SYC & Société des Régattes de Fécamp (SRF)

[robin]

In his thread on this year's Royal Escape Race, Steve has commented:

, , . Following years of wholehearted support for the race, Alain Prevot feels that the time has come to take a step back from the race and Tony and Adele Boysons are very kindly taking over, providing our main retention trophies this year. Great news indeed.

For 'Alain Prevot' we can, of course read 'Société des Régattes de Fécamp' with whom SYC has enjoyed cordial relations.

I find this a sad development, albeit one for which no censure can be attached to this Race Committee. The cooling between the two clubs has been perceptible for some tme.

As a relatively recent member of SYC, can I ask how fellow members feel about this? Do others also regard this as a retrograde step, or is it an inevitability as our two clubs evolve on different paths - or even separately on parallel paths?

All comments welcome

[Steve Vyse]

Robin,

I appreciate your comments but I'm not sure they paint a true picture.

Alain Prevot is in the trucking industry and sadly the credit crunch is affecting everybody, and the not inconsiderable cash support he has given us has to be taken into account. That he has decided to step back does in no way indicate a cooling of relations between SYC and SRF, and this was a point emphasised during my meeting on Saturday with our Admiral Tony Boysons, who with Adele spend more time in Fécamp than any other SYC member.

We are indeed very different clubs and the French attitude towards membership is nothing like our own. However just as at SYC the club officers change and as new people take over, then new relationships are forged, built upon years of tradition. This is an ongoing and quite proper process.

I enjoy warm relations with Alain Soublin who is a very good friend to SYC and in part due to my own execrable French and his superb English, acts as liaison between the RER committee and the SRF. Last year I represented SYC at the SRF annual meeting and I have to say Jason Large and myself were welcomed with open arms.

I am again driving over to Fécamp at Easter to meet with those involved in the RER weekend, and from where I am sitting the French very much want us there and may, I suspect, be disappointed if they were to see a thread such as this on our website.

If anybody has any specific requests or questions that I can put to SRF at Easter then please PM or email me at mailto:steve.vyse@sekforde.co.uk">steve.vyse@sekforde.co.uk

Steve Vyse

Chair
Royal Escape Committee.

[robin]

Robin,

I appreciate your comments but I'm not sure they paint a true picture.

Alain Prevot is in the trucking industry and sadly the credit crunch is affecting everybody, and the not inconsiderable cash support he has given us has to be taken into account. That he has decided to step back does in no way indicate a cooling of relations between SYC and SRF . . .

Steve Vyse

Chair
Royal Escape Committee.

Thank you for your reply.  I understand that current lamentable economic circumstances form a major part in the particular challenges you are facing with aspects of organising RER33.  I acknowledge unreservedly also that many commendable examples of co-operation and understanding between SYC and SRF continue extant.

This is why I chose to raise this question - for question it is - as a separate Forum 'thread' from the dedicated RER 2009 thread you have kicked off.

I still believe that there is a cooling between our clubs.  I have felt when I have been in the clubhouse there (my last RER was 2007) that SRF members were less-inclined than previously to engage with us in mangling eachothers' languages and socialising generally.  When I read elsewhere on this website about former Halcyon days when there were close relations/dinners/rallies between us, I wonder if we are seeing a long-term trend.

I also have to say that I believe that the conduct of individual SYC members on the occasion of past RERs has not invariably been such as we all would hope for from ambassadors of our club: and that I respect the culture changes you are seeking to inculcate.

As I regard myself as an older member of SYC purely in the Technical sense of Physical and Moral infirmity, I should welcome comment from those with longer memories!

[djskinner]

I have entered for this years RER-my 29th.My involvement started with Alerion of Arun then Pas de Chat & for the last 18 years-Moonlight Saunter.
My involvement with the French really kicked off when Dominique Chalot entered Quillery at Cowes Week.We moored together,drunk together & played childish yachty games together.We had to relay the courses to them when announced as their VHF did not have 37.With the language difficulty and shortage of time before our starts this was not without difficulty but we managed.A close friendship with the French crew was formed.
The point of the above is that if your French is like mine then full integration is "not without difficulty".It is all too easy to moor & heh-ho for Le Progress.Like us it is an effort for them.So why have things change because changed they have?In my case age comes into it.I have not made a full effort to get to know SRF`s up & coming newer Members.I suspect that our own younger Members would rather party on their own than delve into their limited memory of school French.Until that attitude changes the good old days of visiting & staying in French homes will be just a memory.If you have never experienced a French Sunday family lunch you haven`t lived.The celebration lasts some 5 to 6 hours with numerous courses & friends & relatives coming & going.Much hugging & kissing.
Well done Steve for making a real effort.You younger gung-ho yachties don`t leave him on his own.Have ago at the old Entente Cordial.Make the effort you could be repaid by some wonderful experiences.I know I have.

[Steve Vyse]

David,

many thanks for your post - Dominique sends you his warm regards and may even by looking for a Moonlight Saunter berth for the coming race.

Comments about the difficulty of talking with the new team at SRF are well founded and comes down on both sides to unnecessary embarrassment over our grasp of respective languages. Mickael Menendez the current President of SRF is a great guy, but his English is as awful as my French. However with a bit of help from friends and a 13 year old son with a gifted French teacher we get along fine. I am pleased to report that all the team at SRF are very happy with the way the Royal Escape is shaping up and have given unconditional support for the new Saturday Wine, Cheese and Chocolate event we are laying on  at SRF.

Oh and on the note of fostering friendship, SRF have a tradition we all might want to remember. Everybody, from the President to the newest member, on entering the French club house have to say hello with a shake of the hand to everybody else present before they can order a drink from the bar. This process on a busy day can take some time, but it does mean that barriers are broken down and new friends are made, so don't be embarrassed next time you are at SRF. Stride up and be shake a hand or two whilst throwing around your best 'Bonjour's' and you'll be rewarded with smiles all round.