Guidance to potential members, and those wishing to change class, on dinghies to be raced and sailed at Delph SC.

The sailing area at Delph Reservoir can be quite restricted. Although nominally about 100acres parts are not really usable and other parts are not usable under particular wind conditions. The fact that it is a drinking water reservoir means that the water level fluctuates and the area can be halved to 50 acres and the effects of the trees and dam wall may further reduce the effective area.

We do have some club owned dinghies but they are dedicated to the training program but these are not available for general hire to members.

We do not have a prescription of what class of dinghy you sail except that in order to race it must have a recognised RYA Portsmouth Yardstick number.

If you already have a boat we would hope that it is similar to one already sailed at Delph as this will give you the possibility of class competition and assistance and advice from those who already sail that type of dinghy.

If you are thinking of buying a dinghy, or are a member thinking of changing class, again we would suggest that you will get most enjoyment out of sailing a type already sailed at Delph. Typical these would be:-

Classes:           Enterprise – a two crew two sail general racing dinghy

Laser – Standard, Radial, 4.7 – a single handed dinghy with different rigs for a variety of ages and crew weights.

Miracle – a smaller two-person dinghy with three sails.

RS200 – a two-person performance dinghy with at asymmetric spinnaker.

Solo – a single handed conventional dinghy.

Other types with varying numbers

Mirror - a smaller two-person dinghy with three sails, often sailed by children and beginers

RS300 – a high performance single handed dinghy

Topper – smaller single handed dinghy more often sailed by children and beginners.

The above have been found to be appropriate for our restricted water. There are other more appropriate local venues in particular for high performance dinghies which perform better on larger sailing areas with more consistent winds.

At the present time only dinghies with Portsmouth Yardsticks between 980 and 1500 are accepted for racing. All dinghies must apply for registration before being brought onto the premises. Dinghies outside the above range may be accepted but subject to whether or not they may race and when they may sail.

The restrictions to times of sailing will normally be such that particular craft may not sail during organised club sessions particularly when the water is busy, i.e. racing session(Sunday pm, Wednesday Evening and some Saturdays, and/or training sessions Friday Evening).

Criteria which may be applied in determining acceptance (or not), or conditional acceptance may be based on the following:-

• Whether or not the dinghy has a PY within the accepted band
• Whether or not you are an existing Club member
• Whether or not there is a berth available on the boat park
• What reasons there may be for you transferring from another RYA affiliated Club to Delph, for instance if you have been expelled by another Club
• Whether or not there is a berth of an appropriate size available on the boat park
• Your competence as a sailor
• This might best be demonstrated by completion of an RYA Training programme to the appropriate level in terms of the dinghy you propose to sail. Or,  by your previous performance (particularly) in relation to racing at the club or other clubs or other events
• The relative performance of the dinghy you hope to sail, i.e. a beginner would initially not be expected to be sailing a high performance dinghy.
• The consequence of the propose dinghies acceptance upon race management and the impact on questions of safety within the racing and sailing environment.

Draft aec 7-4-05