Delph Sailing Club
A (new) member’s guide
Delph Sailing Club is run for its members by its members. The only paid staff are the cleaners, who most members are unlikely to see. Activities are run by volunteer members.
There are a minimum of rules which can be found in the Instrument and Articles (issued to members on joining) and in the annual Calendar and the Sailing Instructions.
The following is an attempt to collect these together and amplify their significance, and to include some aspects of social/sailing etiquette which lead to harmonious working of a Club such as ours.
For several months in the year the Club is almost a second home for many members. Members are asked to treat the Club House and premises as they would their own home leaving it generally clean and tidy after they have used it.
The reservoir stores drinking water and members should take every effort not to pollute it. The lease only allows for landing on the beach area. Landings should only be made in other areas in emergencies. The area around the island at the Delph Brook end is a nature reserve and nesting birds should not be interfered with. There is no access path through the woods or round the edge of the reservoir. There is a path beyond the wall below the embankment off Longworth Road which leads to various other paths which make it possible to walk round the reservoir but at a distance from the water. The water take off is from the outlets in the tower and so you are recommended to keep away from that area.
Swimming is not allowed in the reservoir at any time; in fact even in summer it is potentially dangerous because the lower layers of water never warm up.
Visitors are welcome, but again due to the nature of the lease and licensing, they should signed in by a member in the Visitors Book. Visitors who sail are required to pay a sailing fee, details can be found in the Visitors book. Sailing visitors may only do so up to a maximum of six times after which they should become members.
All members are responsible for there own safety, and for that of other members of their family/group at ALL times.
The decision to sailing is entirely yours at any time. The decision to sail should be based on the weather conditions, your equipment and your competence.
In free sailing periods it is recommended that you do not sail on your own. If an under 18 member is on the premises an adult who accepts responsibility for the child must be present at all times.
Suitable buoyancy aids must be worn at all times when on the water, or on the pontoons.
Suitable clothing should be worn at all times. Please remember that the water can be extremely cold even during the summer. The most serious incidence of hypothermia occurred during a warm summer day when a sailor in only t-shirt and shorts capsized.
Check your craft before launching.
Official Training sessions commence only when a green flag is flying from the Race Control Centre (indicating that supervision cover is available). Free sailing members during these periods must not launch until the green flag is flown.
Sailboarders MUST wear a wet suit or dry suit in addition to personal buoyancy at all times when on the water.
Club/Race Officials have the right to refuse to allow afloat a craft which they consider unsafe or which has inadequate, or inadequately secured, buoyancy.
No boat may be brought onto the premises without a valid registration sticker. This must be displayed on the mast at or above the height of the gooseneck fitting and must be clearly visible ABOVE the boat cover. When craft are stored with the mast down the registration sticker should normally be on the transom, visible even with the boat cover on.
Craft Registration is only transferable on application to the Treasurer and/or Membership Secretary.
A registered craft will be allocated a berth on which it can be stored.
All craft owners must be insured against Third Party claims for themselves and their craft to a minimum of £2million for any one incident.
The insurance declaration associated with craft registration MUST be completed before the craft is brought onto the club grounds or water.
For racing, craft are designated as dinghies with a Portsmouth Yardstick between 990 and 1500.(See Delph SC Closed Event Sailing Instructions)
Members considering using craft that do not fall into this category are strongly advised to consult the Treasurer and/or Membership Secretary before purchasing such craft and MUST register the craft with them before bringing them on the premises. Additional conditions may be applied to the (time of) use of craft which do not fall into the categories above.
You can sail at any time, subject to the considerations of safety above, although it is not recommended that you sail alone.
If there is an organised racing, training or other session on the water it is only polite to ask the organiser if it acceptable for you to be on the water. Normally you would not be expected to be on the water on Wednesday Evenings or Sunday Afternoons when races are being run, unless you are competing and following the course(s) set.
The site is not secure. Personal equipment of any type is left at your own risk.
Craft insurance policies often have specific terms for the type of cover accepted, e.g. some policies do not cover sails or equipment left in a boat, others specify how the craft should be secured to the ground.
Each berth should have at least two tie down points. If this is not the case contact the Bosun or other committee member, please do not attempt to remove tie downs from other berths.
If you wish to use additional tie downs please use ones which have rounded edges, not angle iron which easily damages toes through sailing boots.
If you have an easily load combination trailer/trolley it is strongly recommended that you keep this on you berth and return your trolley and boat to it after sailing. The craft is likely to be less affected by strong winds if lashed to the trailer. Most modern trailers have the facility for a security device on the towing hitch.
There is an area beyond the Club House car park where trailers can be stored. The access to the gate in the field must be left open at all times (part of the lease). Trailers can be secured with a hitch lock and or wheel locks, but please do not remove the wheels since at various times the trailers may need to be moved. Please do not obstruct the car park with trailers. You are warned that Borrowers often appear to target equipment in the trailer park.
If you do leave a trailer in this area you are strongly advised to check the wheels, bearings and hitch before attempting towing. If nothing else the grass in this area seems to grow very quickly making equipment damp and subject to corrosion (if not to the effects of borrowing)
The main road ways and grass area are cut regularly during the growing season.
