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Commodore’s Introduction
Constitution
History
The proposal for the formation of a Merchant Navy Association Boat Club (MNABC) was initiated by Clive Marsh in 2008. Clive
was based at the Rye Yacht Club and sailed a 17-foot GRP sloop. The MNABC is a group of like minded MNA members who are
interested in sailing and boating, contributing to maritime safety, sharing information through multi-media linkages and meeting at
least once a year at the MNA AGM.
Benefits of the Merchant Navy Association Boat Club
Application Form
To join the MNA Boat Club please download and complete an application form available in PDF format by clicking Here
Introduction
The National Council of the Merchant Navy Association agreed to the formation of a boat club in 2007. The Association Boat Club
supports the objectives detailed in the MNA Constitution and this document gives additional considerations relevant to the
management and administration of the Boat Club.
Club Constitution
1.
Name
The Club shall be called “The Merchant Navy Association Boat Club” (MNABC).
2.
Ensign
The Club shall fly the Red Ensign and the MNA Burgee.
3.
Objectives
The objectives of the Club are to facilitate and promote the safe participation and enjoyment in yachting and boating activities on
oceans, seas, lakes and inland waterways. We also seek to facilitate the training of prospective younger members and promote
opportunities for careers in the leisure sector.
4.
Membership
Membership is open to all national members of the MNA in UK and Overseas. All members should have some connection to
those whose occupation is or was in the maritime sector. Any member, who has not paid their National membership
subscription, after one reminder before the end of March each year, will be deemed to have resigned. Honorary Membership is
available for distinguished service to the Club. All members must be at least 18 years of age although prospective younger
members will be encouraged to participate in training and development programmes.
5.
Committee
The Club’s affairs shall be managed by an elected Committee who shall remain in position for a period of three years. This
Committee shall consist of the following officers: Commodore, Vice Commodore, up to three Rear Commodores, Secretary,
Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Webmaster and the support of three co-opted members for their specific knowledge,
experience and ability to advance the Club’s aims and initiatives. The Commodore and Vice Commodore are also the Club’s
Flag Officers. One member of the MNABC Committee shall also be a member of the MNA National Executive and a Board
member of the MNA Charity. MNABC Committee members are indemnified as detailed in the MNA Guideline’s and are covered
by the National MNA Public Liability Insurance Policy.
6.
Funding
The Club will not hold any permanent funds but will have access to the MNA General Fund and the MNA Welfare Fund should
the need arise. The Treasurer shall keep a record of monies received and dispersed on behalf of the Club. This account will be
included in the MNA’s end of year accounts presented to all MNA National members and the Charity Commission. Any
fundraising activities shall be for the benefit of the wider seafaring community.
7.
Club Secretaries
The Secretary shall maintain a record of all general meetings. The Membership Secretary shall keep a register of the Club
members’ names, addresses and any boats they own. Members are responsible for notifying any changes to their details and
boat ownership by contacting the Membership Secretary.
8.
Sailing
Any regattas or Dragon Boat races organised by the Club will be under RYA, IYRU or RORC rules. The sailing and/or safety
instructions will state clearly which rules apply and any local modifications.
9.
The Legal Structure
The Club is a non-profit, unincorporated volunteer organisation that also seeks to bring together others with the endeavor and
energy to make a difference in their community of interest.
10.
RYA
The Club shall, at all times, be affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association.
The MNA Boat Club Committee members are:
Commodore:
Clive Edwards
Vice Commodore:
Chris Wood
Rear Commodore:
Captain John Sail
Rear Commodore:
Paul Compton
Rear Commodore:
Prof. Richard Card
Secretary/Treasurer:
Tim Brant
Membership Secretary:
David Cornes
East Anglia Regional Chair:
Steve Walker
Webmaster:
David Hearn
MNA BOAT CLUB
For those of you for whom this is your first visit to the MNA Boat Club Seafarersafloat.com website I guess I
ought to say a few words by way of introducing myself.
My family have been involved in shipping for several generations, but my own merchant shipping sea-going
experience was limited to a short time as a cruise director in the 1960’s before joining Her Majesty’s
Coastguard in 1973 where I spent twenty-three years including a spell as reserve skipper of the Portland
Coastguard patrol boat. More recently I completed three years as Station Manager of the NCI Lyme Bay
Coastwatch Station before taking up my present Water Safety role with the RNLI.
