DOSC YEARBOOK 2021

DOSC YEARBOOK 2021

2021

S A I L I N G O F F S H O R E S I N C E 1 9 7 4

Dear DOSC Members I want to start by thanking you, the DOSC Membership, for yet another year where you have all demonstrated your passion for the sport of sailing and your incredible commitment to the Club. Despite the challenges we faced with reduced crew numbers, participation in sailing has been incredibly robust. More than 1,000 races have taken place throughout the season, and we have enjoyed over 300 days of sailing activities on the water. What's more, despite the summer weather, an average of 30 boats have taken part in every race over the past few months. These are impressive figures, particularly as we had to cancel and reschedule some races in the first quarter of this year. The Club has benefitted from the continued restrictions placed on international travel, with many Members opting to remain in the United Arab Emirates over the summer months. This has led to the Club's highest footfall in its history, with an average of 3,600 member and 2,800 guest visits every month. Consequently, DOSC is in good financial shape. Improved revenues, combined with solid financial management, has enabled us to improve the Club infrastructure, facilities, and services. You will all be aware that the Tentola has been refurbished, increasing our capacity whilst giving us a superb venue where we can screen the world's top sports events. Behind the scenes, we have improved the Club's power supply and rebalanced the air-conditioning system throughout the premises. The benefit of the project, which has been a substantial undertaking, is that

we have improved energy efficency and cut running costs. Looking ahead, we will be implementing improvements to the DOSC Marina. Space is always at a premium, so we

plan to reconfigure the Marina to optimise berthing. In addition, by dredging the area in front of the

Clubhouse, we aim to gain an additional workable space with floating pontoons where dinghies and ribs can tie up. We will also be growing the fleet and overhauling our existing boats; a refit is due for the Club's Lasers and Optimists, and we have six new Zests due to arrive in time for the coming season. Finally, one of the initiatives that I am most excited about is the new DOSC Member Application for iOS and Android. For the past six months, the team has been working hard to develop what promises to be a game-changer in terms of how Members use and enjoy the Club. As a critical part of DOSC's digital transformation, the App will

ensure that everything you need is literally at your fingertips, from communications and event registration to sailing course bookings and member account records. In short, I am confident that the new DOSC Member App will significantly enhance everyone's experience of being part of the Club. I will now leave you to continue to read the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club 2021 Yearbook, which is rapidly becoming an essential annual record of Club activities. This year, the Yearbook is twice the length with more engaging content and, in line with our commitment to sustainability, being released in digital format only. I hope that you will enjoy this year's edition as much as I have. Reading through its pages has brought up lots of memories of what has, ultimately, been an incredibly positive season. I look forward to seeing all our members, old and new, at DOSC over the coming months, both on dry land and out on the water. Simon Reeves, Commodore

CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE & DETERMINATION: DOSC ENDS THE 2020-21 SEASON WITH RENEWED OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE

As we have moved through the sailing season from September 2020 to the present, we have become increasingly busy at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC). This time last year we had recently come out of lockdown and the world was still reeling in the wake of the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since September, we have had to be creative in the face of challenging circumstances, and we became extremely proficient at adapting rapidly in line with changing regulations. Now, as we near the end of the sailing year, we are more resilient than we have ever been. Of course, challenges related to the pandemic are still evident, but we are all adapting to the new normal and making the best of the situation. Some of the high points of the past year include our membership renewals rate, which has been the highest the Club has ever seen. In addition, footfall has increased substantially as restrictions have eased, with an average of 3,600 members and 2,800 guests now coming through our doors every month. We have also seen a lot of activity both on and off the water, with an impressive turn-out for DOSC across our racing and cruising events, and for social activities. Learn to Sail has also seen a tremendous increase in numbers; going forward, we will continue to expand to meet growing demand. From a financial perspective, we are in good shape and, in line with the DOSC

10 Year Strategy, we are now focused on implementing more of the strategic pillars and continuing to invest in upgrading the facilities to enhance the overall Member experience. To this end, a number of improvements have been implemented at the Club over the course of the season. To ease congestion at the entrance, we have widened the main gate to enable us to put in a dedicated lane for Members to use and a second lane for guests and visitors. We have also upgraded the HVAC system to make it more efficient and reduce our outgoings. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to streamline our processes; we have upgraded the point of sale (POS) system and enabled contactless payments, which is of course all the more important now from a health and safety perspective, in addition to being quicker and more convenient. The next phase in upgrading our capabilities will be to launch the new DOSC Member app which we have been working on for the past six months; this will go live by the end of 2021. We have also invested in the talented individuals that make up the DOSC team. The people who work at DOSC are amongst our most valued assets, and we are committed to equipping them with the tools they need to excel at their jobs. All DOSC managers have now completed a tailored leadership program, with the next step being for

