Casual sailing guide for new members

Here are are some tips and pointers for those who are new to the club.

Do refer to club handbook for all the the information.

The club rules state that you can sail at any time of day when there is someone at the club, either on or off the water, who is able to render assistance on the water. What this means in practice is that you can arrange to meet other members at the club for a sail at any time.

Changing rooms and toilets will be open.

On Friday evenings from 5:30 and Saturday afternoons (about 1:00-4:00pm) club members have agreed to be at the club to facilitate sailing so most weeks you can just show up and have a sail. Usually the club house will be open at these times and, weather permitting, there might be a barbecue. Check the forum for updates or email cruising@attenboroughsc.org.uk. Do keep an eye on the shore to check if everyone has brought their boats off the water.

Casual sailing and cruising do not guarantee to have safety boat cover, so sailing is at your own risk. Note that it is recommended in the club rules that non-swimmers should not sail when there is no safety cover.

If you want to sail with safety boat cover there are several good options. On Saturdays there will be safety boat around the junior sailing and for one off training events. You can also sail around and between races. There are also a few Fridays where informal training has been arranged, a safety boat may well be on the water at these times.

It is worth knowing that there is a first aid kit in the club house. When this is not open, members should either bring their own kit or check the kit in the race cabin (near the ladies changing room).

The water can be surprisingly cold especially in spring. It is important to wear appropriate clothing. Wetsuits or drysuits are recommended.

Buoyancy aids are essential when around the pontoons and launching areas (as well as on the water, of course). Anyone without a buoyancy aid should not go to these areas. Buoyancy aids are available to borrow from the clubhouse if you forget yours or need one for a guest.

Members can use the club boats (Visions, Fevas and Toppers). There is a club boat policy and a short form to complete (including getting permission from a committee member, instructor or race officer). See notices in the club house or on the Cruising:club boats tab above.

Just in in case it has been a while since you were on the water, here is a reminder of some rules of the road: Conventionally, a boat on a port tack gives way to a boat on a starboard tack and a windward boat gives way to a leeward boat. To avoid head on collisions, turn to starboard. However, remember there are likely to be people on the water who are new to sailing and either don't know this or are not reliably able to implement it.