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Club rules / policies
Policies and Procedures
The purpose of this Handbook is to provide members with information about the way the club is run and the opportunities that are available to them. There is an annual supplement giving details of the current committee members, racing programme, duty lists and members’ telephone numbers. If anything is unclear or there are unanswered questions then members of the Committees will be pleased to provide further information.
Newsletter
The club has a newsletter, Hovercraft, which is sent to all members. Some editions contain the list of current committee members, calendar of sailing and social events, duty rotas, changes to club rules and general items of news. Other editions are in the form of a shorter newsletter. We welcome contributions from any member. If you would like to write an article about sailing or to report on event that you have attended, then please send it to the editor, preferably by e-mail but all contributions are welcome. (to Doug Wensley)
Access
The main gate is kept locked, except during club events. Keys for the main gate and clubhouse are available from the membership secretary. Extra keys are available for purchase from the bar. The key to the clubhouse opens all exterior doors, the clubroom door and also the key box on the wall in the main corridor. Keys for safety boats, race office, some training boats and the training store are kept in this box. There is a digital lock on the corridor doors which should be left locked unless the clubroom is in use (ie it is busy), the number is provided on your membership confirmation letter.
Speed limits
There are speed limits on the access road. In the interests of safety and keeping road maintenance costs down, please obey these limits. This is especially important in the vicinity of parked cars where there are likely to be young children.
Catering
The galley and bar are open for the purchase of food and drinks during club racing and social events. At other times, members may make themselves hot drinks and an honesty box is provided for payment.
Smoking
There is no smoking in the clubhouse.
Dogs
It is a condition of our lease that dogs are kept under control at all times. All dogs are to be kept on a lead in club grounds. Any fouling is to be cleared up by the person responsible for the dog. Dogs are not permitted in the clubhouse, except working dogs for disabled persons.
Berthing
Dinghies and boards may be stored at the club on payment of a berth fee. The boat park is arranged according to the type of boat. New members seeking a space should consult the Works and Ways member of the Executive Committee or their Fleet Captain. The Membership Secretary will issue a berthing sticker, which must be displayed on the rail to the left of the boat space. No craft other than dinghies or boards may be stored at the club and members may only store one craft in their allocated berth. Owners are responsible for ensuring their boats/boards are properly tied down.
Liability for loss or damage
Members, their guests and visitors are reminded that:
Members of the Club, their guests or visitors may use the Club premises and any other facilities of the Club entirely at their own risk and, by implication acknowledge that the Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to Members, their guests or visitors to the Club.
Insurance
ALL persons and craft whether cruising or racing, stored or sailed at the club must carry current third party insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000. Failure to comply with this requirement will be considered a gross misconduct, which may result in the member responsible for the craft being expelled from the club.
Accidents
All accidents must be recorded in the accident book / form which is kept in the First Aid Box located in the disabled toilet room.
Child Protection
The child protection policy is available from the Secretary, on the website and a copy is in the clubhouse.
Rules that apply to all water users
Cruising is permitted on any day from March to September, from dawn to dusk, and on Sundays from October to December, from dawn until 30 minutes before dusk. No sailing is allowed between New Year’s Day and the end of February.
Craft that may use the water are restricted to sailing dinghies under 22ft in overall length (including any bowsprit or similar contrivance when fully extended), windsurfers and club motorboats. No other craft (canoes, cruisers, rafts, rowing boats or motor boats) are permitted on the water, except as part of an organised activity approved by the Sailing Committee. Water use will be limited to boats with a PYN not lower than a 505 which is currently 902. Any person wishing to sail a boat with a lower PYN must have prior permission from the Sailing Committee.
During club racing, cruising craft must keep clear of racing craft and the start and finish lines (adjacent to the committee boat). Cruising sailors who do not keep clear will be required to leave the water. During Open Meetings no cruising is allowed, except at the discretion of the Race Officer.
Responsibility
All sailors take to the water entirely at their own risk and the club cannot be held responsible for any loss and damage to persons or property howsoever caused. Every owner/user warrants the suitability of his/her sailing craft for use on the water. The safety of the craft and her entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner / user who must ensure that the craft and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise.
The club controls all sailing and all members must adhere to the instructions given by the Race Officer. The Race Officer may be overruled, and must abide by, the joint instruction of a Flag Officer, the President or the Sailing Secretary, together with one member of the Sailing Committee or by three members of the Sailing Committee.
Safety craft are available at all times during the season, but are only manned when there is racing or an organised event. All adult members should be familiar with the use of the safety boats in case of an emergency (courses are available) all who drive safety boats should have been on the club safety boat course. Junior members must be supervised when cruising and parents, or their representatives, are responsible for ensuring that appropriate safety cover is available.
Personal buoyancy
No person is allowed on the water without adequate personal buoyancy. This shall be at least a waistcoat type buoyancy aid, appropriate to body weight and in good condition, except in the case of adult windsurfers (over 18 years old) wearing a torso or full body wet suit, who may choose not to wear a buoyancy aid at their own risk. Anyone not complying with this policy will be required to leave the water. Parents are strongly advised to ensure that young children wear adequate personal buoyancy when playing near the water and must be adequately supervised at all times. The buoyancy aid should be properly adjusted and fit well, so it can not slip off (over the head).
Clothing
It is strongly recommended that adequate warm and windproof clothing is worn at all times on the water, especially in the cold months when wet suits or dry suits should be worn.
Distress call
When in need of assistance on the water, wave both arms high in the air, reaching across the head but not crossing.