August Newsletter

Dear members

I hope this newsletter finds you all well and that you have enjoyed our truncated season thus far.

I’m glad to say that this year we have been able to make some away trips to the Scillies under COVID guidelines and that there are still a couple more to come as well as several bay sails, so if you have not been out yet this year it’s a great time to go with a lot of wildlife in the bay, so please book early with your trip skipper.

As you will see from the program released this week, we have set a memorial date for Peter May to be held on Sunday 19th September muster at 14.45 at the Albert pier Penzance by the sailing club. Peter was an outstanding supporter of the MBLA and is sorely missed so it would be fantastic if as many members as possible could be there to remember Peter.

Now that COVID rules have been relaxed we find ourselves looking at possible winter events. Although no firm plans have been put in place at present, we are hoping to resume the winter talks program and hopefully our annual dinner. However this can only be done with support from the members so I would ask you to contact me and give me your feedback as to whether you would or would not be happy to attend these types of functions.

Finally, I can advise that we are going to trial a monthly members social meeting.

As well as being a purely catch up with friends meeting it is aimed at helping new members integrate into the association and improve communication between the members, skippers, and the committee. I am hoping you will support this venture and it can become a fixture in our calendar throughout the year.

The first of these meetings will be on Wednesday November 10th at 7pm venue will be the Dock Inn, Quay street Penzance. I will send a reminder out nearer the date.

Happy sailing

James

James Walker

MBLA Chairperson

2021 AGM Chairman's Report

Chairman’s Report:

Dear Members,

As you will see from our treasurers and membership secretary’s reports, last year was particularly challenging due to COVID restrictions on our activities. However, our association battled through and we can look forward to a better tomorrow as Captain Tom would say.

The most important tasks during this difficult year were to keep sailing, keep HR in the best condition and look after the finances. So, I would like to thank all the skippers and mates and all the members that helped maintain HR and all the members who sailed and gave generous donations throughout the season.

I would also like to thank Len Newman who is stepping down from the committee this year, he has given us great service both as a trustee and Chairman and will be missed.

Sadly, last year we lost our good friend Peter May. Through Peter’s family MBLA was gifted £1230 in memory of Peter and I would like to thank them on behalf of us all. A memorial will be held for Peter as soon as circumstances permit where all members can pay their respects.

Some facts and figures about last years sailing: Number of Sails: 21. Number of Sailing Members: 37. Person with most sails: James Walker, 8 sails (7 as Mate).

Our AGM is a virtual one this year and I must encourage you all to vote when the link is sent out to you, please remember that you are only eligible to vote if you are a fully paid-up member, so if you have not done so yet please pay your £20 subscription.

If everything goes to plan, we will be sailing from May this year and looking to trips away from after July.

James Walker

Chairman

2021 AGM Secretary's Report

Secretary’s Report:

Within 2 weeks of the 2020 AGM on 11th March, the Coronavirus pandemic had hit the UK and the government to introduce a National Lock down. This immediately affected MBLA activity both on and off the water. Normal Committee Meetings could no longer take place thus only two Conference Calls and one outdoor, socially distanced meeting during the less-restricted period.

Conference Calls were somewhat difficult to follow, so were not formally minuted. Instead, similar informal notes were recorded where possible. Given those difficulties, Conference Calls had to focus on high-priority, urgent, or expensive matters.

The restrictions also meant that there were no social or fundraising events, no Winter Talks, and no Annual Dinner.

The Committee has therefore decided to operate this AGM online, nominating new committee members and voting via the website and email. The system has been tested and I am confident that all will go well. Time will tell. Members without online facilities would be contacted by post as usual.

John Diston

Secretary

2021 AGM Membership Secretary's Report

Membership Report:

Not unexpectantly membership for the year has been somewhat down on previous years due principally to the plague being in town. This produced many effects. Not only a great reduction in new members but also a slowing down of members renewing as many people renew when they start sailing each season. Once sailing eventually started in the June membership uptake was still slow as all sailing was conducted with reduced crew of only six persons being onboard due to social distancing. Many members did not sail at all throughout the season.

In normal years it would be expected that the total membership would be in the region of 130 to 140 members but alas this was not the case and members were down to just 104 at the end of the year. A quick breakdown of numbers is as follows:

Honorary Members 1

Life Members 22

Renewing members 52

New members 29

Total membership 104 As of 8th March 2021.

Finally, if you are unsure if are unsure about your membership status, please contact me to confirm your present status. The Happy Return needs a constant amount of maintenance wither it is laid up in the wet dock or sailing in the Scillies, so please keep the memberships coming in. All members are important both in support, sailing and helping.

