OCC Reception at the Royal Welsh Yacht Club

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The Royal Welsh Yacht Club

Just before Easter this year, we packed the car and made our way to North Wales by ferry to attend the annual AGM and Awards Dinner of the Ocean Cruising Club. I was serving as Rear Commodore, web editor, PR officer,  digital communications manager and Port Officer for the west of Ireland. Alex is Regional Rear Commodore and Port Officer as well, so we had good reason to attend. Besides I was running for the vacant seat of Vice Commodore. Our ferry was delayed so we arrived half way through the cocktail reception hosted by the Royal Welsh Yacht Club in a stunning location, in a centuries old building overlooking the Menai Straits. 


Attendees gathered the night before the official business of the AGM and festivities at the OCC Awards Dinner in Caernarfon for a purely social occasion. OCC Regional Rear Commodores for Great Britain, Chris and Fiona Jones, were the organisers of the weekend, with the help of a cadre of OCC members who volunteered to assist. Chris also serves as Vice Commodore of the RWYC. 

Founded in 1847, the RWYC was the first royal yacht club in Wales and moved to the current location in 1855. As noted by Commodore John Judge, the RWYC has an impressive history as the building in which it is located dates back to the 13th century. Porth yr Aur is the oldest yacht club premises in the world. The town walls, including Porth yr Aur and Porth Mawr gateways, were commissioned by Edward I as part of his iron ring of castles.

Some 74 OCC members congregated at the historic venue and then walked the short distance to dinner at Wal restaurant. It was an evening full of joyous laughter as faces were put to names encountered online and voices heard on the telephone. It was a lively start to a fun packed weekend.


Happy members out on the veranda

The view from the Club.
Agustin Martin, PO Gran Canaria, with Commodore
Anne Hammick on the last day of  her term.
Jose Azevedo of Peter Cafe Sport to the right of Anne in the background. 

On the ferry from Dublin port

Extraordinary Dublin skyline - cranes everywhere.
Stunning vistas of Snowdonia in North Wales 

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