Calling all Rotarian sailors


Crocus’ bloom in Banbridge


Have you heard about the ʻInternational Yachting Fellowship of Rotariansʼ (IYFR)?


IYFR seems to be Rotaryʼs best kept secret, in spite of articles in ʻRotary Todayʼ and District Magazines and display stands at RI and RIBI conferences.


What is IYFR?


IYFR is a fellowship in which Rotarians share a common interest of sailing, having fun and enhancing their Rotary experience, while making new friends around the world and exploring new opportunities for service.


Is IYFR a new idea?


It all began in 1947 when John Barrett of the Rotary Club of Brixton organised a meeting with other sailing Rotarians and the ʻYachting Fellowship of Rotariansʼ was born, a completely new concept in the Rotary world. Since then the fellowship has grown steadily throughout the world and in 1956, with the first commodore outside Great Britain, Bob Stuart from Chicago, it became the ʻInternational Yachting Fellowship of Rotariansʼ. There are now almost 3000 members in 98 fleets in 21 countries of the world.


What type of sailing is involved in IYFR? The type of sailing varies with the fleets eg. The Clyde Fleet is comprised completely of sailing yachts, the Thames Fleet is all motor yachts and the Sussex Fleet is a mixture, while the East of Scotland Fleet has few boats of any kind, but enjoys a more social membership on commercial craft.


What are the programmes in IYFR? Events vary with fleets, but fellowship is always the name of the game, fun being the main objective. Most fleets organise musters, often at weekends, some have treasure hunts, races or other events. Some fleets enjoy summer cruises in company, while the Clyde Fleet members cruise the West Coast of Scotland independently, meeting up at venues,


where convenient. In GB & I there are two fellowship weekends in March and November, in good hotels around the country. The next will be in Edinburgh this November. On the international scene, a three day cruise always follows the RI Convention. In 2009 over 60 visitors came to Scotland and enjoyed the waters of the Firth of Clyde on 20 sailing boats along with Clyde members and friends. At the evening dinners, numbers increased to over 100. Great fun and international fellowship was had by all.


Where does Rotary fit in?


We are Rotarians as well as sailors and some fleets try to incorporate a service element in their programme eg. the Sussex Fleet organise a day sail in Chichester Harbour for about 200 disabled children, as part of ʻKids Outʼ.


How can you expand your sailing waters in IYFR?


Some fleets participate in fleet exchanges eg. the East Coast Fleet exchanged with the Hawaiian Fleet, giving them some very different sailing waters. All IYFR members have access to the database containing the contact details of all 3000 IYFR members, leaving a sail in different waters only a phone call away.


If you are in a sailing club, why join IYFR?


Local sailing clubs provide a clubhouse and regular local events. IYFR provides an added dimension of sailing with like‑minded Rotarians, not only locally, but also in wider sailing areas. The two are complementary.


How little does it cost to join IYFR? The annual subscription is only £15 plus a local fleet subscription of about £5. There is currently no joining fee.


How do I join IYFR? Contact commodoregbi@googlemail.com for further information and an application form.


Clonmel Golf Club was a hive of activity on Friday, May 6, with more than 40 teams in keen competition for the annual Rotary Club of Clonmel golf classic, generously sponsored again this year by Kentz. The winners of the 2011 classic were the Boston Scientific golfers, with John Maher, Davy Hallinan and MJ Browne making up the victorious team. They scored 99 points in the champagne scramble. The team of Larry Kiely, Matty Tynan and James Conway were second, with the Chadwicks team of Lar Whelan, Jimmy Ryan and John Molloy were third. Woodlock Scaffolding, represented by Anthony Norris, Michael McSweeney and Derek Nolan were fourth, and the ladiesʼ team of Helen OʼDonoghue, Mary OʼDwyer and Therese Terry, representing the sponsors, Kentz, won fifth prize.


Charities in the Clonmel area will benefit to the tune of several thousand euro as a result of the classic. The club is particularly grateful to Kentz, who have been loyal sponsors for seven years and whose support makes the classic such a great success each year.


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Making sure the Rotary information sign on the 'End Polio Now' crocus project is carefully planted, President Joan Davis, President Elect Gerry McElvogue,Treasurer Uel Mcrea, Past President's, Eddie Carr, Victor Jennet and Rotarians Trevor Coffey and Nigel Jess.


The club was kindly supported by Banbridge District Council who gave permission to plant the purple crocus 'R' in Solitude Park and Rotarians were assisted by Council grounds persons in October to ensure a job well done.


President Joan engaged with both local newspapers to ensure maximum coverage with photographs and editorial. The general public in Banbridge who supported recent ʻbucketʼ collections at Supervalu, Centre and Tesco were kept up to date with all funds collected in connection with the ʻThanks for Lifeʼ project .


Photograph: Michael Cousins, Banbridge leader


Clonmel’s golf classic a success


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