Crew's News
This is to notify all members that our AGM will be held at Penzance Sailing Club, Albert Pier, TR18 2LL on Wednesday 11th March 2026 commencing at 7.30 (open from 7.00 p.m.) with agenda. If you want to include additional agenda items please let us know before 3rd March 2026.
Nominations for Committee Members and Trustees
Please let us know by 3rd March if you have Nominations for Committee Members and Trustees. Nominees must be willing to stand. You can also put yourself forward and if that is the case, you will need to be formally proposed and seconded.
Nominations (for any role); Agenda Items; and Apologies can be submitted via our website, using the sequence:- happyreturn.org (scroll down) > Learn More (list at the left) >
Contact
Send us an email
Officers standing down as of March are:-
Chairman and Trustee - James Walker
Treasurer and Trustee - Dave Keast
Membership Secretary and Trustee - Mark Mitchell
Heritage Officer and Trustee - Marieanne Davy Ball
Officers willing to stand again are:-
Secretary and Trustee - Julia Johnson
Membership Secretary and Trustee - Mark Jennings
Other Officer and Trustee - Una Taylor
Other Officer and Trustee - Tim Evans
Officer vacancies:-
Chairman and Trustee
Treasurer and Trustee
Other Officers and Trustees x 2
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MBLA - 2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
ON WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH 2026
Commencing at 7.30 (open from 7.30 p.m.)
Venue: Penzance Sailing Club, Albert Pier, TR18 2LL
1/. Welcome
2/. Apologies
3/. Minutes of the 2025 AGM (20th March 2025)
4/. Matters Arising from 3/ above
5/. Reports
1 Chairman
2 Secretary [errors in minutes, and /or additional admin info??]
3 Treasurer : annual reports : Receipts and Payments, Assets & Liabilities
4 Membership Secretary
6/. Election of Officers
1 Chairman
2 Secretary
3 Treasurer
4 Membership Secretary
5 Other Committee Members x 4 *
7/. Any Other Business
8/. Date of next Meeting March 2027
* Note: although the Marieanne Davey Ball is standing down as a Committee and Trustee Officer, she is kindly continuing to take care of the MBLA heritage.
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MOUNT’S BAY LUGGER ASSOCIATION
Penzance Sailing Club, Albert Pier, TR18 2LL. 7.30 pm, 20th March 2025
MINUTES OF THE 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Present.
Committee :- James Walker (Chairman) David Keast (Treasurer) Julia Johnson (Secretary)
Mark Mitchell ( Maintenance and Membership Secretary)
Marieanne Davy Ball (Heritage Officer)
Carol Alway
Liz Wood
Una Taylor
Other Members :- Paul Acreman, Mark Jennings, Mary Hallard, Tim Evans, Hermione Morrison, Helen Shackleton, Lloyd Turner, John Diston, Nina Smith, Peter Hanks, Susanna Hanks, Stewart Bradley, John Tellam, David Oldcorn, Nick Darling, Caroline Keane, Amanda Noddeboe, Nigel Walker.
1/. Welcome.
James Walker opened the Meeting at 7.30 p.m. and welcomed those attending.
2/. Apologies.
Bob Glanville, John Van De Hoff, Fee Mohan, Amanda King, Ken Sharp, Paul Izaard, John Sullivan, Johanna Snel, Roger Roberts, Pat Beaghan, Benjamin Oldcorn, Mike Halse, Lorna Halse.
3/. Minutes of the 2023 AGM, held on 8th March 2024
These were accepted as a true record, and signed by the Chairman. (Proposed by Mark Mitchell; seconded by Hermione Morrison).
4/. Matters Arising from 3/. above.
No Matters arising.
5/. Reports
5/. 1 Chairman.
THANKS
The Chairman addressed all attending expressing gratitude to the committee and special thanks to our departing trustees Liz Wood and Carole Alway for their years of support. He further gave special thanks to Dick Belton for maintaining the MBLA website; Nick Darling for his woodworking skills and whose generosity of time and craftsmanship save the association many thousands of pounds; and Marieanne Davy Ball, our Heritage Officer for securing financial donations from The Folkestone Fishing Museum and the National Historic Ships Association.
Special thanks also extended to John Van Der Hoff for his work as skipper and safety officer and stand-in treasurer in the absence of David Keast; along with all skippers and mates for making it possible to keep Happy Return sailing.
SAILING EVENTS
Total number of sailing events were up to 52, being 8 more than the previous season; and included trips to Scilly Isles, Brittany, East of The Lizard, Porthleven, Mousehole and special occasions for the Sea Cadets.
87 members sailed at least once, with the most sails being Julia Johnson, Mary Hallard, Mark Mitchell and Stewart Bradley.
Liz Wood, Mary Hallard and Fee Mohan championed fund raising which along with the monies initiated by Marieanne’s efforts met the target of £5000 to go towards the work being carried out at Sandy Cove boatyard.
