Commodores News - November 2025

Published 14:51 on 14 Nov 2025

Autumn General Meeting 2025

Commodore's Report

Mr President, Flag Officers and Members, Good evening.

• Club Management

I will start my report by reflecting on the state of the Committee and Club Officers. The Articles of Association require that each year at the Autumn General Meeting there must be at least 2 vacancies on the committee, so that at least2 of the new committee are freshly elected. To enable this 2 members of last year's committee have, reluctantly, stood down. However this year no-one has come forward to be elected to the committee, so that once you have re-elected the committee one of their first actions will be to co-opt the 2 members who have stood down back onto the committee. Even then there will be one vacancy on the committee which I hope to fill as soon as possible after the AGM.

There are also a number of Club Officials and management positions which have been vacant for the last year. One of these is the Office of Club Secretary without which the club cannot function. I have had to take on the roles of both Commodore and Secretary, and it looks as if this state will continue for the next year. Fortunately, Eric Atkinson has continued to manage the club office, and Liz Grainger is our minutes secretary. I am very grateful to them both. If anyone feels willing and able to take on the role, or knows someone who is please let me know.

There are also a number of non-committee positions which are key to the running of the club. We are none of us getting any younger, and we need some succession planning. Out Membership Secretary, Dick Taylor, is looking for an assistant There is a steady stream of work through the year, which increases at Christmas when the annual membership payments are made.

We are also looking for: -

A member to co-ordinate social activities in the club;

A team to manage the Club IT, including the Wi-Fi and the CCTV cameras. The cameras are beginning to fail, mainly due to the sea air, and without maintenance we may have to close down the system.

Perhaps you could reach out and pass on the message that Langstone Sailing Club really does need your help if it is to continue to thrive.

• Car Parking

Moving away from club management, you may have noticedNo Parking signs over the road. The land south of the Ship Inn belongs to Hampshire County Council, and until recently was leased to Havant Borough Council as Public Open Space. It has now been leased to Fullers (Owners of the Ship Inn), who are restricting parking to customers of the Ship.

There is a concern that this might lead to an increase in unauthorised people parking in the club grounds. Our problem is identifying vehicles not belonging to or associated with members. Vehicle stickers are available from the bar, and we would ask members to display these on their vehicles, and to record registration numbers in your on-line profile on the web site. We don't have a problem at present providing the barriers continue to work, but we are keeping the situation underreview.

• Sea defences

Also concerning us is the planned works to strengthen the sea defences around the village. We are not inside the scope of the defences, but Coastal Partners, working for Havant BoroughCouncil are looking at using our land for access to a works compound immediately north of the club by the VenturiBuilding. Because of delays in the procurement process this will not affect us until Summer 2028, but we are in discussions with Coastal Partners.

• Membership renewals

Membership renewal notices will be sent out in the next couple of months. Our fees remain lower than many local clubs, and we try to keep it that way, but costs keep rising, and so to stay viable we have to increase fees in line with inflation, which this year means a 4% rise across the board.

• Langstone Harbour Plaques

For years it has been assumed that Harbour Plaques issued by Chichester Harbour allow us free use of Langstone Harbour, and vice versa. We are in discussion with the Harbour Masters regarding Harbour Dues. Both Harbour Masters recognise the unique position we are in with access to both harbours and they are trying to come to an agreement that does not impact on our ability to continue using both harbours without any cost implications on us. Having said that, if, like me, you keep your cruiser away from Langstone or Chichester Harbour, returning to Langstone for winter storage, you will be expected to pay daily harbour dues to Langstone Harbour during lift in and lift out.

• Lift out and the environment

There has been a significant change in the lift-out procedure this year, with cruisers being pressure washed on the slipway prior to entering the yard. This is a pilot scheme aimed in the long term, at disposing toxic antifoul in an environmentally sensitive way. This year we wanted to see if there was a way we could pressure wash all the boats on the slipway. Yes it did not meet the aim of preventing antifoul from returning to the sea, but next year the aim is to capture and treat the waste and dispose of it correctly. The team will meet in 2 weeks to review progress and plan the way forward. It is good to see the yard full of clean boats.

