Coordinator: Sheena Boyce, Solent Branch Secretary

The 2015 AGM for Solent Branch was held on Saturday 21st November 2015 at the Holiday Inn, Morn Hill, Winchester.  Forty two branch members gathered together, in pleasant surroundings, to review the year’s activities, award prizes, elect the 2016 committee, discuss the future and enjoy a tasty lunch in good company.

2015 must have been a good year for racing as all of the Solent trophies were awarded.  Mark Glyde was delighted to win in both the cruising class and overall in the Nab Tower Race, the Sage Family won the Cherbourg Cup and Ian and Sue Fellowes-Freeman won the Dixon Series of short races

The Arun Trophy was awarded to Paul England, sailing Melody, a M31, in which he recorded the quickest time corrected passage around the Isle of Wight.

The Thelma Alloway Trophy was awarded to Chris and Mary McCann, whose M31 Soldier Sailor was judged, by Tricia Eveson, to be the Best Dressed and Presented Boat berthed in Gunwharf Quays for Solent’s 30th Anniversary Event.

The 2015 photography competition was won by Barrie Pearson, who sails Fairwind of Dell Quay and Barrie was awarded a framed print of his winning entry.

Gifts were presented to each of the event coordinators, to Ian Bevington for coordinating racing results and to Kim and Victoria Sage for updating the Solent website.

Paul Morgan-Owen stepped up from Vice Captain to Captain, thanked all the other officers for agreeing to serve for another year and welcomed Jon Bell to the committee.  Paul thanked John Eveson for leading the branch during his two years as Captain and to Tricia for supporting John in his role and presented them both with farewell gifts.

Janet Morgan-Owen and Tricia Eveson arranged a raffle with very generous prizes that included “a free liftout/clean at Sealift2 in Haslar” and a “free night’s berthing at Haslar Marina”.  The nominated charity for the proceeds is RNLI Selsey who will soon receive the marvellous sum of £220 we raised.  After a convivial lunch the majority of the group opted to visit the Winchester Christmas Markets sited within the Cathedral’s historic Close around an open-air real ice rink. With the market remaining open until 7.30pm, there was plenty of time to make a start on the Christmas shopping before making our way back to the hotel to head for home – or for some people to check-in.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped to make the event such a success.