Our maintenance members headed by Mark Mitchell have been working hard to spend said mentioned funds which help to pay for replacing rotten bulwarks and gunwales topside, not to mention slipping the ship in Newlyn Harbour to service below waterline planking, seacocks, anodes, prop shaft and other areas which require attention. Much work is still in progress and much still to be completed before sailing starts in the new season.
The Chairman thanked one and all for their ongoing support to enable the Happy Return to continue sailing.
5/.2 SECRETARY - nothing to report
5/.3 TREASURER
The Accounts for the year ending 28th February 2025 were distributed to those in attendance. These showed Receipts, Payments, Assets and Liabilities. The Treasurer highlighted various points including the following:-
Total Income was £18,761. Most income came from Membership Subscriptions, one time donations, Boat Fund Contributions, Merchandise Sales and 50:50 Lotto.
Total Expenditure was £12,445.
Surplus for the year was £6,316.
Total Assets stand at £54,787.51. Liabilities stand at £700.00 (Annual subscriptions paid in advance). Net Assets £55,487.54.
The Treasurer extended gratitude to John Van Der Hoff for deputising in his absence.
5/.4 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Membership increased from 156 to 182 applications this year. Notably new members were often introduced by existing members and the secretary re-asserted the association’s continuing desire to increase the membership. There is a place for a wide spectrum of people with equally variant scope of skills, interests, dedication and enthusiasm who are always welcomed with joy and satisfaction in the association, despite the grumbly old croaks who continue to express themselves in the stern, with, it has to be said, grace and patience.
6/. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
6/.1 CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY, TREASURER, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
and OTHER OFFICERS
Liz Wood and Carol Alway stood down from the Committee.
All other officers agreed to continue to serve for the coming year, and were proposed by Stewart Bradley and seconded by Nigel Walker.
Nominations had been received to fill the 2 vacancies. Mark Jennings was proposed by John Tellam and Seconded by Carol Alway. Tim Evans was proposed by Hermione Morrison and seconded by John Diston.
There were no objections raised and the voting carried unanimously.
7/. NO OTHER BUSINESS
8/. DATE OF NEXT MEETING 11th MARCH 2026
Meeting closed at 20.00hrs.
Just to remind you all that we have a winter skills evening and a general get together next Thursday the 12th of February at 7:30pm in the Penzance sailing club. Doors and the bar will open at 7pm, all are welcome, parking is free in the wharfside carpark after 6pm.
The agenda will include a briefing on the forthcoming work on the Happy Return in Gweek, an update on the Mispah and how we will use her this season, some revision of our lugger skills, and lastly we will see who can still tie a bowline.
Dear Members
A Happy New Year from the committee to you all.
This is going to be a big year for the MBLA with major works to be commenced in March on Happy Return at the Gweek boatyard, and the launching of our new twenty-foot training boat Mispah in April.
The work on Happy Return will have a major impact on the association’s finances. It is estimated a spend of some £30,000 will be needed to complete the work, but there is also the possibility of finding further issues as the work progresses which may lead to the association having to dig into the contingency reserve as well.
In the light of this we are asking you all as a matter of urgency to ensure that you renew your yearly membership between the dates of 1st and 11th of March the latter being the date of our AGM. (Not before please as it falls into this year for gift aid) Although under financial pressure the committee have made the decision to keep adult membership at just £30, and with no change to junior members subscriptions, as the association is committed to not only preserving Happy Return but also doing its very best to make it as accessible as possible to all.
Should you be in a position where you are able to add a donation that would be most gratefully appreciated or if you would like to take advantage of our life membership at a bargain price of only £200 that would really help the cash reserves. There is of course also the opportunity to join the 50/50 club which is a bi-monthly draw from just £2 per month which would not only benefit Happy Return but also give you a chance to win cash prizes.
Winners this month were Pat Barton collecting £80 and Stewart Bradley £38.
Please contact me if you would like to join this club.
Finally on the 12th of February we are holding a Lugger skills night at Penzance sailing club 19.00hrs for 19.30 start. Here we will have a refresher on sailing Happy Return. And trying to remember how to tie those knots. Also, a detailed rundown of the works to be carried out on Happy Return and a briefing on Mispah’s role in the association, and how she will be sailed this coming season.
All the members of the committee would like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your support and look forward to seeing you on the 12th of February in the Penzance sailing club which is on the Albert Quay. Parking on the Warf side carpark is free after 4pm over the winter.
Best regards
James
MBLA: October Newsletter 2025
As the 2025 season draws to a close we still have some sails and new events for the autumn.
Firstly we have the remaining calendar sails which are detailed below. Please book with the skippers ASAP so as we can ensure your place!
Then excitingly, we are moving Happy Return to Truro for the winter. The opportunity has been given to us to over winter at the harbour office mooring. This will give us the opportunity to raise some awareness of our charity in a new area and also give us an excellent mooring ready for us to move Happy Return to Gweek in March of next year for a major restoration work.
