Keen sailor Roger Sutton has been appointed Commodore of Cowes Sailability Club for the 2022 season.
Roger Sutton has been appointed Commodore of Cowes Sailability Club, after being voted into the role by members and trustees during the club’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 28th March 2022. Roger takes over the helm of the charity from Paul Wilks, who will continue to play an active role in the running of the club by coordinating motorboating events.
Having been a trustee of Cowes Sailability Club for three years, Roger is already very familiar with the club’s activities. “I am looking forward to working with other volunteers to help deliver the best service we can for the disabled people we serve,” he says. “I am always interested in meeting new people and hope to meet many of the club’s volunteers and members over the next few months.”
A familiar face in the local sailing community, Roger has been a member of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne since 1977. He is also a long-standing member of the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes and served as its chairman for three years.
Known to be both a keen sailor and a motorboating enthusiast, Roger started dinghy sailing with his wife in 1969 when stationed in Malta with the RAF. He continued sailing after moving to the Isle of Wight with his family in 1971 and bought a 26 foot cruising yacht, which he owned and sailed for thirty years. He now enjoys spending time exploring the coastline of the island in his motorised RIB (rigid inflatable boat).
Roger is proud to have passed on his love of water sports to his two daughters and four grandchildren. One of his daughters and her husband were previously European sailing champions in the Laser 4000 category, while one of his grandsons is currently in the southern area national squad for windsurfing.
The new commodore will be supported in his role by a very able committee including:
• Vice commodore: Stephen Skipper
• Honourable secretary: Martin Kimber
• Honourable treasurer: Carol Cunningham
• Fundraising officer: Trish Rooke
• Motorboating coordinator: Paul Wilks
• Membership secretary: Charlotte Barton-Smith
• Bosuns: Toby Matthews and Tony Steadman
• Health and safety officer: Stephen Skipper
• Safeguarding officer: Jenny Girvin-Baker
• Training administrator: Nigel Fountaine
• General committee members: Mick Young, Mike Waddington, Robin Lennox
The position of sailing coordinator is currently vacant and anyone who is interested in joining the team should contact [email protected] or speak with a member of the management committee for more information.