I was born at Leigh-on-Sea and brought up in Norfolk where I first learned to sail on The Broads,
subsequently qualifying as an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, and went to Highgate School in North London.
However my experience with HMCG led me to becoming a rescue boat operator, and eventually Chief
Rescue Officer for Yacht Clubs of Weymouth and the British Sailing Team.
My boating in recent years has been mainly in the Med where my partner Lois and I share an interest in a
Yarding 27 Motor Cruiser which we keep on a permanent mooring at Port Ambonne in the south of France
and use as a second home. Until very recently we had a Hardy Pilot 20 “Felice” which we kept on a mooring
Weymouth and used for pottering around in the Weymouth Bay – Lulworth area.
However we’ve become “fair weather sailors” during the last few years and have decided to relocate our
boating activities to the Norfolk Broads and have just acquired a 30 year old Hardy 25, mv “Lady Helen”
which needs some work and a new engine. Subject to Covid 19 restrictions, we hope to have completed
work by the spring when “Lady Helen” will be relocated to Cox’s Boatyard at Barton Turf on the River Ant
where she will be used with our MNA Boat Club “WaterWatch” Scheme (see WaterWatch pages) in
partnership with the Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association (NSBA) to keep an eye out for potential hazards or
incidents.
As regards the MNA Boat Club along with our small MNABC committee we’ve initiated several ideas which
thanks to our webmaster David Hearn have included launching this website. My aim is to try to involve many
more of the membership than previously, but I’m also very aware that the MNABC is unusual in having its
membership scattered around virtually throughout the whole of the UK (and even abroad) so that trying to get
people together is extremely difficult, and very expensive. To address that problem we’ve needed to adopt a
somewhat different approach to that used by most yacht/boat clubs.
Following discussions with Sir Alan Massey, chief executive of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, in 2014 we
launched our “SeaVue Scheme” that involved members acting in a practical way as “watchkeepers afloat”
whenever they took to the water. That initiative has now evolved into our WaterWatch scheme which we are
operating in East Anglia in partnership with the NSBA. - full details of the scheme and details of how our
members are encouraged to participate are featured on our WaterWatch pages.
We’ve also negotiated a partnership with the RNLI where MNA Boat Club members are encouraged to sign
up as Local Ambassadors to promote their Respect the Water Campaign around inland waterways as well as
around the coast.
So, whether you have a boat or not, we’d welcome you aboard as a member of our MNA WaterWatch crew
where you can make a valuable contribution to enhancing safety either around the coast or on inland waters.
We also publish our own MNABC “Boating Basics” DVD, and if any members, new or old, have any thoughts
or ideas as regards what else the Club could be doing do please let me know
Yours Aye
Clive Edwards
Commodore
•
A way of keeping the Merchant Navy Association alive and active in local sailing communities, boatyards,
and marinas both on the coast and on inland waterways in the UK and abroad
•
Affiliation to the RYA and other organisations and clubs, exchanging ideas for members.
•
Exchange forum through members regional meetings via Zoom
•
Lobby authorities on matters affecting safety on the water, river and canal sides and along the coast.
•
Member’s MNABC pennant flag and lapel badge and access to a range of MNA corporate branded clothing for broader
recognition.
•
Increased awareness and credibility for the MNA and our lobbying activities.
•
Liaison with the RNLI, RYA, RIN, MCA, NCI, MVS and training establishments
•
Partnership with the RNLI for members to become MNA-RNLI Volunteer Ambassadors to promote the RNLI’s Respect the Water
Campaign on inland waterways.
•
The formation of special interest groups; In particular the MNA WaterWatch scheme where members can join the WaterWatch
crew to act as watchkeepers afloat or ashore and Spot, Plot, Report incidents, potential incidents or hazards on the UK’s inland
waters to the relevant waterway safety authority or to the HM Coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre in the case of
incidents on the coast or at sea..
•
Publication of the MNA Boat Club’s “Boating Basics” guide for newcomers to boating
•
Regular articles in publications such as Full Ahead, The Pulse, Canals on Line etc.
WaterWatch Project
MNA BOAT CLUB
Supporting the RNLI ‘Respect the Water’ Campaign
