1. Before bringing a boat on station make sure you have had your membership and class of dinghy approved by the management committee and current fees have been paid.
2. Make arrangements with the Bosun for an allocated berthing space before leaving a boat on station. Members wishing to collect or deliver boats outside normal club hours can obtain their own boatpark key from the Bosun on payment of a £2 deposit. Members using the boatyard outside normal club hours should inform the Country Park duty Ranger prior to entering compound.
3. Before starting sailing each season make sure your boat is buoyancy tested and is covered by insurance, which includes at least £1,000,000 third party indemnity. An independent member, preferably a member of the Sailing or Management committee, should validate any satisfactory buoyancy test. Only then should you sign the membership list on the noticeboard.
4. Make sure that the rescue boat is operational and that the Rescue Officer knows of your intentions before going on the water. Remember, any cruising boat must keep well clear of any racing boat.
5. Adequate personal buoyancy must be worn by all persons, including rescue personnel, when afloat. The RYA recommend that a buoyancy aid should carry the CE Mark of Approval and have a minimum rating of 50 Newtons, i.e. 11lbs. Ask the bosun for test weights if you are in any doubt.
1. Every member, as a condition of membership, must be prepared to carry out weekend duties as required by the management committee. Normally, this entails one duty as 'Officer of the Day' (OOD) on a Saturday and Sunday and, if qualified, one duty as Rescue Officer on a Saturday and Sunday each season.
2. The Duty Rota for each season is usually finalised just after Prizegiving day and every effort is made to arrange convenient dates for all members. However, once the rota has been printed, it is then each member's own responsibility to turn up and diligently carry out their duties from 10.30am until the last member leaves on each duty day.
3. If any member finds that they cannot fulfil a particular duty, then it is the responsibility of the individual member to arrange a mutually acceptable exchange of dates with another member. to facilitate this, members' telephone numbers are printed on the centre page of the club handbook. After an exchange has been agreed, please inform the Rota Secretary, who is responsible for producing all club duty rotas.
4. The Duty Rota only covers weekends from April, or Easter if earlier to the end of October. Duty personnel for the Wednesday evening series and the Frostbite series must be provided separately from those taking part.
1. Before becoming a Rescue Officer members need to have passed the club's assessment programme. Unqualified members should ask the Bosun to familiarise them with all aspects of the club's rescue craft, i.e. mooring, starting, manoeuvring, rescue procedures, etc.. and the Bosun will run training sessions throughout the season for this purpose. Ask for details.
2. A Rescue officer needs to be on 'stand-by' and available for rescue during all times that sailing is taking place. When in need of a break, the Rescue officer should direct 'all boats ashore' or arrange a temporary suitable replacement.
3. At the end of each day, make sure the rescue hull is left inside the boatyard, outboard engines and fuel tanks are locked away and any moored boats are securely fastened, duties of an OFFICER OF THE DAY can conveniently be split into two areas, Race Management and House Management. Please familiarise yourself with the notes on these subjects given elsewhere on this site. Furthermore, you will need to know how to cancel and set the alarm system, please read the notes in the members handbook.