• Sailing and events

This year has seen the pontoon refurbished after 9 years of service. Many thanks to Ray and his team.

This year's Cruiser Programme consisted of 4 rallies, 2 x weekend rallies, a 6 day rally to Weymouth and a 3 day Solent rally to Beaulieu. Over the course of the season 35 boats and 74 members took part in the rallies, enjoying some challenging sailing and great weather.

I should also mention Malcolm Brent who sailed his Southerly 28, PENBIL, single handed around Britain. Well done, Malcolm.

The 2026 rally programme is already in the calendar, 4 events, sailing to Newport, Poole Harbour, Southampton and Bembridge.

Once again, a big thank you to all those who help in putting together these rallies and hosting the events.

On the dinghy front this summer was the hottest ever, we had reasonable turnout for racing but unfortunately most of the time a dinghy cruise was organised the weather was against us.

Cobnor did go ahead. Dinghy, cruiser, sailability and juniors getting together for a barbeque and camp, unfortunately because of the wind only 2 dinghies sailed. Thanks, Ethna for organising this again this year.

We also had a sail around Hayling Island on one tide. It's good to get out of the harbours and experience the harbour entrances and Hayling front in a dinghy! This year the wind was southeast so we sailed out of Chichester and into Langstone, a different way round to normal.

We had some good racing this year with up to 12 boats in some events, we always want more so please come and join in. Highlights of the year include aA new format for the Hudson Cup, the seamanship event. Everyone learnt a lot with the emphasis on seamanship, not who can sail the quickest.

The Regatta and Prentice Plate, Langstone won 5 out of the 6 races.

Bart Bash is usually very well attended but because it was a force 6 there were fewer competitors than most years. Most boats capsized at some point, well done to all those that ventured out.

Dave Weinstock ran 2 RYA 1 and 2 course this year which were well attended. We will be running 2 courses again next year, If you want to get trained look out for them in the calendar.

Junior week ran this year as normal with about 15 juniors enjoying a week of sailing.

Just in case you missed it, the club boat/canoe/SUP hire fee has now been reduced to £10. Under the guidance of Louise Gray our kayaks and paddleboards are becoming more organised. They are there to be used so hire a club boat and join in club events or just go sailing,

Thanks to all those who did sailing duties this year and to Ian Elkington for all the power boat familiarisation sessions. But we are short of race officers, There are plans for race officer courses in the clubhouse in the new year and on the water training next season. If you can help, please get in contact.

Next year's calendar is being planned at the moment, if you have ideas then please contact the Sailing Secretary Jane Noble or Rear Commodore sailing Mike Ford.

Prizegiving is on the 15th November, come along and celebrate the years sailing.

Off the water we have seen the continuation of Sunday Lunches, which have been very popular, and the resumption of Saturday Galleys for some of the year. Coffee mornings have resumed. Music and dance events have been very popular with Music Nights, and Jam and Open-mike sessions and modern jive lessons.

Clare has continued to organise environment-aware activities.We had a very successful litter pick. We had a few talks last winter and will be doing more talks this winter. Our bird aware walk was very successful and enjoyed by all and that we will be doing two more this winter one at Oyster Beds again and one at Farlington.

Also, on the environmental front, we had a few talks last winter and will be doing more talks this winter. That we managed to achieve Sailors of the Sea silver award for our regatta and are aiming for Gold next year.

Brian Radford

I cannot end my report without paying tribute to one member who has been a mainstay of the club for more years than most of us can remember. Brian Radord joined the club some 60 years ago. He became Commodore in 1976. At that timeHavant Council were trying to move us to Northney Marina, but Brian lobbied the council relentlessly and in January 1979 they agreed to our planning application for the new clubhouse enabling the club to grow into its current form. Since then Brian has served as President and Bar Chairman. His ongoing commitment to the running and development of the club is unmatched. This year he is stepping down from the role of President. However, his vast experience and knowledge of the running of the club make him indispensable, and the committee has appointed him to a new role as Honorary Life President.

Brian has asked for there to be no fuss or ceremony, but I do think he at least deserves a round of applause.