The AGM of the Club will be on Tuesday 9 March and the Annual Report of the Club for 2008/9 has been published and is available to read online.

The reports of Club officers and financial accounts can be downloaded in PDF format. Here are some highlights of what you can read in the officers' reports.

Commodore's report

  • Keith Irons outlines progress on resolving the financial problems of the Club and new initiatives including streamlining administration and reducing costs. Improvements in communications with members include the upgrading of the website (this one!) and upgrading office computer systems.
  • The commodore discusses the financial situation and options that are being explored to resolve it, with details about the voluntary levy and new membership categories.
  • He ends with thanks to various volunteers after expressing regret at the lowering of the dress code, particularly at lunchtimes.

Vice Commodore South Coast report

  • David Roache reviews a successful season on the water with rallies in the Solent and beyond. His other responsibility is for the premises and he expounds the downturn in bookings that has meant room hire revenue was 39 per cent below last year, although cabin bookings held up well and only dropped by 13 per cent.

Vice Commodore East Coast report

  • Pat Dittner reports on rallies to Brightlingsea, Calais, Suffolk and club participation in the Thames Festival and Thames Barge racing. Pat also helms the Social Committee and reviews the successful lecture series and various other social events.

Rear Commodore Sail and Power

  • Robin Whaite gives the highs and lows of last year's rally programme, thanks HPO officer Chris Nicholson and librarian Debbie Wheeler for their sterling work along with the skippers and crews team.

Rear Commodore Training

  • J Richard Taylor gives the stats on numbers of people completing training courses last year; and says thank you to all those who have contributed to teaching, participating and supporting the training programme.

Rear Commodore Membership

  • Kate Newman outlines the membership figures and the plan to improve recruitment and retention in the future.

Treasurer's report

  • Don Shackley gives an overview of the Club's financial picture and reveals that it's not as bad as he feared it would be at the start of the summer, with an increase in room bookings for Christmas 2009. The catering side turned in a small profit this year, when in years past and an easier economic climate, the Club made losses on its catering contract.

To download the reports of the Club officers click here.

To download the financial accounts click here.

What's your view? Make a comment on the Club's latest figures and Annual Report by clicking the 'Add new comment' button below this story.