Speaker Captain Bill Hodgson

Rotary Club of Stirling Meeting of 9/9/16.

President Alan Rankin welcomed members and our speaker Captain Bill Hodgson to the meeting.

There will be a council meeting on Monday 12th September which will report back to the club business meeting on the following Friday. John Rankin reminded members of the Jazz cruise on 2/10/16. Sandy Leven told us that we now have distinctive new orange jackets to wear while working at the station.

The speaker was Captain Bill Hodgson, retired Merchant Navy tanker captain, his subject the Royal Yacht Squadron.  Following the first Isle of Wight race in 1815, in 1820, at the Patched House Tavern 42 aristocrats, with the support of the Prince Regent, agreed to form what became in1833, the Royal Yacht Squadron. The yachts which had to be more than 10 tons, were expensive, and much faster than existing Royal naval vessels, reaching up to 10 knots as against only 4 knots of the older vessels. The Royal navy became involved thus allowing them to fly the White Ensign instead of the Red Duster. In 1851 it was decided to put up a £100 cup for a race around the Isle of Wight, open to all. The New York sailing club won and the cup crossed the Atlantic where it has remained except for one year when it was won by Australia.  Subsequently the Yachting Association was formed to include boats under 10 tons, and from 1921 dingy owners could also join. In 1969 this became the Royal Yachting Association, which in 1970 began to run organised sail training courses.
Captain Bill Hodgson has taken part in these courses for many years passing on his knowledge and experience, to youngsters from a wide variety of back grounds

The vote of thanks was given by Alan Prentice who has himself benefited from Bill's tuition.

Next week's meeting will be a business meeting, visitor's host Martin Ross. For further info, www.stirling.rotary1010.org

Dr I Richardson