Draycote Water Sailing Club's 50th Birthday Party
by Jeremy Atkins 11 Apr 2019 07:22 BST
6 April 2019
Draycote Water Sailing Club held its 50th birthday party on Saturday 6th April with 146 past and present members in attendance. These included 9 of the 14 Club Commodores who are still alive and gold medallist Matt Gotrel who is one of a select group of people who were third generation members of the Club his grandparents and parents having also been members.
The guests were greeted on arrival by the current Commodore, Jeremy Atkins, and Club Manager, Dave Rowe, and then mingled, meeting old friends they hadn't seen for many years. On display was a memory board summarising the Club's first 50 years and a slide show of some of the characters who had been members of the Club. These sparked many happy memories and reminiscences.
After food was served, the Commodore began the formal proceedings, giving a brief state of the nation address and then playing a personal video message to the Club from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who is also celebrating a 50th anniversary this year having completed the Golden Globe Race just weeks before the Club held its first race in 1969.
Matt Gotrel then talked about his early days sailing at the Club, moving on to racing internationally in the 29er and then being part of the 49er squad. He switched to rowing, culminating in winning a gold medal at the Rio Olympics. His comments about the differences between rowers and sailors were enlightening. He is now back sailing in the GBR team in the professional Sail GP series.
The formal part of the evening was concluded by the President, Harry Sayers, talking about the founding of the Club and then cutting the birthday cake with his wife Annette.
The informal part of the evening continued for many hours, but most were on the startline the next morning!
The Club's 50th anniversary celebrations continue, with the next major event being the Midland Championships a free-to-enter event on Saturday 22nd June with entries welcome from Club members and members of RYA Affiliated Clubs in the Midlands Area, plus Grafham Water Sailing Club. There will be another party that evening, and visitors will be able to participate in Club racing the following day, again free of charge. Entries can be made here.