Mark Mitchell

Membership Secretary

2021 AGM Treasurer's Report

Treasurers Report March 2021 AGM:

The year was not a very good year for MBLA accounts. As you will see from the “Annual Accounts” for the year ending Feb. 2021.The main sources of income was down compared to the previous year. Membership Subs down approximately 25% and boat contributions down about 75% respectively. Other major income came from donations. Many thanks to our members for their support during this time. Sadly, with the loss of Peter May twelve months ago donations were received in his memory. Many thanks to Peter’s wife and family. Expenditure is always ongoing with the main item of expenditure being the HR boat insurance of £2,695. However, we managed to negotiate a partial refund of £978 while HR is laid up. part of this will have to be repaid once HR is actively sailing once again. Other major expenditure was a result of a faulty ignition switch resulted in renewing the engine starter battery, solenoid, and starter motor. As with all years the normal painting, decorating and woodwork repairs were ongoing. There we no social events during the year, such as raffles, and very little sales of goods. Notwithstanding the fact that the annual dinner did not take place.

Please see the Annual Accounts as well, any questions please contact me.

David Keast.

Treasurer.

2021 AGM Accounts

MOUNTS BAY LUGGER ASSOCIATION

RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

For Year Ending 28th February 2021

2021 2020

RECEIPTS £ £

Members Subscription 1,960 2,700

HMRC Gift Aid Refunds 727 1,127

Donations: Membership: 1,695 874

GAYL/Facebook: 276 129

Memory of Peter May: 1,230 0

Bank Interest 29 85

Boat Fund Contributions 1,050 4,390

Crew Contributions To Fuel & Gas 0 524

Fundraising: Public Events 0 746

Merchandise Sales 180 552

Raffles 60 195

Grant 0 0

Annual Dinner Prepayments 0 968

Skippers/Mates Contributions for First Aid Training 0 0

Misc. Receipt: (£978.14 Part HR Ins Refund) 1,018 20

£8,224 £12,310

PAYMENTS (Direct Charitable Expenditure)

Lugger Sailing Program:

Insurance: Boat 2,695 2554

Insurance: Trustee Indemnity Ins. 254 254

Harbour Fees 51 72

Fuel /Oil /Gas /Electric 89 403

Routine Maintenance, Servicing & Repairs 1,622 1013

New Equipment 483 1,420

Fundraising Expenses:

Cost of Sales, Pitches, Licenses, 3rd Party Ins. 0 160

Cost of Annual Dinner 0 882

Hire of Penzance Sailing Clubhouse 0 75

Hospitality 0 0

Publicity: Sales / Cards / Promotions 0 453

Admin Expenses:

Postage, Printing, Stationary & Sundries 203 259

Website Domaine Registrations 98 106

Misc. Expenses: 62 339

40+ Magazine 0 15

5,556 £8,005

SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) for Year: £2,668 £4,305

Opening Bank & Cash Balances £51,489 £47,183

Closing Bank & Cash Balances: £54,156 £51,489

BBC Interview with James Walker and David Keast

Happy Return has featured on BBC Radio Cornwall - Chairman James Walker and Treasurer David Keast are interviewed by BBC Breakfast Presenter James Churchfield.

Hi James,

If you hadn’t heard the interview here’s a link to it -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rw429

Please feel free to post it on the Association’s website and/or facebook page.

Thanks again,  

James Churchfield

Breakfast Presenter

BBC Radio Cornwall

Phoenix Wharf

Truro TR1 1UA

james.churchfield@bbc.co.uk

01872 475263

WhatsApp Group

Message from James

Dear Members,

To increase the communication options within the MBLA members I have set up a WhatsApp group.

The group is there for fast communication between members and committee/skippers.

I would ask that if you post a question or comment, that any subsequent conversations take place privately rather than through the group to save people’s phones keeping pinging when they are not part of the conversation.

Any questions please call or email me directly

Open this link to join my WhatsApp Group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HfKyQt8n6pHFOycgRQQlDu

Best regards

James.

MBLA: Historical Archive

If any of our members have any information or historical notes on the Happy Return; boat building in Mounts Bay or West Cornwall local fishing history or history from the fleet at Folkstone, which you would like to be included in the MBLA archive, can you please get in touch with – Marieanne: 07511 540600 or marieannedavy@yahoo.com it will be gratefully received.

Memories and reminiscences are also very welcome and if you are interested in these becoming part of an oral history record, again please contact Marieanne.

Thanks

Peter May Exhortation - Sunday 23 at 13:30 hrs

Dear Members,

Newlyn British Legion are holding an exhortation in Peters memory this Sunday 23rd August at 13.30 hours at the legion hall, Newlyn.

They have given an open invitation to Peters Lugger pals to attend.

We will of course be holding our own remembrance for Peter which will include a plaque on board dedicated to his memory time and date to be confirmed.

All are welcome.

Best regards

James, MBLA Chairman.