Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/614946
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2015 53 SAILING Sport Dear Yacht Club members, please be advised of the following letter for your information, and consideration when you cast your votes for the upcoming elections for club authorities in February next year. TO: HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB. MR JOHN RIPARD SENIOR COMMODORE OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB. MR GODWIN ZAMMIT Dear Gentlemen, I am sure you are aware that section 10 addresses the discipline aspects of the statutes of the Royal Malta Yacht club which you both preside. For your quick reference I will reproduce hereunder both subsections, 10.1 and 10.2 of the lately revised and approved ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB STATUTES. Subsection 10.1 The EXECUTIVE Committee, AT ITS OWN DISCRETION, may investigate actions by any member occurring during yachting activities or on CLUB PREMISES, which are CONSIDERED TO BE CONTARY TO THE ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. THE COMMITTEE MAY PENALIZE THE MEMBER CONCERNED BY SUSPENDING him or her from participation in any number of club activities as MAY BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE. Subsection 10.2 It shall be THE DUTY OF THE COMMITTEE, at any time it shall be of the opinion that the INTERESTS OF THE CLUB SO REQUIRE, TO INVITE BY LETTER ANY MEMBER TO RESIGN FROM THE CLUB WITHIN A TIME SPECIFIED, in such letter giving the reasons. IN DEFAULT OF SUCH RESIGNATION THE COMMITTEE SHALL INVITE THE MEMBER IN QUESTION TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS , VERBALLY OR IN WRITING, as to why he or she should not be EXPELLED, following which the PROPOSAL TO EXPEL SUCH A MEMBER SHALL BE PUT TO A VOTE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING to be held at the earliest opportunity. THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNDER BOTH YOUR LEADERSHIP HAVE JOINTLY DECIDED TO APPLY CLAUSE 10.1 OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED STATUTES in the case of MR GEORGES BONELLO DUPUIS, PREVIOUS COMMODORE OF THE CLUB, BY SUSPENDING THE MENTIONED INDIVIDUAL FROM THE CLUB FOR GRAVE INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE CLUB'S PREMISES. THE SUSPENSION WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE WRITER OF THIS NOTICE BY THE CLUB'S COMMODORE. THE CLUB'S SENIOR OFFICERS HAVE FAILED TO COMMUNICATE TO CLUB MEMBERS BY DELIBERATELY NOT DULY POSTING THE SUSPENSION RESOLUTION ON THE CLUB'S NOTICE BOARD AFTER 8 MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE DATE OF MR GEORGES BONELLO DUPUIS' SUSPENSION RESOLUTION CAME INTO EFFECT AS REQUIRED BY THE CLUB'S STATUTES. IN VIEW OF MR GEORGES BONELLO DUPUIS' RECURRING BEHAVIOUR, AFTER HIS SUSPENSION AND HAVING, AS WELL, DISREGARDED THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO HIM FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE APPROPRIATE APOLOGIES TO THE CLUB MEMBERS AND STAFF AND EXECUTIVE MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HIS BEHAVIOUR THAT RESULTED IN HIS SUSPENSION AND WHICH WAS COMMUNICATED TO HIM, IS THAT THE FULL APPLICATION OF CLAUSE 10. 2 OF THE DISCIPLINARY SECTION OF THE STATUTES IS FULLY WARRANTED, WITH THE LIFE EXPULSION FROM THE CLUB'S MEMBERSHIP SUBJECT TO NO FURTHER APPEAL AND FUTURE REVOCATION . I THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY AND PUBLICLY BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB, THE DISCIPLINARY CASE ABOVE DESCRIBED WHICH HAS NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO OUR DEAR CLUB'S MEMBERS AS DESCRIBED IN THE CLUB'S STATUTES. THEREFORE AS A FULL MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB I AM REQUESTING THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO FULLY COMPLY WITH OUR CLUB'S STATUTES BY: 1.- POSTING ON THE CLUB'S NOTICE BOARDS FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED FOR CLUB MEMBERS TO BE DULY NOTIFIED OF MR GEORGES BONELLO DUPUIS' SUSPENSION IN ORDER TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE CLUB'S STATUTES. 2.