘We’re thrilled and honoured to be recognised in this way, especially as we enjoyed the experience so much,’ commented Mike Dellar after his wife was presented with this famous Trophy.
Some of the other major awards and their proud recipients, announced on Saturday, were:
The Commodore’s Cup
Donated by past Commodore John Beardsley to the Royal Southern Academy for outstanding achievement. In 2011, the Cup was presented to the Royal Southern Academy Match Racing Team of Andy Shaw, Ed Dyer and Ed Fitzgerald, who finished as runners-up at the ISAF Nations Cup European Championship in Poland.
The Lovell Bowl
Presented in 2011 for a member’s outstanding achievement in the Laser SB3 fleet, Mark Stokes.
The Westward Bound Cup
Presented for long distance racing to Dudley Stock – Odontoblast.
Morning Flight Trophy
Presented for outstanding performance in double handed racing to Noj and Chrissie White – X S Girl.
The Tony Davis Memorial Trophy
Awarded annually for outstanding achievement in offshore sailing and presented in 2011 to Festina Lente and Philip Meakins.
The Foster Trophy
Presented for outstanding performance in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race to Matt Glasgow – Elmarleen.
The Tanner Cruising Trophy
Presented by Maggie Widdop in memory of her parents and brother for special recognition of Cruising to Mark Jeffery – Watermark IV.
Lightfoot Trophy
Presented to a member of the Club’s Youth or Academy section who has shown a high level of sailing at external events and encouraged the younger sailors of the Club. Awarded to Alan Roberts.
William Sparshatt-Worley Memorial Trophy
Awarded in memory of Royal Southern Yacht Club member William Sparshatt Worley. In 2011 the Trophy has been awarded for a Club Member’s outstanding achievement in the Black Group at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week to Michael Bartholomew – Tokoloshe.
Rex King Trophy
Presented to the member who has competed in the most RSrnYC races. In 2011 it was Robbie & Lis Robinson – Hotrats, who also picked up a number of other prizes during the evening.
A very warm round of applause was given to Mike Rogers, who has served as Club Secretary for the past four years and has now left the post to take up teaching.
We also refer here to a fraction of the night’s honours that numbered in excess of 60 exquisite trophies and a hundred pieces of glassware being awarded to members who enjoy sail and motor cruising and sail and powerboat racing. However, in any Club you will also find an extraordinary band of stalwarts who give of their time, their expertise and their boats to support those who are out on the water enjoying their sport every weekend. These individuals were also highlighted and rewarded, from Committee Boat teams and Mark layers to Race teams and Protest Committee members.
