Ralph Birkhoff Elected New Commodore of the Montserrat Yacht Club (MYC)

Ralph Birkhoff Elected New Commodore of the Montserrat Yacht Club (MYC)
Author

Jeevan A. Robinson

Release Date

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

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Ralph Birkhoff has been elected as the new Commodore of the Montserrat Yacht Club (MYC). At the AGM and elections held on Tuesday March 3, 2015, the MYC members voted to elect a new executive to replace Mr. Dwain Lovett who was the previous Commodore and his executive team. Mr Birkhoff expressed his gratitude to Mr Lovett and his team for the great work they did whilst they chaired the MYC.

The new MYC Executive now includes Ralph Birkhoff as Commodore, Vice-Commodore: Jay Steed, Treasurer: Ivason Galloway, Secretary: Adrian Galloway and Social Chair: Vidya Birkhoff .

The current membership of the MYC stands at an impressive 60 members. This number, after its membership was severely disrupted by both hurricane and volcanic activities on Montserrat from between 1992 – 1997. The MYC was restarted due to the initiative of several past and new members who decided it was time to resurrect the club, and start the rebuilding process.

The MYC was founded in 1967. Its new place of residence is at the Isles Bay Beach Bar, hosted by one of its members, Mr. Hank Henry.

The MYC is a not for profit organization where funds raised are used exclusively towards the cost of equipment and personnel for the sailing school, and delivery of the overall club mission. The Club's mission as stated by the MYC is: “To promote Montserrat as a key destination for the yachting and cruising sector in the Caribbean. To promote the yachting culture by introducing yachting, sailing, and sail racing to both young and old in Montserrat. To welcome visiting cruisers and ensure their visit to Montserrat is a pleasure.”

Many islands around the Caribbean enjoy a vibrant yachting culture with the neighbouring island of Antigua hosting a yearly sailing week that attracts yacht owners from all over the world. Yachting as described by the MYC encompasses “a culture that is synonymous with social interaction, friendly and fair competition, exploration and adventure, and the thrill of boating on our lakes, rivers, and oceans. The MYC promotes this culture with a focus on safety, and looks forward to doing everything we can towards the growth of the yachting sector on Montserrat. “

Some of the MYC’s Goals and Objectives for 2015 and beyond includes:

 To continually promote local interest in yachting (sail and power), and expand our membership;

 To establish a fleet of dinghy sailboats and class racing boats to be managed by the club;

 To establish a sailing school directed primarily at the youth to introduce them to the sport of sailing, sail racing, and boating safety;

 To establish a regular (weekly) match racing series at Isles Bay Beach during high season;

 To initiate an annual MYC regatta event and other fundraising events towards the development of our sailing school, and the promotion of yachting;

 To introduce all interested people of Montserrat to the sport of sailing through organized day charter and racing events;

 To establish a regional class race event to be hosted in Montserrat;

 To actively support and promote the Yachting and Marine Tourism sector in Montserrat;

 To provide advice and support to all government agencies and NGOs involved in the development of the yachting sector in Montserrat;

 To collaborate directly with neighboring yacht clubs in Antigua, Guadeloupe, and St. Kitts and Nevis to promote sailing activities, sail racing events, and social events;

 To work with the Caribbean Marine Association to promote yachting in Montserrat on a regional basis;

 To market directly to the yachting/cruising sector internationally to promote Montserrat as a Caribbean cruising destination;

 To promote the social aspects of yachting, engage in on-the-water sailing activities, promote water safety, and have fun doing it.

The Montserrat Yacht Club intends to work to place Montserrat as a location of interest within the marine tourism and cruising sector as the island seeks to develop its new marina and other infrastructure .

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