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13_Yachtsman 2015.qxp_Yachtsman Magazine 19/08/2015 4:28 pm Page 6

From the General Manager
It has been another great year for The Royal Operators and Safety at Sea Survival are all well attended. The investment in training
Prince Alfred Yacht Club!!
is returned in membership and in participation and will remain a key strategy for
the coming years. We see many who undertake training progress to become active
Last year saw record member numbers as we
closed the year with 2,057 members. The Club club members and participants.
has had a number of years of very strong
membership growth which has generally been
driven by the membership changes around
Family Membership. We will no doubt see a
slowing of that growth over the coming years
and our focus will be on consolidation through
retention. Full membership reduced marginally
last year and as the boat owners, Full members underpin participation in the sport
and the income base of the Club so it is critical to continue to attract and retain new
boat owning members.
The 2011-15 Strategic Plan incorporates strategies to attract to the club smaller,
hardstand boats and their owners to address the 20-40 year old age bracket through
smaller, more affordable boat ownership. This year the Club worked with member
Jason Antill in developing a One Design Program incorporating alternate week twilight
racing and a series of regattas. This was supported by reduced fee arrangements for
storage of these vessels on the Crystal Bay hardstand. The initiative kicked off in
summer and we look forward to seeing the results of a full racing season this year.
The objective is to reinvigorate One Design racing, increase participation, younger
boat owning membership and hardstand utilisation.
Led by the Commodore a group is now working on the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.
Our bi-ennial Member Survey is planned for September 2015 and the results of this
survey will be important research to assist in the development of this plan, so please
participate in the survey to ensure your views are taken in to consideration.
Speaking of participation, fleet sizes have been very pleasing this year. The long
offshore cruise this year ݅́Ѽ