It seems that many of you are excited about the new Pelle P catalogue.  It really is a great benefit of RHADC membership; there is nowhere else on this side of the Atlantic that one can buy the Pelle P gear, so it is nice to have such a high-quality clothing range that is exclusive to RHADC members and that they are prepared to offer us at these attractive prices.  It’s a happy coincidence that gear that comes from Sweden holds up so well in our unforgiving climate.  I have Pelle P jackets that are over 10 years old and the zippers still function as well as they did when new! That’s hard to say about some of their competitors.      I should also add that if you would like to order without the RHADC branding, so you can give as gifts to your non-RHADC member friends and family, this is also possible; just specify this on your order form.

Thinking about what a great opportunity this is for our members got me wondering whether you all were aware of the other ‘perks’ of RHADC membership?  There are quite a few newer members who might not know about them, or older members who have forgotten!

For example, RHADC members get a discount on their insurance premiums for insurance coverage provided by Freisenbruch Meyer.  Did you all know that?

Or that you can buy wine and liquor (and beer too, I think) from the bar at RHADC to take home (unopened) at near wholesale prices?  That was a benefit I availed myself of quite a lot during the early months of the pandemic when coming for takeout: 2 pizzas and a couple of bottles of wine please!  Why buy wine in the grocery store or even have delivered from the wine merchant when you can get a better price at your Club?  You do have to come to pick it up though….. It’s a great side benefit to your membership, but I’m not going to suggest you should drink more to get better value from your dues!

If anyone out there amongst our membership would like to add to this list, if you are a business owner and would like to encourage your fellow members to patronize your business, please contact Wendy and tell her what you are prepared to offer and we’ll happily share it with the membership.  Thank you!

There’s also the gym, don’t forget about the gym.  You’ll need to do a bit of working out to get rid of the excess calories from the wine!

Another thing that many of you may not be aware of, is that apart from our formal reciprocal arrangements with the Beverly YC in Marion, Ma.; the Golden Gate YC in San Francisco, Ca. and the Blue Water Cruising Club, as a Royal club, you can ask Wendy to supply you with a letter of introduction which will give you guest privileges at any Royal YC anywhere in the world (except probably not the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, IOW as they do consider themselves rather special – but it might be fun to try it, if anyone is willing?).  When Ted and I were in Cape Town in 2019, we received a warm welcome at the Royal Cape YC; it’s a great way to meet like-minded people when travelling – which we all hope to do again one day!

Elspeth Weisberg
Commodore
February 17, 2021