You are requested to cut the grass on you own berths and adjacent areas. There are two good reasons for this,(i) midges like long grass and (ii) you boat will get less damp the further it is from the ground.
If you use a strimmer or the Club strimmer the safety instructions must be followed taking care not cause things to fly about and damage other member’s boats. The Club strimmer, together with the safety glasses, should be returned in clean good order to the Race Control Centre.
There are large car parks near the gate and by the Club House and adjacent to the roadway near the wall. Although it may be necessary when collecting or dropping off boats please do not park on the road ways. Similarly access for delivery or collection is allowed on the embankment near the Club House and the beach, but please do not park there.
The Catering is run by Delph SC Catering Ltd, a financially separate organisation but operated by voluntary members.
The Galley and Bar are covered by Food Hygiene Regulations and should not normally used/entered other than by staff/members on duty.
Dirty sailing equipment should not be washed in these areas, nor should water be drawn from them. At the moment there is only cold water in the gents changing room, but hot water can be found in the ladies changing room (with warning).
No part-eaten food should be left in these or other areas of the Club House as this attracts vermin from the surrounding grassy areas.
An honesty system operates for any items of snack or drink that are consumed if they have been left accessible, payment being left in the bar till or galley draw.
Bosun’s equipment- please do not borrow equipment from this area without approval from the Bosun’s team.
If access to power is required for boat repair there are earth trip plugs in the RCC and above the counter near the galley - for your own safety do not use other sockets.
There are several Committees and Working Groups responsible for the operation of the Club.
The General Committee is responsible for the overall operation of the Club. Officers and Directors are all subject to election by the members. The Commodore is Chairman of this committee.
The Vice-Commodore is responsible for the House and Grounds committee.
The Rear-Commodore chairs the Sailing Committee, which by its title, has delegated responsibility for all sailing related matters. Each recognised Fleet can have two representatives on the Sailing Committee. Other members with specific sailing related interests can be cooped onto this committee. There is a Working Group on the details of Race Management. From time to time other working groups are formed, tasked with particular issues.
Training, through the Principal of the RYA Recognised Training Establishment is represented on the General Committee and also reports via the Sailing Committee.
Delph Sailing Club (Catering) for financial management reasons is a separate entity, but reports to the General Committee.
You can be nominated for election to these committees or asked to join some of the volunteer groups.
In order to facilitate the liaison between members, the Club and Class Associations there are Fleet Captains. At the moment these are for Enterprise, Laser, Miracle, Solo, Fast Handicap and Slow Handicap.
If you sail a dinghy with a recognised Portsmouth Yardstick these will be a related Class Association. It is in your general interest to join one of these. In some cases it may be a necessary requirement since the measurement certification required for racing is handled by the Class association rather than the RYA.
Normally Open Meetings are run under the flag of the appropriate Class Association and it is generally a requirement of entry to such an event that you are a member of the Class Association.
There are often other advantages in that Class Associations publish boat tuning information, other advice and they are often a source of discounted equipment for a particular type of dinghy.
The overall Racing Rules of Sailing are published by the ISAF and for the UK by the RYA.
Part of your subscription covers the Club Affiliation to the RYA the designated governing body for sailing in the UK. Many members are also full members of the RYA, and in fact this is necessary if you are going to use their qualifications such as Instructor or Race Officer.
The program for racing is set out in the Calendar.
Racing is either;
(i) Class Racing with several starts where you race against other boats of the same class, or
(ii) Handicap racing where all boats start together and the result is decided on corrected finishing times depending of the Portsmouth Yardstick of your dinghy and/or your Personal Handicap (which is an adjustment against the Portsmouth Yardstick of your dinghy which effectively reflects your sailing proficiency).
Before racing your need to Sign On to say who you are and what dinghy you are racing. This among other things allows the Results Secretary to differentiate between different members of a family who might be sailing the same dinghy, or that the person sailing a particular dinghy is not in fact the registered owner.
The details of the race, course and time of start will be put on a notice board on the Race Control Centre.
The details of the starting sequence are set out in the Sailing Instructions. The first signal is a multi sound signal know at the warning 5 minutes( you should be on the water or very nearly ready to launch at this time).
The next signal is in 1 minutes and is also supported by a change in the light signals on the front of the RCC. Subsequent signals come at 2 minute intervals with a change in the light signals and a sound signal. You start at the time for the mass start or for your class start depending on the type of race.
There are other signals that you need to know about, single and general recalls if there is a faulty start, postponement and abandonment, shortening of course and abandonment.
If you have sailed the prescribed course you will get a finishing signal.
If you collide with a mark of the course you should perform a 360º penalty. If you hit another boat, one of you should perform a 720º penalty.
Special races are put on during the summer series for Novices and Beginners, see the Calendar. You can also join in the other races when you feel confident, but remember it will be more crowded and hectic.
When you start racing you are probably going to come into the vicinity of other boats. Remember the right of way rules. Boat on starboard has rights over boats on port, on the same tack boats that are close hauled have rights over boats that are not, windward boats should keep clear of boats to leeward. This is set out in more detail in the Race Rules of Sailing.
