Hearing first hand from HPOs at annual dinner
Anne Le Verrier-Bizzey, HPO Liaison organised and presided over this extremely popular annual event, at which our yacht club's HPOs and members gather together to meet and greet as many as possible. It is the time when we hear first hand about their areas and any events.
The Commodore, David Roache, asked Mr Martin Sandford, Acting Secretary General of the Mission to Seafarers to say Grace at the start of the meal and we were all delighted by these appropriate words:
'There are ships of wood and ships of steel
The ships that sail the sea
But the finest ships are friendships
And may that ever be.
God of goodness, bless our food
Keep us in a pleasant mood.
Bless the chef and all who serve us,
From indigestion, Lord preserve us. Amen'
The Commodore presented two new HPOs with their flags and certificates. Angus Annan HPO Loch Lomond, sailing with a difference on a beautiful inland Scottish loch where all members will be assured of a warm welcome and Ronan Beirne, member of The National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin who promised a complimentary meal to the first LSC member to visit Dun Laoghaire, he also advised visitors to ignore the official marina reception boat and to turn to port to visit the yacht club there with whom we now have reciprocal arrangements.
After dinner, Anne became the roving reporter, taking the mike around the tables to all HPOs present. Norman Hummerstone spoke on behalf of Jean Plancke, HPO Calais, about that Very English French town with interesting access into the marina and the forthcoming Calais Rally.
Charles Harrigan, HPO Largs on the coast just south of Glasgow told us of the famous Fife yachts formerly built there still with very active sailing and motor boat activities.
Stuart Aikman, HPO Fethiye, said he had been credited with more than he deserved regarding the Turkey rally, he had met many more members and friends and Anne & Ian Malcolm, Rally organisers wished to thank Stuart and his family for all their help and assistance. Three members from Budget Sailing Gocek were Anne’s guests at the dinner.
Hasan Kacmaz, HPO Kemer, now covers most of Turkey and even up around the Black Sea. He reported that Turks now run a number of Greek marinas so Turkey will have far more contact with club members even though so few travel as far east as his homeland.
From Ireland we were delighted to welcome Gaby and Tim Ryan, Waterford, together with their sons. Tim spoke about chartering boats and organising a rally up the many rivers that are available.
We also heard that LSC members had made contact with Dimitri Koutsodontis, Corfu, Simon Clark, San Diego and Egil Kolbeison, Iceland. Anne had received messages for fair winds and season greetings from the following:
Terry Pond - Leigh on Sea, Stephen Tyler - New Jersey USA, Reg Potter - Trinidad, Darryl Currie - Florida and Steve Burrett - Auckland New Zealand, who mentioned that proudly flying his LSC burgee while acting as Course Marshall during the Louis Vuitton Regatta and was hailed by a past Commodore
Further good news is that there are even more new HPOs.
Jane Harrison - St Maarten, Caribbean,
David Mitchison LSC member and this year, Commodore of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club - Guernsey,
Jerome Renier - L'Aber Wrac’h, Brittany where he is harbour master and hopes to meet many LSC members.
Anne also told us that we have lost two HPOs - our longtime friend and HPO in Annapolis, Andrew Barrett, is stepping down but has suggested that fellow Corinthian, Larry Blount should replace him. Dr John Dunlop - Belfast and Strangford Lough after serving as HPO for 27 years is retiring aged 85!
Other HPOs present at the dinner were Tom Davey - River Crouch and Corfu with gentle humour, Ulla Kite – Monaco with local information, Tony Ratcliffe - River Deben with information regarding the Deben Bar, Ewen Summers, Eastbourne, Don Street - Caribbean now retired and living in Eire.
Anne finished the evening thanking all for coming and wished them fair sailing and good journeys home.
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