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The Association of |
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Minutes of the Inaugural Meeting held on Saturday 19th November 2005 at the Royal Naval and Royal Albert Yacht Club, Old Portsmouth. 45 people attended the Inaugural meeting of the Association. |
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Welcome THE Chairman, Maldwin Drummond, welcomed those attending this, the inaugural meeting of the Association, describing the attendance as spectacular. He introduced to the meeting Ms Clare Francis. He recalled her achievements in sailing, particularly those single-handed voyages she had made, the records she had set, and her subsequent success as an author. He likened the loneliness of both spheres of endeavour to that of an historian who must spend much time in single-handed research. He suggested that the role of the new Association might be to offer support in these fields by encouraging clubs, museums, and individuals to work together to record, preserve, present and share access to the history of yachting. He knew that the meeting would share his pleasure that Clare Francis had agreed to be President of the new Association. The Chairman outlined the history of recording sailing from Restoration times. Apologies for absence
Aims of the Association Daniel Charles asked that consideration be given to include model yachting, which went back to the 19th Century. One member queried whether inland waterways activities were to be included, and asked that a broad church be adopted. It was also asked if power boating was to be included. George Jago suggested that the histories of working vessels and boatyards were integral to the understanding of yachting history, and emphasised that this aspect should not be lost, it being after all where most vessels started from. Jack Dalmeny emphasised that the sharing of information between the different groups of interest who were represented at the meeting. Amateurs and clubs had to be encouraged to record and preserve their histories. The Royal Albert Yacht Club, for example, had no record of their history up to about 1911, which had all been disposed of, although racing off Southsea went back to before 1835. |
The Association needed to identify areas where we could contribute, or where serious work could be done. Members should identify what areas of work they wanted to get involved in. It was suggested from the floor that the histories of club foundations could be an interesting subject for study. Hal Sisk suggested that many yacht clubs were introspective and were not looking at the general trend of the sport, the social and other aspects of it; for example the growth of the Corinthian aspect of the 1870s/80s. There were clubs no longer in existence whose contribution to the growth of the sport should be recognised and recorded. Jack Dalmeny agreed and added that the history of individual yachting trophies was a field that needed recording, a project in which he sought members’ help. Members from the Royal Mersey YC referred to records kept at that Club, which might be helpful. In their case, early records were preserved by the City of Liverpool Museum. Storage of records was something that needed to be given attention, and the understanding of copyright by clubs. Mark Wynter urged that contemporary racing records should be kept on computer somehow and not deleted. It appeared that Camper and Nicholson’s records were not destroyed as had been feared, but if companies went out of business it was urgent that their records should be retrieved and preserved. If a company was taken over, for example, new owners were not necessarily disposed to preserve old records. Philip Bastow reminded the meeting that early copies of The Field were good sources of information. Jack Dalmeny said that one of the aims of the Association should be to give guidance to organisations and we could circulate clubs urging them to preserve where archives existed. It was agreed that the fundamental aims of the Association should be broad and aim at the collection, collation, preservation and presentation of all the history of yachting. More detailed discussions could take place at a later date, and we should not take responsibility for a national archive, but should head that way and consider reaching the point where we could apply for grants as soon as possible. |
The Chairman spoke of the national yachting archive instigated by the National Maritime Museum Greenwich. A good response had been received from about 150 clubs, but work had slowed somewhat and it could be one role of the AYH to rescue this initiative by providing someone to volunteer for the specialised task of encouraging clubs. It was thought that a sub group might be formed to go round the country, offering assistance. Organisation Mark Wynter, Treasurer and Membership Secretary, asked for application forms to be sent to him as soon as possible, with subscriptions. From the floor, it was suggested that the subscription of £10 per member per annum was too modest. Mark confirmed that it would be reviewed before the first AGM. Website There being no other business, the Chairman thanked the RN & RAYC for their hospitality, especially to John Galley, (Chairman RNC & RAYC) and Miles Linnington, past Commodore. Thanks were also forthcoming from the floor, and included grateful thanks for the interesting display of books kindly loaned for the occasion by the Royal Yacht Squadron Honorary Librarian. John Galley of the RN & RAYC expressed his pleasure at having the meeting in the Clubhouse and outlined the recent re-enactment of the 1805 departure of Lord Nelson from the vicinity. He asked members to feel free to use the Club when in the area. The meeting closed at 3.30 and a short film show of yacht racing in the 1930s was given before members dispersed. |
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Yachting Historians