Another name for Commodore

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Well I hate to mention the war, but if we'd lost it would have been something like "Herr Flottenadmiral"


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They speak German in Iraq??
 
I fully agree that there should be alternative labels for these roles should sailing or yacht clubs want to adopt them. It's ok to use tradition as a reason FOR retaining those titles but it's not really a very convincng argument AGAINST alternatives. Some of us find the associations of titles like commodore with traditional privilege and hierarchy a bit old-fashioned and would love to see some well-thought out alternatives.

Flag officers and all that language is strongly associated with very exclusive yacht clubs that many of us would not want to be associated with. There's one not far from me which asks prospective members to state their occupation when applying for membership, and along with that goes all that utter nonsense with different ensigns to denote one's status. Is there another country anywhere with so many alternative ensigns and such an associated hierarchy of status?

Let's change the titles from 'Commodore' and 'Vice-C' etc to 'First helmsman/woman', 'Second Helmsman' etc so that they are clearly 'primus inter pares'. An alternative not much heard nowadays would be 'Commissar'?
 
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I fully agree that there should be alternative labels for these roles should sailing or yacht clubs want to adopt them. It's ok to use tradition as a reason FOR retaining those titles but it's not really a very convincng argument AGAINST alternatives. Some of us find the associations of titles like commodore with traditional privilege and hierarchy a bit old-fashioned and would love to see some well-thought out alternatives.

Flag officers and all that language is strongly associated with very exclusive yacht clubs that many of us would not want to be associated with. There's one not far from me which asks prospective members to state their occupation when applying for membership, and along with that goes all that utter nonsense with different ensigns to denote one's status. Is there another country anywhere with so many alternative ensigns and such an associated hierarchy of status?

Let's change the titles from 'Commodore' and 'Vice-C' etc to 'First helmsman/woman', 'Second Helmsman' etc so that they are clearly 'primus inter pares'. An alternative not much heard nowadays would be 'Commissar'?


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Oh boy and there was me thinking communism was dead!

Let's look at the FACTS not the false ideas about YCs. I've been a member of 3 in my sailing life. My current one has 2,500 members from Dinghies to Class 1 racers, via X-boats and cruisers, our own 1st Class marina and many swinging moorings, not to mention we run lots of National Championships, World Championships and are a recognised RYA teaching establishment. We have the right too to use a defaced blue ensign. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

We are not snooty at all. We have members from all walks of life and all salary levels, the only requirement is a love and enthusiasm for yachting, be it dinghy, cruiser, racer or powerboat.

I've never heard so much PC crap! Commisar? Why not then Ist Comrade, 2nd Comrade and Fellow Party Members for the committee? It seems to me that the snobbery around here is of the reverse (or is it perverse) kind.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, and ours believe me ain't broke.
 
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Oh boy and there was me thinking communism was dead!


I've never heard so much PC crap! Commisar? Why not then Ist Comrade, 2nd Comrade and Fellow Party Members for the committee? It seems to me that the snobbery around here is of the reverse (or is it perverse) kind.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, and ours believe me ain't broke.

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Ah yes, anything that doesn't fully endorse the status quo has to be attacked as an 'ism' or 'PC'. Perhaps there should have been an emoticon to signal that 'Commissar' was a joke. However I didn't suggest 'Great Helmsman' which might have been a better one at least for those who recognise the title as one adopted for himself by Mao Tsedong.

I don't think this is a really major issue and honestly don't care an awful lot what the volunteers who take on the often thankless task of running sailing clubs (or any other voluntary organisation for that matter) are called. However I do agree with TangoMoon that it's worth thinking about. I also stand by my sincerely held position about the ludicrous silliness of defaced ensign, where to hang your burgee and all that flummery. It's like wigs on judges and lawyers; harmless, silly and a bit past its sell-by date.
 
--- Is there another country anywhere with so many alternative ensigns and such an associated hierarchy of status? ---

Well, Belgium and The Netherlands most certainly come close. There is a range of defaced and different coloured flags in both countries that seem to run UK quite close. No doubt plenty of others.

As for the 'very exclusive yacht clubs that many of us would not want to be associated with', the most down to earth and thoroughly enjoyable club that I ever raced at was the Royal Tay YC. They race all classes with equal enthusiasm and the prize-giving, and piss-taking, at same was as colourful and enjoyable as you could possibly desire.

Most clubs ask to know the profession of prospective members, so that they can take advantage of in-house skills and knowledge when dealing with the various problems that arise. In most cases the provision of this knowledge is not compulsory.

I think you need to get out more, instead of pontificating
 
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I think you need to get out more, instead of pontificating

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And there was me thinking I was joining a friendly discussion. Pontificating suggests infallibility and I certainly don't claim that.
And yes OK I know that many of the Royal this or that yacht clubs are friendly and egalitarian places but there are plenty with or without the R-word in their name that do have a distinctly snobby feel.
 
Seems like a lot of people have forgotten how to use a dictionary. The term is clearly defined by Chambers Reference Online

commodore noun 1 in the navy: an officer just below a rear admiral in rank. 2 the president of a yacht club. 3 the senior captain in charge of a fleet of merchant ships.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c: perhaps from Dutch, from French commandeur commander.

So what is all this twaddle about Commissars and Pontification about?
The name says what it means, if you do not know what it means buy a dictionary, don't make up your own words.

Mal
 
We have an "unwritten" rule about not wearing hats in the bar and we also have a very old story about one of our commodores asking someone to remove their hat ~ the person concerned said "show me the club rule that says I can't wear a hat in the bar" Where upon the commodore said "we don't have a rule that says you can't pi*s on the carpet but we don't expect you to do that either"

The guy removed his hat.

Peter.
 
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There's one not far from me which asks prospective members to state their occupation when applying for membership,

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Actually - that's quite handy if it is a self maintaining club - then you know if the new member is a plumber/electrician/builder or just something completely useless like "Office manager" ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
That doesn't cover all scenarios tho? I'd be under the non useful title of consultant, tho once I'd joined, they'd all be inviting me around to their house to sort their computers out, remove viruses, set up wifi, etc etc /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Is the problem the young have just the title of commodore or is it the old fogies that appear to run the club, in my experience of being commodore , the titles for flag officers etc was not the turn off, it was the lack of young people taking part in club decisions that led to the perception that the titles were holding things back, and the only way to change this is for them to take part.
Just a view, our club is a very successful one I might add. I did not answer the question sorry ! Chairman might do.
 
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