More details will follow later but of course there will be opportunities to make the sail around the Lizard and up river.
Curry Night!
On Tuesday November 25th we will again be having one of our celebrated social nights at Penzance sailing club . An event not to be missed with Curries most excellent!
Put the date in your diary, times and costs will be circulated shortly.
Final season sails
Wed 08 October Early evening sail muster 1545 James Walker.
Wed 15 October Lunchtime sail muster 1015 Nick Darling.
Sat 18 October Sail in the bay muster 1330 Mark Mitchell.
Mon 20 October Last sail for 2025 muster 1430 Tim Evens.
November TBA, Sail around the Lizard and up the river Fal to Truro.
James Walker
MBLA chairperson
Just to remind you all that the sailing season is drawing to a close shortly.
If you haven’t managed to get out on the Happy Return this season, it is time to get a move on. In October we don’t have so many sailing trips in the bay with the evenings drawing in and the October gales sneaking up on us, so it is time to get your sailing in before we drop into winter.
Work on Happy Return and the Mispah will start in November, watch this space.
Quay Fair day is here once again, so on Sunday we will be moving the Happy Return from the north arm to the Ross bridge at about 9:15 in the morning. A small crew will be needed for this movement so if you are available and would like to help, then please contact Mark. We will muster at 9am onboard the boat.
Happy return will be returning to the north arm at about 5:30pm, so once again a small crew will be needed.
Quay Fair Day starts in earnest from 10:30 in the morning and finishes at 4 in the afternoon. This is a terrific opportunity for us to fly the flag, meet old faces and endeavour to recruit new members.
Throughout the day we will have two or three members on the quay by the boat to facilitate this opportunity.
If you would like to take part then please let Mark know, either 10:30 to 1pm or 1pm to 4pm, take your pick. Use “Email Skipper Mark” on the Sailing Programme page.
Dear Members
We are properly into the sailing season now and we have some great sailing in the program; we also have some exciting projects starting which the committee are looking for your support to complete.
Firstly, I urge you to have a look at the sailing program as we are shortly to have some Scillies sails and Looe Lugger festival which are fantastic events not to be missed so contact the relevant skippers to book your place!
Mevagissey Tosher “Mispah”
Secondly, from 1st of July we are to take on the 1981 built Mevagissey Tosher “Mispah”
She’s a lovely little 20ft two masted standing lug day sailor which ideal for our training program as she’s light and easy to handle so great for our members who find the weight of Happy Return a challenge to crew.
She will also help with our program of sailing with the cadets & enable sails in the bay when the winds are a little light for HR. Mispah needs a bit of work to get her shipshape and ready to sail so if you would like to be involved, please message Mark M or myself.
Fundraising Appeal
Thirdly and most importantly as you may have seen we have launched a fundraising appeal for Happy Returns 120th year. It’s 22 years since her last refit and she is becoming in need of re- caulking and having her fixings replaced.
This entails her masts being removed and then hauled out of the water onto a hard standing so that the work may begin. We are currently looking at locations for this to happen and getting quotes for the work.
It is intended to make grant applications, however if we are not successful in this, we are prepared to go it alone as was done on the first refit and fund raise to support the work as we go.
We are hoping any works will not impact on our sailing program, but should this happen we have Mispah to keep us sailing in the bay.
These projects are intended to make Happy Return and our association stronger by offering more diverse sailing opportunities and increasing our active membership and therefore our income.
Thank you for your support.
Happy sailing
James
Chairman MBLA
If you are interested in helping in any of the above, please contact myself or Mark Mitchel.
Dear Members,
We are now starting our 2025 sailing season so please take a look at the programme and contact the skippers to make your bookings.
There’s lots of exciting sailing this year including the Looe Lugger festival.
On the social side we start with our season opening BBQ to be held on Wednesday 21st May at Penzance sailing club 19:00 for 19:30.
Price per person £15.00 for splendid meats and salads, the bar will also be open for our use.
Please book your place with me and make payment to the usual MBLA account with reference BBQ.
Hope to see as many of you as possible to kick off what looks to be a great 120th year for Happy Return.
Happy sailing
James
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Mounts Bay Lugger Association will be held at Penzance Sailing Club on Thursday 20th March. The meeting will commence at 19:30 sharp.
The sailing club will be open from 19:00.
This AGM provides a valuable opportunity for all members to present their questions and ideas for consideration by the committee. Your input is essential to the continued success and growth of our association.
We have vacancies on the committee that need to be filled. If you are interested in contributing your time and expertise, please consider putting your name forward. The committee is made up of members who bring not just nautical knowledge but many other skills and thoughts to the table, so do not think that you don’t have anything to offer. All points of view are valuable to the successful running of the association.
For those interested in crew merchandise, I will have polo shirts, sailing caps and warm hats plus tee shirts for sale on the night.
On completion of the AGM, we will be introducing this season’s sailing program.
We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your valuable contributions.
James Walker
