Solent Branch
Latest Information
The Branch Committee has made plans for the following Events in 2024.
Event Coordinators are needed for most of these Rallies in 2024, all event booking has been organised by the Solent Events Secrerary but Coordinators are needed on the day for each rally, anyone prepared to become an event coordinator should email solentevents@moodyowners.org to find out what is required or contact any other Solent Commitee Member.
Circumstances at the time will dictate if events are able to proceed or will need to be cancelled.
2025 MOA Solent Branch AGM Calling Notice
This is the formal calling notice for the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Moody Owners Association Solent Branch to be held at Hornet Services Sailing Club on Sunday 26th January 2025 at 10:30 am.
The Branch AGM will be followed by a lunch and as usual the proceeding will include a raffle, with proceeds going to the RNLI.
The majority of the committee members have agreed to stand for a further year, although we do have a specific need for a new Branch Secretary if anyone is willing to stand. To enable organised succession for 2027 we would welcome other members to join the committee initially without portfolio.
If you are going to attend the AGM can you please let me know using the Solent Secretary email address as below. We shall send out details to book lunches once finalised with HSSC.
Any apologies should also be sent to me.
Yours sincerely,
Karen Billowes
MOA Solent Branch Secretary solentsecretary@moodyowners.org
AGM papers:
- AGM 2025 Agenda
- AGM Minutes for 28th January 2024
- Branch Accounts for 2024
- Budget forecast for 2025
Proposed Agenda
- Apologies
- Approval of Minutes 2024 AGM
- Matters Arising
- Secretary’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
- Captain’s Report
- Committee Appointments:
- Captain – Andy Billowes
- Vice-Captain – David Baddeley
- Secretary – Nominations please
- Treasurer – Simon Stevens
- Race Officer – Ian Bevington
- Events Secretary -Janis Sargent
- Web Secretary – David Rickard
- Committee Members – Lesley Bell + nominations please
- Captain’s Address (look ahead to 2025 season)
- Any Other Business
Additional Agenda Items
If branch members have any additional items to place on the agenda for the AGM please submit these in writing to the Solent Branch Secretary by the Friday 10th January 2025. Items received after this date will be deferred until the 2026 AGM.
Welcome
Solent Members Forum
You can view the Solent Members Forum via the Forum Dropdown menu or by clicking the link in the box immediately below the Latest information area on the Solent Homepage. If you access the Solent Members Forum via the Information Exchange you may find you have the discussion tab highlighted – if so click the overview tab to view the full version of the information. You need to be logged on to the website to view the Solent Members Forum in the same way as you need to be logged on to access the Technical Library or to view entries on the Info Exchange. If you have forgotten your password or username please visit the Members tab on the Main Menu where you will find help.
We issue periodic email updates and a copy of each email can be viewed in the Solent Members Forum.
Informal Meets
Sometimes Solent Branch members will suggest an “Informal Meet” – a simple gathering!
The idea is that people will simply turn up at a particular location and be responsible for making their own anchoring or berthing and dining arrangements. The whole idea is based on informality and spontaneity.
If you spot an opportunity to propose an Informal Meet, why not take a chance and send a message via the Solent Branch Discussion Board. Alternatively, if you are already afloat you could try using your VHF radio or its DSC function to broiadcast a message.
The Solent Branch uses VHF Channel 77 and has adopted a group call sign of Compass. Our group DSC MMSI number is 023200031.
If you do enjoy a successful meet please send a short report with photos (if you have any) to our team of website updaters to help encourage other Branch members to participate.
The Dixon Series
For members attending Solent Branch events we do want to encourage participation in the Dixon Series. The intention of this email is to provide an overview for members who aren’t familiar with the series.
The ‘Dixon Series’ is a set of time trials over a short ‘Planned Passage’ linked to Solent events throughout the sailing season, typically 7 or 8 depending on the number of rallies. Each planned passage has a defined starting gate and finishing gate (between two buoys), with a few passing marks between.
Who can take part? All MOA Solent members.
Do boats have to pre-register? No.
The passage can be undertaken en-route to or returning from the linked event. Each yacht can start their passage at any time (not a fleet start) by recording the time they pass through the starting irgate and then again as they pass through finishing gate, then calculating the ‘elapsed time’. These timings then need to be sent by email to our Race Officer at solentrace@moodyowners.org within 2 weeks of the event. Include name of skipper, yacht name and model. Also confirm use of white sails only or additionally coloured sails.
Does each boat have to take part in every Planned Passage? – No, yachts may take part in as many, or as few of the Planned Passages as they wish throughout the season.
There is an award made to the yacht for the best time (corrected on handicap) for each Planned Passage. Points are awarded according to place achieved for each passage and at the end of the season these points are totalled up and the yacht achieving the best overall score is awarded the ‘Dixon Trophy’,
Traditionally the prize-giving for the Dixon Series is part of our Laying-up Supper.
More information and the full rules can be found by clicking HERE