everyone taking part to complete a bespoke development program to maximise their potential. The launch of Tentola Thanda as a summer sports venue has received an overwhelmingly positive response from Members and their guests. This project necessitated an extensive refurbishment of the old Tentola structure; I must congratulate the team who worked extremely hard and to very tight deadlines to make this happen. I have been very pleased to have seen so many people making use of the new space since it opened to enjoy the numerous sporting events that have taken place this summer live on the big screen. Working towards our sustainability goals has been another area of focus, with DOSC going plastic-free being an important step. We stopped selling disposable water bottles in The Clubhouse on 5th June, 2021, and put measures in place to encourage everyone to adopt the use of refillable bottles and use the filtered water provided in the Club free of charge. The Liquid of Life initiative was instrumental in making this a success. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all DOSC Members for their unwavering support. It is testament to the strength of our sailing community that even when times are tough, the collective spirit remains high, and the overall mood is one of optimism. I look forward to seeing you all on and offshore at DOSC over the coming season. Jacky Gerault, General Manager

DOSC TIMELINE

1974

1976

DOSC is founded

The first DOSC Clubhouse is built

1992 The inaugural Dubai to Muscat Offshore sailing race takes place

DOSC receives its CDA trade license 1996

1998

DOSC receives recognition as a RYA Training Centre

2009

RYA Sailability launches at DOSC

2010 DOSC hosts the prestigious Moth Worlds

2013

DOSC Youth Academy established

2015 Olympic champion Pippa Wilson joins the DOSC training team

2020

The DOSC 10 Year Strategy is launched

DOSC IN NUMBERS 2021

MONTHLY MEMBER GUESTS 2,800+

DOSC MEMBERSHI PS 766

MONTHLY MEMBER VI S I TS 3,600+

PR IVATELY OWNED BOATS 300

DOSC RACES PER YEAR 1,000+

DAYS ON THE WATER 300+

SAI L ING STUDENTS PER MONTH 500+

TRAINING BOATS 50

ENTR I ES TO DOSC RACE SER I ES 500+

1974 SAILING OFFSHORE SINCE

*numbers based on annual and monthly averages

2020-2030 DOSC STRATEGY

Dubai Offshore Sailing Club is a non-profit sailing club that promotes the safe practice of the sport of sailing and supports other competitive non-motorised watersports. DOSC strives to be recognised as a world leading sailing club in its operations, activities and governance. The Club prides itself on its engaged and active members that uphold the values of the sport of sailing and its positive impact on society in the United Arab Emirates. DOSC is a forward-thinking club that continues to develop its governance and stakeholder engagement to be regarded as a leading example of a sports and social club in the United Arab Emirates.

DOSC’s core values ref lect the shared ethos of its members and the values under which the Club was establ ished

1

Practising and promoting the values of the sport of sailing and supporting non-motorised watersports in the UAE

THE SPORT OF SAILING

A sense of community amongst the DOSC membership, the staff and visitors to the Club with a positive impact on society

2

INCLUSIVITY

Respect and protect the environment, with a proactive approach that has a positive impact on the ocean

3 4 5

SUSTAINABILITY

In upholding the Constitution, stewardship, governance and operations of the Club

INTEGRITY

As ambassadors of the sport of sailing, the United Arab Emirates and its values

EXCELLENCE

DOSC WILL MEET THE OBJECTIVES IN THE CORE

STATEMENT BY IMPLEMENTING EIGHT STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TOWARDS 2030

Develop sailing to be recognised as a leading sport in the UAE, and for the UAE to be recognised as a world-class sailing destination 1

Invest in DOSC to be an active, enjoyable, safe, inclusive and affordable club for members and the community to practice the sport of sailing 2

Grow, develop and retain a team of empowered staff that are treated with respect by acting as a fair, responsible and inclusive employer 3

Assess and monitor DOSC's environmental impact and implement initiatives to have a positive impact towards the sustainability of our environment and ocean resources 4

Engage proactively with local and international stakeholders to achieve the goals of the Club 5

Practise and promote good governance of DOSC through active stewardship and transparency with its members 6

Engage and retain an active membership that works to promote the sport of sailing and has a positive impact on society in Dubai and the UAE 7

Establish and develop a world-class sailing team to positively represent the UAE in international sailing competitions 8

