From
Wing Commander SH Crockatt RAF
Vice Commodore
Royal Air Force
Sailing Association
Offshore Sailing
SO1 Freight Operations
DSCOM
Building 400
DLO
Monxton Road
Andover
Hampshire SP11 8HJ
Tel: 01264 381644
Fax: 01264 381581
Email: [email protected]
Reference: RAFSA/VC/1
Date: 15 Jan 08
2007 SEASON OFFSHORE DIVISION REPORT – 15 JAN 08
Introduction
1.
For the Offshore Division, the 2007 season can be desribed as mediocre. The tightening of
funding provision from the RAFSB began to bite and has had a major effect on our yacht
replacement policy and our ability to replace anything but essential equipment. Operational
commitments have adversely affected the charter programme, denying us some racing sailors and
curtailing a full expedition programme. The one consistently successful area remains that of
training, something that gives a sense of optimism for the future, developing as it does our future
skippers and crews. The arrival of the tri-Service Transglobe expedition on our horizon has altered
medium-term planning, becoming a clear focus for many participants and for the allocation of
resources over the next three years.
Fleet Management
2.
The general state of the Offshore fleet is as follows:
a.
RED ARROW remains in good condition, but regrettably suffered mast damage in high
winds during the SOR. The mast has now been replaced, the majority of the £6.5K bill being
settled through an insurance claim. The most urgently needed sails will be replaced in early
2008.
b.
SYNCHRO has been little used this year and is in need of some hull repair and some
TLC. She will be over-wintered at RAF Odiham where she will receive the required attention.
c.
SIRIUS has been quite heavily used this season and, although she has held out well,
there are some equipment issues. Feedback from the skippers through the year has
generally been positive with constructive observations made especially by the “old salts” that
were involved on training courses at the end of the season. She was lifted on 26 October for
her Winter refit and has been anti-fouled. Engine maintenance activities took place the week
1
before lifting, to resolve engine starting and power issues and to winterise the engine.
Safety equipment was lifted off on Friday and conveyed to Cosalt in Edinburgh for its annual
servicing. Several jobs are outstanding that will be completed in February when the mast is
re-stepped and she is put the boat back into the water.
d.
SUBRA is the eldest yacht in the fleet and was scheduled for replacement in 2007.
However, there is belief in some quarters that owning two cruising yachts is now beyond the
means on the Division, meaning that no capital grant was made for her replacement. In the
long-term it is almost inevitable that we will be forced to reduce the fleet size, but whilst
SUBRA remains a sound yacht I intend to run her on provided she remains a self-funding
proposition. To make her more attractive to chartererers, or indeed as a proposition for
resale, I have agreed that £5K should be spent during the Winter refit. She has to recoup
this investment this season, or else she will be sold in early 2009 and the funding recouped
from the sale.
3.
If we are forced to sell SUBRA at the end of the 2008 season, it is my intention to sell
SIRIUS at the same time, thereby maximising the funds available to purchase a new, suitable
cruising yacht.
Racing
4.
Main effort for RAFSA Offshore racing for the season of 2007 was the development of a
credible and competitive racing team. In particular, work was undertaken to produce racing SOPs
and training guides to aimed at the standardising crew training. In March, RAFSA offshore held an
Offshore Racing Training Camp. The Camp allowed some 17 sailors ranging from novice to the
more experienced to enjoy the benefits of 4 days of concentrated on and off water race training.
The event was very successful and produced sailors that later went on to represent the RAF
Sailing Team at A List events. After the Training Camp RED ARROW’s emphasis shifted
offshore, racing with a view to qualification for the Fastnet 07. This well executed campaign
ensured that RAFSA (O) undertook all RORC qualification races and, although the weather forced
the early retirement from the event itself, RED ARROW did win the RORC Best Service Yacht
Category from its cumulative results during qualification races. In June, RAFSA held its annual
RAFSA Regatta (Inter Station Racing on the JSATSC Victoria 34s). Once again this proved to be
a very successful and popular event and one that produced an entire Vic 34 Crew for the SOR
later in the year.
5.
During the summer months RED ARROW competed in Cowes Week and, despite having to
operate to a crew rotation policy, achieved a highly credible 6th overall from 27 yachts competing in
the largest one design yacht fleet at Cowes Week. Shortly thereafter the RAF Team competed in
the Class National Championships in Plymouth where once again RED ARROW proved to be very
competitive finishing joint 5th overall (7th on count back) out of 19 yachts and also won the Most
Improved Yacht Category at the Class Dinner Night. Finally, RAFSA entered a credible team in
this year’s SOR. Unfortunately, a shortage of experience and gear failure meant that the RAF
finished behind our sister Services. However, our participation in the SOR had some key positives.
