Introduction
We wish to convey our best wishes for 1991 to you all and we hope that 1991 will be a good sailing year for you.
Winter meeting 2 March 1991

Since the meetings in the Apollo Hotel have been appreciated by all members, it has been decided to hold the Winter meeting of 1991 again at the Apollo Hotel on Saturday 2 March; as the HISWA boatshow will have started the day before, it will be very possible to combine the Winter meeting with a visit to the RAI, where the HISWA will be held.

The members and their crews will be welcome from 17.45 hours onwards. Over the well known drinks the events of the past season could be exchanged.

At 18.15 hours the usual discussions will take place; the main topic will be the summer reunion 1991.
Dinner will be served at approximately 19.15 hours. The costs of the dinner will be ƒ42,50 per person. Please note that this sum does not include any consumptions.

After dinner there will be ample opportunity to discuss points raised earlier in the evening. As usual the Alcyone Archive will be there for anyone interested in the Alcyone history.

The exact address of the Apollohotel is:
Amsterdam Apollo Hotel
Apollolaan 2
1077 BA Amsterdam
Telephone: 020-735922

The Apollohotel can be reached from Central Station by taking tram nr. 25, “disembarking” at stop Lutmastraat, walking towards the Okura Hotel and then turning right (Van Hillegaertstraat); you will find the Apollohotel on your lefthand side, over the bridge (after approx. 100 meters).
Coming from the RAI you can reach the Apollohotel by walking through the Diepenbrockstraat, turning right into the Herman Heyermansweg. At the end you will turn left (Churchillaan) and then you will go right (Stadionweg) and find the Apollohotel on you righthand side. (See map enclosed.)

We hope that the Winter meeting will be attended by at least as many members as last time.
As we would like to know the number of people coming as early as possible, those members who have decided to participate are kindly requested to notify us before 15 February 1991, using the form included.

It would be highly appreciated if members who have decided not to come will advise us accordingly as soon as possible.

Winter Meeting 1990
At the winter meeting 1990 in the apollo Hotel the most important subject was the participation in SAIL 1990 by the Alcyone Circle.
The administration was sorry to report that, despite all efforts of R. van Santbrink and J. van ‘t Hull, the administration had not been successful in registering its application for SAIL 1990.

Since August 89 several letters have been sent by R. van Santbrink and J. van ‘t Hull to Mrs. Key of SAIL 1990 in order to be registered as a participant. The answer on their first letter was quite short an in fact just said: no.

The subsequent letters, that they sent, asked for a specification of the criteria upon which admittance to SAIL 1990 was decided; this question was categorically ignored in all letters, that they received from Mr.s Key. Her last letter contained the following sentence: the boar (of SAIL -90) has the opinion, that the Alcyone Circle cannot participate in SAIL-90.

The last point in particular and the way in which we have been treated in general did raise the question whether we should take legal action against SAIL-90. Mr. Van Santbrink had made enquires about the chances of success and the costs of such an action. The chances of success were estimated at 50% and the costs would vary from Dfl. 5000.– to 7500.–; most of the members present at the winter meeting felt that a threat with legal action was acceptable, but that legal action would be too great a hazard and could prove to be very costly.

The winter meeting itself was very cosy and enjoyed by all members. The Apollo Hotel has upheld its reputation.

Further Action
After the winter meeting 1990 R. van Santbrink and J. van ‘t Hull sent letters to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, the main sponsors Mitsubishi and Heineken and the city of Amsterdam. All in vain, but it was a nice try.
After all this we tried to look for alternatives.

STA and EHV, mentioned further on, are both subsidiaries of SAIL-90. The first alternative was participating in the Dam to Dam race, from Zeebrugge to IJmuiden, organized by STA (Sail Training Association), since all participants would be automatically admitted to SAIL-90; J. van ‘t Hull was advised that to this race training ships only were admitted.

To another race, organized by the EHV (Enkhuizer Hardzeil Vereniging) J. van ‘t Hull applied and again admittance was refused, now because the Alcyone ships were supposed not to be seaworthy; EHV claimed that this information was passed on by SAIL-90. Needless to say, that the reason given by EHV is totally ridiculous and untrue.

Because of busy schedules of the members of the administration the alternative for SAIL 1990 could not be organized; the alternative would have been a sailing weekend in Vlielandm, one of the Frisian Isles.

Subscriptions
The administration is quite happy to report that most of the members have no backlog in paying their contribution. The administration had decided that members who have never or not for the last four years paid their contribution, will no longer receive the newsletter.
The administration will again include a note to report for which year’s contribution still has to be paid. If you disagree with the note included, please let us know.
The yearly contribution will be ƒ10.–, DM 10.–, £3.–, or US$5.– to be paid to our postgiro nr. 3721241 of the Alcyone Circle in Haarlem.
Change in the Administration
After having been a member of the administration since 1986, H. van ‘t Hull has informed us of his decision to leave the administration, because of growing demands by his employer.
He has stated that he will be available to assist the administration in minor matters.
R. van Santbrink has declared, that he is prepared to replace H. van ‘t hull. This point will be discussed at the winter meeting.

This map will show you how to find:
Amsterdam Apollo Hotel
Apollolaan 2
1077 BA Amsterdam
Tel. 020-735922

Agenda for the palaver on the Wintermeeting 1991
1. Opening and welcome
2. Report of the administration
3. Installation of a new member of the administration
4. Summer reunion 1991
5. Other points raised by the members
6. Closing of the palaver.