MCDOA Committee Afloat

18 Jan 2024 - Few things can be as exhilarating as standing on the flying bridge of a 70 ft naval patrol boat for a speedy trip across the Solent from Portsmouth to Cowes on the Isle of Wight on a blustery day, interrupted only by a Man Overboard exercise, followed by a tour and lunch at the legendary Royal Yacht Squadron, founded in 1815. This was the overture to yesterday’s MCDOA Committee meeting arranged by our Secretary Alex ‘Snowie’ Snow who doubles as the CO of HMS PUNCHER.

On our arrival at Cowes, we were met by RYS historian Cdre David Hughes RN, an MEO who served in the Royal Yacht HMY BRITANNIA in the late 1970s and left the Royal Navy in 1998. After giving us a talk about the history of the RYS and inviting us to select our choices from the lunch menu, he took us on a tour of the building and showed us the many spectacular artefacts on display. Unfortunately, but understandably, photography was not permitted.

We were joined for the tour by Snowie’s parents, who live on the Isle of Wight, before enjoying a much anticipated lunch served by Chief Steward James Kitteridge.

We held our committee meeting after arriving back alongside in No. 2 Basin in Portsmouth Naval Base.

We are hugely thankful to IOW native Snowie for arranging such a novel venue for our meeting which also involved Martin Mackey (Chair), Kevin Giles (Social Secretary) and Yours Truly (co-founding Vice Chairman & Webmaster). Sadly, Ali Aindow (Treasurer) and Tug Wilson (Committee Member) were absent on duty.

Huge thanks as well to the ship’s company of HMS PUNCHER, especially XO CPO(MW) Dave Earner, for making us feel so welcome, and to our hosts at the RYS.

Incidentally, we are looking for a new serving committee member among our membership to replace the sadly deceased Bob Hawkins. There are also several members (no names, no pack drill) who have yet to renew their annual membership via our MOJO website.