DOSC BOARD

Simon Reeves, Commodore, and Ed Shiffner, Rear Commodore, talk about the past season at DOSC and discuss what's in store for the future. IN CONVERSATION

Let’s start with the 2020-21 sailing season. What were the highlights? Simon: What has really stood out to me is how the pandemic has prompted so many new and innovative ideas. What has emerged has been several improvements born out of necessity which have served to enhance the Member experience; we will keep these going even once we get back to a relatively normal situation. The increased interest in sailing is another thing that I am particularly delighted about; this is being seen across all areas of the sport, from the youth fleet through to dinghy and keelboat sailing. In addition, the level of participation over the summer months has grown to a huge extent. Ed: Personally, I have been impressed by the incredible amount of positivity shown by DOSC members, the Board, and staff. These have been tough and trying times for everyone, but the way in which sailing has developed over the year has been fantastic. Everyone is absolutely focused on making the best of the situation. What has delivered the most value over this period? Simon: An upside of everything we’ve been through over the past 18 months has been that it has prompted us to rapidly accelerate our adoption of new technologies. This has encompassed a range of innovative initiatives, such as Virtual Sailing and the Virtual Annual Prizegiving, which we have held for two

consecutive years. We will also be launching a new DOSC Member App this year, which we are very excited about as it represents a big leap forward. In addition, we will continue to look at how we can continue to integrate technology to improve the Member experience across everything we do. Ed: Innovation has also come through in the race formats introduced over the past season. New races such as the 24- hour Race, which is a very different type of racing, has sparked a lot of inbound interest from other Clubs who want to learn more about how it works. This is all part of DOSC maintaining a position at the forefront of sailing. What are the key principles that drive DOSC and what it stands for? Ed: It’s all about the Members and their experience. We are member-driven; every element of decision-making implemented by the Board is in line with delivering value to the membership. Simon: Fundamentally, DOSC encompasses everything to do with non- motorised water sport activities. It's so important to keep up with advancements in modern sailing, including kitesurfing and foiling, so that we stay relevant and don't get left behind. How has the DOSC Membership evolved? Simon: We are now seeing greater diversity in terms of nationalities, more women sailors, and a younger generation being attracted to the sport. That is great to see and reflects our commitment to inclusivity and to make sailing accessible to all. This change in

the membership dynamic is definitely something to be embraced.

How do you balance DOSC’s heritage with the need to future-proof? Ed: The Club has developed over the past 40-plus years, and there have been times where large expenditure has been required, such as building the Clubhouse. We need to continue to grow what we have inherited from previous members. Defining the 10-year strategy is a major part of this. Going back to the basics of why we joined and why we want to sail is the common bond between the interests of long-term and newer members. Revisiting these elemental factors helps us to focus on what is important and, consequently, decide on the Club priorities going forward. A goal for DOSC is to put the UAE on the global sailing map. What progress has been made this year? Simon: Clearly, international travel has been impacted by the pandemic. While restrictions have remained in place, we have been busy preparing for the future by taking the opportunity to grow our international network of sailing clubs and expand the reciprocity agreements. In addition to delivering benefits to our Members, this serves to enhance our reach and increase our standing in the global sailing community. Ed: With DOSC’s membership being predominantly made up of expatriates, we are a global community of sailors in our own right. As people move on from Dubai, they take the DOSC message with them and share our story with like-

DOSC BOARD

information helps us to make more nformed decisions and better imanage the overall delivery to the DOSC Membership. Ed: We have a library of projects that relate to both our tangible assets and our goals; in addition to opportunities to get out on the water, be that for racing, cruising or learning, we also have to ensure that the facilities are in good shape. A priority at some point within the next five to years will be to enhance the Marina through structural and maintenance works, and improving the efficiency of its layout. Parking is another thing that needs to be looked at in order to maximise the available space for boats and cars. Simon: We have to keep up with the times and deliver value to both our internal and external stakeholders. Ultimately, we have to deliver value to Dubai, and promoting the sport of sailing in the Emirate is absolutely at the core of everything we do.

minded sailors all around the world; we are in a unique position in this regard. DOSC has a long reach. Simon: It’s also worth mentioning that we are now at the stage that we have been able to create our own unique sailing events that are attracting the attention of other Clubs around the world, such as the 24 Hour Challenge.

We are also making substantial progress with our Youth Sailing

Program, helping to keep our younger sailors actively engaged in the sport. Going forward, what are the main priorities for the Board? Simon: Embracing new technologies to enhance the Member experience is a key priority. Being able to better analyse our >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Page 199 Page 200

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