Although lacking experience in depth, some 27 sailors were able to compete for the RAF and RED
ARROW proved very competitive winning Best Yacht in Class for the Offshore Series of the
Regatta and was Runner Up in the Inshore Series with only a catastrophic failure of the mast on
the last denying her overall victory.
6.
Main effort for next year will be the continued development of the sailing squad especially in
the training and certification of Racing Skippers. Main events will include an overseas tour where
RAFSA is planning to enter both the J109 and SB3 at Cork Week 08. Having taken a back seat to
support the development of RED ARROW this year, it is planned that the SB3 will undertake a full
and competitive program of racing in 2008.
Charter
7.
The utilisation rates of the 2 charter yachts during 2007 were as follows:
2
a.
SUBRA was used for 48% of the available weeks. This figure includes expedition and
training weeks. In all, 17 weeks were lost through not being sold or for the yacht being
unavailable due to repairs.
b.
SIRIUS was used for 75% of available weeks, including expedition and training weeks.
8.
These figures are disappointing, showing little change from the 2006 performance and
continue to fall significantly short of our Management Plan objectives, lending yet more weight to
calls for an improved marketing strategy. The situation is seen as all the more acute as these
shortfalls amount to £15500 of lost RAFSA revenue at a time of increasing financial pressure. To
combat this level of loss, my instruction to the Offshore Committee is that selling the charters is the
prime, overriding effort for the year. Failure to achieve a take up of 75 percent on both yachts will
almost certainly result in SUBRA being sold at the end of the 2008 season.
Training
9.
The Division had a slightly less successful training year than 2006, albeit there was generally
good take up for our courses, especially those allocated to dependants. The following certificates
were issued:
a.
Comp Crew
-
9
b.
Day Skipper
-
18
c.
Coastal Skipper
-
7
d.
Yachtmaster
-
2
e.
Cruising Instructor
-
5
f.
Yachtmaster Instructor -
3
g.
VHF/DSC Certificates -
20
h.
CS/YM Shore-based
1
-
A further 16 Comp Crew certificates were awarded for personnel participating on Unit expeditions.
In all, 85 certificates were issued in 2007. Additional dependants courses will be run next season
to cater for demand and thanks must go to the whole, predominantly ex-Service training team, but
especially Mr Al Mellor, for their sterling and critical support.
Expeditions
10. Despite poor take-up during recent attempts to run adventurous sail training exercises,
RAFSA decided to run an ambitious simultaneous two expedition programme during the 2007
season. SIRIUS was over-wintered in Ipswich following Exercise CELTIC WAKE 2006 and was
relocated back to Largs through Exercise CELTIC WAKE 2007 during May. SUBRA was used for
Exercise BRITTANY BREEZE, which involved transiting to, and then basing out of St Malo for four
weeks of adventurous training, mostly conducted at unit level through April and May.
11. CELTIC WAKE was intended to be the vehicle for the relocation of SIRIUS from the south
coast to Largs. Four expedition legs were available, from 30 April to 27 May, and initial take-up
was encouraging with two legs going immediately to unit sails. The plan began to suffer when one
of the unit sails withdrew and the second leg crew were tasked to make the initial move from
Portsmouth along the south coast, retaining their original dates but revising their plan to start and
finish at other locations. Due to the poor take-up of expedition places for CELTIC WAKE the
remainder of the delivery was achieved by a RAFSA(O) committee member stepping in and
sacrificing leave to complete the move at short notice.
3
12. BRITTANY BREEZE was a six week expedition, deploying SUBRA from Plymouth to St Malo
for four weeks sailing on the Brittany coast before recovering to Plymouth. The expedition ran from
16 April to 27 May and was exclusively used by establishments for unit sails. The expedition ran
concurrently with CELTIC WAKE and this is deemed to be the reason for one week in the middle of
the expedition remaining unused. One leg of BRITTANY BREEZE was run by an RYA Cruising
Instructor who was able to issue two Day Skipper and two Competent Crew qualifications. It
should be noted that this was only possible by careful management of the leg itinerary in order to
move the yacht out of French waters while the training evolutions were taking place and required
detailed negotiation with RAFSA(O) Training Division.
13. The approximate income from CELTIC WAKE suffered significantly with only one leg used
resulting in an income to RAFSA of £680 as against a projected £2800. BRITTANY BREEZE
produced a total income to RAFSA of £3492 although a further breakdown is not yet possible due
to the short notice posting of the ProjO. The BRITTANY BREEZE figure is net profit after payment
of ferry fees for all participants.
