about us
The committee
Elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. Any of them will happily answer a question on a Thursday evening. The addresses below belong to the role rather than the person, so they keep working after the next election. If you’re not sure who to ask, the secretary will point you at the right one.
Daniel McDonnell
Commodore
Chairs the club and the committee, and represents Sutton Mariners to other clubs and to the RYA.
commodore@suttonmariners.org.uk
Sailing is my happy place, and what’s happier than being in your happy place with wonderful people? Sutton Mariners is by far and away the most down to earth, welcoming and friendly club around. I’m currently doing my Yachtmaster Theory and the club are very supportive. I’ve crossed the channel with the club, gotten into some racing and even play music with the Mariner’s Mates our very own band.
Dave Moore
Vice Commodore
Deputises for the Commodore, and runs the club’s training and the winter programme of talks.
vicecommodore@suttonmariners.org.uk
My name is Dave Moore, and I bring over three decades of sailing experience, including 25 years as a skipper and an Atlantic crossing. Alongside my time at sea, I dedicated 32 years to the London Fire Brigade, specialising in heavy rescue operations and leading the Fire Boat team. I warmly welcome all new members to our sailing community, regardless of skill level, and am committed to helping everyone expand their knowledge and abilities on the water. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered throughout my journey, it’s that there’s always something new to learn in sailing.
Ruth Grainger
Rear Commodore
Runs the summer programme — where the rallies go, and who’s going on them.
Chris Dukes
Hon. secretary
Keeps the club’s records and correspondence, runs the membership list, and is the first person to write to.
secretary@suttonmariners.org.uk
Having had a lot of fun in a mirror dingy that my wife owned in West Wales when younger, on a bored winter evening, we both decided to enrol in the RYA day skipper theory course. We went on to do the Yachtmaster as well, where we met a couple that had a share in a Sweden 340. We ended up spending 6/7 years crewing for them at weekends, based in the Hamble, we did all the usual Solent trips (Poole, Lymington, Cowes etc.). Then the children came along (3) and the boat was sold due to a bankruptcy, so a bit of a gap in the sailing, but still very much on the water. A 5 year trial with motor boating, ending up in lock down where the boat was not used a lot, at that point I decided going from A-B at 17 knots, using up £100 of fuel for a day out, was really not for me. So I joined Sutton Mariners Sailing Club and haven’t looked back, so much so I seemed to have ended up as the Secretary. I have had many happy trips sailing with great people over the last few years, including a week chartering in Croatia, a dream I have always wanted to do.
David Quine
Hon. Treasurer
Looks after the club’s money — subscriptions, the accounts, and the statement presented at the AGM.
Julia Tubbs
committee member
Keeps the club’s records and correspondence, runs the membership list, and is the first person to write to.
Joyce
committee member
Gordon V
committee member
My first taste of sailing was dinghy sailing at school. After moving, I, once again, went to a school where outdoor pursuits was an exam subject leading to more sailing. Gave it up for a number of years, but eventually began to yearn for it again. So, did a bit of sailing around Mallorca and then began to look for a club. After a bit of research, along with trial and error, found Sutton Mariners and haven’t looked back. Now do a bit of sailing every Summer and this year (2025) was involved in the Round The Island Race. Looking forward to more of the same next year.
Marcus Vick
Committee Member