1999 Rotary Convention Singapore (S.E. Asia)

The Rotary gathering in 1999 was in Singapore and our AGM/Luncheon was held at the Singapore Westlin Hotel. ICmdre Arnold reported that we have lost some Fleets but gained others, He welcomed the British Virgin Islands Fleet, Northwest Washington Fleet, the Soutwest Fllet in Naples (Italy) the Weser-Jade Fleet together with the North East in Germany.

Past International Arnold Verkade installed Ferit Biren (Turkiye ) as International Rear Commodore, Ken Winters (New Zealand) International Vice Commodore, and Joe Phillips (Hawaii U S A) as International Commodore.

Following the Singapore Convention a post convention get together had been arranged by Vice International Ken Winters. On Thursday 17th June A tour of Keppels Ship Builders had been arranged followed by a lunch at the Wharf Restaurant. Friday saw us on a Harbour Cruise visiting the Santosa Island with lunch being served on the Island.

Before departing for Home International Commodore Joe was invited by Int Rear Cmdre Ferit Berin to visit Turkey. As the New Commodore Joe & His first Mate Marda quickly wended their way to visit Ferit and Joe was invited to charter two new Fleets the Marmaris, and the Fethiye Fleets which duty he duly carried out

Following this visit our Commodore and First Mate then journeyed to England to visit P I C Andrew He was taken firstly to Burnham-on-Crouch where he was hosted by Fleet Commodore Mike and Ist Mate Anne they sailed with the East Coast and Suffolk Fleets together with members of the Dutch Fleets who had sailed over to welcome Joe a Really wonderful rally. On the Monday Joe was back in Essex to take part in the Yearly Handicapped outings on a Thames Barge organised by the Suffolk Fleet. With assistance from Brian Skinner Joe was taken to visit the Humber Fleet where he sailed a 24 foot 100 year old wooden sloop He stopped at New York on his way home to visit Tom and Mike Dent to meet members of the New York Fleet.

It was sadly reported that Commodore Sabri Yalim and his first mate Sevim died during the first shock of the earthquake which occurred in Turkye in August IRRC Ferit report how very deeply touched he had felt by receiving so many messages of sympathy and offers of help from many Iforians around the world

Vice Commodore Ken Winters also invited all Iforian's to come visit New Zealand to watch the finals of the America Cup races which were due to take place in March 2000

Like all Past International Commodores Joe had his fair share of Computer problems but with great resolve and with the help of Mark Moore he quickly came to terms with things and he started a new phase for all Iforians and that was Service on the sea was "Fun Fun Fun Fun" and this catch phase very quickly caught on. No doubt due to the encouragement and magical personality Joe always carried with him.

At a special event in Chicago in November world famous Captain William Pinckney was appointed Honorary Commodore of the Chicago Fleet. As PIC Bob Stuart presented the honours to Capt Pinckey he credited him for his work in the Middle Passage Voyage retracing the route of his slave ancestors.

Fleet activities were very much in the news at this time. In Australia a gathering of the Auckland Fleet together with the Australian Gold Coast Fleet which included watching the exciting Louis Vuitton Cup Race took place.

Likewise in Canada the Seattle and Vancouver Fleets gathered for a meeting in Garrison Bay 17 Yachts attended and they moored in three lines The first line supplied the cocktails, the Second row supplied dinner the Third row of course the desserts. No mention as to who supplied the drinks were reported

At Leuwarden in the Netherlands our Dutch Fleets hosted an International Rally with Falcon Class Sloops Our Commodore Joe together with his First mate Marda were hosted by IRRC Frits Bartels and his charming wife Joke and a great rally took place enjoyed by all who participated.

In October some 20 yachts carried foreign flags were amongst the 80 yachts rafted together in Gunusiuk Harbour to take part in the Bodrum Cup regatta in Turkye. The winds were so light that Many yachts had to motor back to Bodrum for the presentation of certificate and winners cup A musical show was laid on for all those present.

Sadly Joe Phillips was abroad when the Japanese Fleet visited The Hawaiian Fleet In has absence PIC Andrew Mitchell together with IRC Mark Moore and Fleet Commodore Gerhart Walch welcome our Japanese visitors and an elegant dinner was arranged to welcome them all at the Elk Club Hawaii. the Japanese party was led by IRRC Mashuo Hosokawa and the Japanese Main Secretary Kazuyoshi Yamada and Treasurer Kei Kita with members of the Osaka and Nishinomiya Fleets.

Japanese Visit to the Hawaiian Fleet