14. The outline plan for the 2008 sees RAFSA Offshore running Exercise BRITTANY BREEZE
from 14th April to 25th May 2008, starting from Plymouth to St Malo, four weeks out of St Malo and
returning to Plymouth. Interest is already high for this exercise with three of the six legs offered to,
and accepted by MoD Boscombe Down, RAF Valley and HQ Air.
Awards and Colours
15. Those individuals that have been selected for the RAF Sailing Team in the Inter-Services
Offshore Regatta
Flt Lt M Carter
Flt Lt J Allison
Flt Lt Tom Summerscales
Flt Lt J Snoswell
Flt Lt G McGeehan
Cpl A Rodwell
RAFSA Colours
16. The following individuals that have sailed for RAFSA and made a sustained contribution to
RAFSA (O) Racing this year.
Flt Lt M Wilson
Miss Rebecca Bull
Flt Lt Jorg Lobbedey
2008 Objectives
17. The Management Plan details our objectives and now includes targets against which we can
judge our performance. The headline issues for 2008 will be the continuing work to re-invigorate
the racing team, and most fundamental of all will be the need to achieve a far higher charter rate
for both Starlights..
18. Work must continue to achieve a GREEN rateing on the Offshore change objectives included
in the 2008 Management Plan. These all relate to getting bums on seats, creating an improved
income stream and widening our pool of qualified sailors. An improved marketing strategy which is
flooded with enthusiasm is underway and far more use will be made of OiC Sailing at Units.
SH CROCKATT
Wg Cdr
Rear Commodore (Offshore)
4
Annexes:
A.
Offshore Performance Against 2006 Management Plan Objectives.
Distribution:
Commodore
Vice Commodore
Executive Committee
Offshore Committee
5
Annex A
To Offshore
Report 2006
Offshore Performance Against 2007 Management Plan Objectives
Standing Objectives
Ser
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Objective
Maintain a fleet of modern yachts.
Develop and sustain a cadre of
racing skippers and crews.
Develop and sustain a cadre of
instructors and examiners.
Develop and sustain a cadre of
suitably qualified personnel to
support Expeditionary activity
Mount expeditions to achieve a
range of personal development
training goals.
Develop a marketing strategy to
ensure the widest possible
awareness of Offshore Division
facilities within the Service.
Increase Offshore Divisional
membership year on year.
Manage the River Hamble
Moorings, ensuring their
continued serviceability and that
these are permanently leased.
Lead
Fleet Manager
Racing Team Manager
Support
RC(Offshore)
Racing Team Manager
Yacht OICs
Offshore Racing Sec
Training Manager
Assistant Training Officers
Exped Member
Training Manager
Exped Member
Comms Member
RC(Offshore)
RC(Offshore)
Racing Team Manager
Charter Manager
Training Manager
Expedition Member
Comms Member
Hon Sec (Offshore)
Change Objectives
Ser
1
2
3
Objective
Develop a financial plan to inform
the fleet replacement programme,
to produce meaningful income
targets and to set appropriate
fees. The 2008 Management
Plan will incorporate income
target change objectives as per
Ser 2, 3 & 4.
Achieve a 100% fleet utilisation
rate based on the available
cruising weeks for the Starlight
35s.
Lead
Business
Dev
Manager
Achieve a 100% uptake of
available crew slots throughout
the racing season.
Racing
Team
Manager
Charter
Manager
Comment
A yacht replacement
strategy, based on
performance in 2008 was
developed
60-70%
71-83%
84-100%
75-84%
85-94%
95-100%
4
Organise appropriate courses
and achieve a 100% uptake rate
This is the key objective for
the Division. This has to
increase to amber next year
Training
Manager
6
75-84%
85-94%
Although fewer events were
graced, take up of crew slots
was improved due to more
robust crew selection
methods
Fewer courses, but a good
level of participation.
on the available places.
5
6
95-100%
Mount a RAFSA led expedition,
EXECRISE BRITTANY BREEZE,
from Plymouth to St Malo and
back to Plymouth between 16 Apr
07 to 27 May 07, achieving a
100% uptake rate on the
available weeks.
Mount a RAFSA led expedition,
EXERCISE CELTIC WAKE, from
Portsmouth to the Clyde between
30 Apr 07 and 27 May 07,
achieving a 100% uptake rate on
the available weeks.
Fully Satisfied
Exped
Member
75-84%
85-94%
95-100%
Exped
Member
75-84%
85-94%
95-100%
Partially Satisfied
7
Ex BB was well subscribed.
Only this exped to be
organised in 2008
Ex CELTIC WAKE was
disappointing, partly because
the yacht had to relocate to
the Clyde. Yachts will not be
moved between locations as
readily ib 2008
Unsatisfied