The Royal Dart Yacht Club Officers
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Vice President
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Jonathan Weeks
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Ever since moving down to the Dart in 1999 my time has been devoted to that best of all activities, messing about in boats. Wednesday nights it's Squib night at Royal Dart, Sundays and bank holidays its dinghy racing at Dittisham. The rest of the week seems to slip by with fishing, boat maintenance or something social or administrative connected to RDYC or DSC. My wife Anthea licenses all this with a scrupulously administered brownie point system whereby I earn time out for mowing, weeding, pruning and dog walking. Occasionally we find time to go on holiday but living down here, hey, why bother? I've been a member since the year we moved here and have served on the General Committee as Vice-Commodore. Sailing for three years.
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Commodore
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Mike Moody
Married to Liz. Retired from the Oil and Gas industry, moved to Devon and joined the Club in 2001 having tired of the brown water, fast tides and big tidal ranges of sailing from the river Humber.
Served on the general committee from 2004 until 2007 and chaired the Joint Regatta Sailing Committee for the 2005, 06 and 07 Dartmouth regattas. A qualified Yachtmaster and veteran of the 1986 Twostar and 1987 Azab ocean races have owned Pala, an Oyster 37, for 23 years and recently a Squib to better compete in the Club's racing programme.
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Vice Commodore
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Viv Allen
I started sailing in my thirties when I part owned a Wayfarer dinghy. Now I am an enthusiastic member of Ladies Afloat and sail with them on Thursdays. My husband, Mike, and I own a 28ft Nimbus motor cruiser which we intend to use to exlore the West Country coast.
We joined RDYC five years ago and I have been joint Chair of the Social Committee for the past two years.
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Rear Commodore (Sailing)
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Kit Noble
- Born in New Zealand where the sailing bug took hold at an early age. Trained as a teacher but changed careers in my late twenties and became a chef and hotel owner. Moved to Kingswear 11 years ago in the hope that I could continue with my love of boats and the sea but have found that running a B&B in this lovely location does not leave me as much spare time as I would like to spend pootling about on the water. However I manage to race my Squib, help with Junior sailing and be a member of the General Committee so life is not too bad!
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Rear Commodore (House)
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Gerald Griffin
- Gerald Griffin and his wife Jenny,have been members of the R.D.Y.C. for something approaching 20 years.Gerald has occupied the position of Rear Commodore (House) for the past 12 months, during which time he has been responsible for the up-dating of the club's "Ablutions" and any other building maintenance. His boating enthusiasms are more petrol and diesel oriented than dependence on wind and weather. He takes a particular interest in the winter social activities
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Hon Secretary
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David Ferguson
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I started sailing as a boy in a home made Merlin Rocket moving on to an Osprey. After many years in London I returned to Devon to sail an Enterprise. I moved on to a Westerly Centaur and since 1991 in the Dart a Westerly Fulmar with my wife Elizabeth.
I have been Hon Sec since July 2007.
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Hon Treasurer
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Clive Bennett
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Married to Jill, we have lived in Kingswear and been members of the club for over 15 years. I have always loved water and all activities on and in it. A passion for kayaking turned to sailing about 20 years ago when I learned to cruise and race on a 26 foot Super Seal. In 2001 I became a dinghy instructor to help youngsters on the Dart have fun learning to sail. I love doing this and hope my grandchildren will be joining in soon. I am lucky enough to own Toucana, a Starlight 35, which Jill and I cruise for a couple of months every summer, even when there isn't one! And I get my racing thrills with the Club's Squib fleet in my own Baby Hippo. It beats working! Oh, yes, you probably also should know that I am a Chartered Accountant and spent most of my career as a partner in Grant Thornton in which I had a wide variety of enjoyable roles. I am now fully retired.
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Hon Sailing Secretary
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Norman Doidge
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When I stepped into a dinghy in 1968 I knew I had found a hobby for life. Forty years on I’m still sailing, a regular competitor in club and regatta racing as well as a watch leader and doctor on the Jubilee Sailing Trust square riggers Tenacious and Lord Nelson.
I have been a member of RDYC for 17 years and on sailing/racing committees for the last 10 years.
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Committee Member
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Mike Allen
- Mike Allen worked in the education profession for over 40 years, becoming Principal of a Community College and a School Inspector. He became interested in boating when he retired five years ago and joined the RDYC; he now has a Nimbus Motor Cruiser. Mike is chair of the Social Committee and became a member of the General Committee in 2008.
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Committee Member
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Chris Cooper
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Started in dinghies age nine, then took to cruising in his early 20s. In 1973 turned to catamarans as fast, comfortable and family-friendly; currently on his third, a 36ft Edel.
With his wife, Sallie, joined RDYC in 2005 and relinquished editorship of Masthead end 2008. Offshore Yachtmaster and past VP of the Cruising Association.
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Committee Member
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Anne Kelsey
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Married to Mike Kelsey and lived in Kingswear for six years. Career in public service, now retired. Membership Secretary of RDYC an involved in numerous projects.
Learnt to sail a Wayfarer at 40 years of age and then qualified as RYA Day Skipper. Spent many years cruising back and forth across the English Channel, typical fair weather sailor!
Other interests: NCI Froward Point and Waterhead Creek Preservation Society.
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Committee Member
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Chris Smith
- Married to Jane and lives in Stoke Gabriel.
Raced Enterprise and Albacore dinghies in the 1970s, and in the 80s undertook RYA offshore courses. Chartered yachts for family holidays. Owns a Parker 235. Joined the RDYC in 2003. Has been the Moorings Officer for several years.
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Committee Member
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Paul Rampling
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Started sailing at the age of eight on a crocodile infested river in Africa. Have lived and worked in Dartmouth for 11 years, RDYC member since 2001 including RYA Principal for 2 years.
Married to Carol, a RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor with Junior Sailing and Ladies Afloat. Christopher, my son, is a Dinghy Instructor with Junior Sailing and also a crew member of the RNLI Dart Lifeboat.