Only approach the start line on the close hauled point of sailing, do not reach into the start line. Reaching into a start line is the most common cause of collisions and can make you very unpopular with other sailors who are attempting to start effectively and efficiently.
As a beginner or novice try not to make sudden changes in direction if another boat is approaching. If you think you have right of way let the other boat know by shouting, but be prepared to alter course to avoid a collision. There is another way in which you can help – the red ribbon. Novices and beginners are asked to fly a red ribbon on their boom (these can be found near the signing on desk). This gives the faster, more proficient sailors warning to possibility of un-expected manoeuvres. If you are not flying a red ribbon they will expect you to know the various right of way rules and react accordingly.
Times when it pays not to insist on your rights of way. In class racing, as a novice your are likely to be at the back of your own fleet. If the leading boats of a fleet which started behind you, or are lapping you, are approaching a mark at the same time as yourself sail wide of the mark and let them through. You will lose very little relative to other boats in your fleet and will gain a few brownie points, but if you insist on your rights and then make a bad rounding and block the faster boats don’t be surprised at the reaction of the other helms.
If you have a problem like a capsize, start to get yourself sorted out don’t just wait for the patrol boat. If your rudder or centreboard breaks and you can’t sail the boat, if possible drop your sails as soon as possible this makes it more obvious to the patrol boat that there is a problem.
The patrol boat crews are under instructions to protect life not boats, so if they give you instructions to leave your boat you must do so.
Learn how to approach a shore with an onshore wind, this is the situation where beginners most often damage their boats by sailing them up the beach. This might be OK if it is sand but our beach has big lumps of rock. Slow down- if necessary on a two sail boat drop the main. Prepare to lift you centre board (at least part way) and turn so that your boat drifts in sideways. Be prepared for the crew or yourself to jump out into relatively deep water to hold the boat.
The Club is a RYA Recognised Training Establishment. The trainers are volunteers and we are not a commercial organisation for training the general public. Training is focused on our members.
Training is on Friday night from the beginning of May. The initial drive is to give new and potential members, a taste of sailing to equip them with the basic skills required to sail a dinghy.
More advanced sailing and race training is organised for identified groups, these will be advertised in the Club, in the Newsletter and will normally be in the annual calendar.
Powerboat training and Race Management training course are provided from time to time these will be advertised in the Club, in the Newsletter and will normally be in the annual calendar.
To bridge the gap between initial training and club racing there are several Saturday session identified in the calendar as Social Sailing designed to allow members to sail under some degree of supervision in order to develop their sailing skills and technique.
For most of these training sessions tuition is free to members, but they will be expected to meet the cost of logbooks and registration for qualifications.
Where special training courses are set up using instructors from outside the Club charges may be made to participating members to cover the instructor costs as well as logbooks and registration for qualifications.
Socials, both formal and informal are organised.
Social sailing days normally end with a self-cook BBQ.
Other progressively more formal events are advertised within the Club and Newsletters for which it is normally necessary to buy tickets.
The most formal occasion is the Annual Dinner and Prize Giving which is normally held in November at a venue outside the Club.
If you do get bitten by the sailing/racing bug don’t be afraid to go to Open meetings or National Championships. An exchange event is organised with Jumbles SC, which is in the next valley. These are designed for novice racers who haven’t yet plucked up the courage to go to an Open meeting, but can get the feeling of travelling away and sailing against other sailors they don’t (initially) recognise.
National Championships for particular dinghy designs are generally at pleasant holiday venues. Somebody only become a national champion because they have somebody to sail against (and beat).
Watch the Notice Board for details of other sailing away days.
As a sailing member you will be put on the duty rota for assisting with the running of the racing.
There is a monthly Sailing Captain (normally a qualified or experienced race officer) who assists the Race Officer of the day and the team. The Race Officer will normally have completed the Club Race Officer training sessions.
Details of the Race Teams can be found in the Calendar.
The Race Officer and Sailing Captain manage and deploy the race team.
There will usually be a minimum of four members in the team though additional members may be drafted in as appropriate.
Two of the team will be deployed in a safety boat, which will be moored on the jetty and ready for immediate action. The Race Officer will expect the Safety Boat Crew to read the Operating Procedures and sign the declaration that they have read and understood them.
The Race Officer will need to be satisfied that adequate safety cover is available and balance the ability of the safety boat crew with the conditions on the course. In the event of weather conditions leading to concerns about the ability of the crew to cope with rescue, the Race Officer may deploy additional safety boats and/or abandon racing.
The basic responsibility of the safety boat crew is to ensure that the instructions of the Race Officer are carried out. The single most important part of this responsibility is to attend every capsize, probably only briefly and sometimes at a distance, to count heads, check that the crew are not injured and need no further assistance.
The lease requires boats to be washed when brought on the premises, particular if they have been sailed on water with blue-green algae or the sea. The recommended chemicals (copper sulphate solution) are not very conducive to the structure of dinghies. Please ensure that your boat is washed, before returning to the premises after sailing on other waters.