Welcoming a New Face to the Committee

A Fond Farewell to Mark Garrett

First, we would like to announce that Mark Garrett has stepped down from his role on the committee. Mark has decided to resign due to personal reasons, and while we are sad to see him go, we fully support his decision. The club is incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and expertise Mark dedicated to our community during his tenure.

To ensure the club remains well-managed and responsive to our members, we believe that six members is the ideal size for our committee. This balance allows for diverse perspectives while remaining agile enough to make effective decisions for a club of our scale.

Introducing Andy Smith: Relations Officer

We are pleased to announce that Andy Smith recently put himself forward to fill the vacancy. Following a formal vote during our latest CMC meeting, the committee was unanimous in welcoming him aboard.

Andy will be stepping into the role of Relations Officer. His primary focus during his initial months will be:

• Strengthening ties within our local community.

• Spearheading efforts to secure new sponsorships for the club.

• Enhancing the overall experience for our members and partners.

Securing sponsorship is vital for the continued growth and maintenance of our facilities, and we are excited to see the energy Andy brings to this initiative.

Andy, has been a fixture on the water since 1991, starting his journey water skiing around Two Tree Island and Leigh-on-Sea. While Andy took a brief hiatus in the late 90s for family commitments—punctuated by memorable trips through the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness—he returned to the fold in 2007 to help our Commodore, Andrew, maintain his first cruiser, Tranquillity. This experience provided Andy with a steep but rewarding learning curve in boat ownership, eventually leading him to his current role supporting the team aboard Revolution. Whether he’s seeking the peace of the River Deben and Woodbridge or dropping anchor on the Roach near Paglesham, Andy remains driven by the long-lasting friendships he has built through a lifetime of boating.

​Andy officially joined WWYC in 2025, motivated by the club’s new direction and the push to move the organization forward. As a career sales professional, Andy brings a sharp set of networking and communication skills to his role as Relations Officer, where he is focused on securing vital sponsorships to support the club’s ongoing growth. While Andy jokingly suggests you shouldn't ask him for the names of specific knots, his real strength lies in his ability to build external partnerships and represent the club’s interests with professionalism. By leveraging his commercial background, Andy is committed to helping WWYC thrive and ensuring it remains a well-supported and prominent name within the local maritime community.