- THE COMPLETE APPLICATION OF CLAUSE 10.2 TO MR GEORGES BONELLO DUPUIS' DISCIPLINARY CASE, AND POSTING, IN THE CLUB'S NOTICE BOARD THE RESULTS OF THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL RESOLUTION ON THE CASE, AS PER THE STATUTES OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB. ANYTHING SHORT OF THE ABOVE WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FAILURE TO EXECUTE, ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO ITS MEMBERS AND COULD BE DENOUNCED LEGALY BY CLUB MEMBERS FOR FAILING, ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB TO SAFEGUARD THE ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB STATUTES ENTRUSTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BY ITS VOTING MEMBERS. MOST RESPECTFULLY, CARLOS NORIEGA RMYC FULL MEMBER NUMBER 1554 NOTICE FOR ROYAL MALTA YACHT CLUB MEMBERS Isomat Unica clinches Raymarine Double Handed Figure of Eight Race title ISOMAT Unica, skippered by Jamie Sammut and John Cachia, is the name to be etched on the coveted trophy of the Raymarine Double Handed Figure of Eight Race which took place over the weekend. The 80 nautical mile race, is considered to be one of the tough- est on the Royal Malta Yacht Club Racing Calendar however its pop- ularity, over the years, certainly hasn't diminished. It is now in its twenty second year. Though early forecasts showed little wind and the original course seemed under threat, luck was on the crews' side as Satur- day dawned with improved con- ditions for the race to take place as originally planned. Crews left Marsamxett Harbour, sailing onto the Outer Munxar Cardinal Mark heading towards the South of Malta onto Filf la and up to the North Comino Channel, going round Gozo and heading back to Malta finishing at the Royal Mal- ta Yacht Club. Once San Dimitri Point in Gozo was passed it became clear that a battle between Isomat Unica and Elusive II BOV, skippered by Aar- on and Christoph Podesta, was going to ensue since the Podesta siblings were consistently ahead of Sammut and Cachia. This close position was kept through- out the race with Elusive II BOV being the first boat across the fin- ish line. It was however, the wind veering slightly to the north east just past Portomaso which gave Isomat Unica an advantage ena- bling them to clinch first place 1 minute 45 seconds, on corrected time ahead, of Elusive II BOV. "Being just two people on board makes it tougher. Margin of error has to be low and therefore the key to do well is to balance be- ing conservative yet at the same time being economical in terms of time to carry out manoeu- vres", commented Jamie Sammut (Isomat Unica) further reiterat- ing the difficulty of the course. "This race is very tiring – men- tally and physically, and being in synch with your team mate is key to achieving a satisfactory result. My team mate John Cachia and I were kept on our toes throughout the whole race". A Prize Giving ceremony was hosted by RLR Yachting, agents of Raymarine products, at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in the presence of crews, families and friends. Prizes were kindly donated by RLR Yachting and consisted of Raymarine equipment as well as technical sailing gear. Prize Giv- ing was presided by Royal Malta Yacht Club's Vice Commodore and Race Officer Mark Napier, whilst prizes were presented by Mrs. Dora Ripard. The Club is grateful towards RLR Yachting for the constant support they give to the Club's initiatives. A big thank you goes also to the volunteers who ensure that such races take place! Raymarine Double Handed Figure of Eight Race Results IRC Racer 1 Class 1st Place - Isomat Unica – Jamie Sammut / John Cachia 2nd Place – Elusive II BOV – Christoph Podesta / Aaron Podesta 3rd Place - Ton Ton – Jonathan Gambin / Greg Mifsud IRC Racer 2 Class 1st Place – Fast Forward – Mark Vassallo / David Anastasi 2nd Place – Pep – Peter Valentino / Jan Rossi 3rd Place – Lightning – Alfi e Manduca / Matthew Farrugia w IRC Cruisers Class 1st Place - Manana – Peter Ellul Vincenti / Fabio Galea 2nd Place – Lartista – Anton Calleja / Renato Camilleri RMYC Cruisers Class 1st Place - Escape - Georges Bonello Dupuis /Tom Bonello Ghio Overall Winner Isomat Unica – Jamie Sammut / John Cachia Isoma Unica crewed by Jamie Sammut and John Cachia win coveted Raymarine Double Handed Figure of Eight Race Photo by RMYC