Club Guidelines

The following are guidelines for members to help in ensuring that the Club’s activities are carried out in a safe and seaman like way. Further details are in the Club’s Health & Safety and Child Protection Policies which can be found on the Club notice board and on the website.

SAFETY: Buoyancy aids or lifejackets MUST be worn at all times when in dinghies, safety boats or tenders. Club members who have passed their level 2 may use club boats.

The decision to go sailing must be taken by the individual sailors and will depend on weather, sea state, the condition of the boat and the availability or otherwise of rescue cover. The club strongly recommends that club boats should only go out in company with other boats. In marginal conditions, as well as safety, the individuals concerned must also take into account the likelihood of damage to club boats. The same guidance applies to juniors except that their parents must accept responsibility for safety – the club cannot unless it is a recognised club event.

LOCH TRAFFIC: Ships transiting to and from Corpach (Boyd’s Pier) are often restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. Sailboat helms operating from the Club must be aware of their duty to give the larger ships a clear berth. If in doubt, pass astern. If OOD, dual radio watch can be kept on Channel 16 and in emergency only, the radio can be used on Channel 16 Boyd Brothers 01397 772235 and Corpach Canal Basin 01397 772249 or 07917 348025 may be contacted by phone.

SWIMMING: Being visible is very important in open water when there are other water users. A brightly coloured hat is essential, and an inflatable tow float pulled behind you on a short leash gives a clear signal that there is a swimmer in the water.

GENERAL: All boats in the dinghy park should:

Be properly secured to avoid being blown over causing damage to other boats.
Have the mast taken down over the winter, and be on a functioning trolley/trailer.
Challengers excepted there are no facilities for parking or racing multihulls.
All craft whether on moorings or onshore should always have halyards stopped.
At all times, in particular when racing, be aware of and avoid moored boats.

USE OF CLUB BOATS: Guidance on the use of club boats is available from any committee member.

MEMBERSHIP FEES:

Current membership fees can be viewed by visiting: www.lochaber-yacht-club.co.uk/join-lochaber-yaght-club

Temporary membership: – for up to 1 week at £22 for an individual person or family to launch, recover and use club facilities, upon completion of an appropriate membership form and payment of fee. The facility to occasionally launch and recover craft (dinghy, wind surf, kayak, power boat etc.) would be included in this category of membership. Additional weeks would be charged at £22 per week for up to 5 weeks (or 7 weeks in the case of family membership) If you are just interested in a short visit or just launching a boat then tell us what you need and we’ll sort out an appropriate fee. Windsurfers or kayakers who occasionally just use the car park and slipway and no other facilities, will be issued a permit to do so for £10. Temporary Member Car/Trailer per week £42

BOAT STORAGE FEES: Dinghy Park, Car Park and Downies shed:-

Boats up to 4m length……………………………………………………£82
Boats over 4m length…………………………………………………….£92
Canoes/ Kayaks ……………………………………………………………£61
Juniors boats ……………………………………………………………….. £30
Keelboats – Car Park……………………………………………………..£102
Road Trailer summer – Car Park……………………………………..£56
Downies Shed………………………………………………………………£82

Membership and storage fees and payment:

These are made through our online membership system. This is safe, secure and allows you to manage your own membership.

Please note that all boats stored in the dinghy/car park should be on a functioning launch trolley or road trailer.

OOD DUTIES: Full details are on the notice board in the OOD office and on the website. The contacts for any query and assistance are:

OOD Duties ……………….. the current Dinghy Convenor or Keelboat Convenor
Radios………………………………………………………………………….Stephen Marshall
Safeguarding Officer …………………………………………………………..Cherryl Allan

The main thing is to get there early and get organised. The key points once you’ve opened up (key to the sliding door hangs on shelf near to radio) are:

Radios: Switch on the radios. The base set has a mains supply to a charging unit – the main supply should be on all the time. The main set is switched on and the controls for volume and squelch set at the white marks. Check that the set is operating on channel P1 or dual watch (not 16 alone). Handsets should be switched on, set to the white marks and checked. When finished, switch off the base radio but not at the main plug. Handsets should be switched off but not recharged. The radios are checked and recharged if necessary each Thursday.

Safety Boats: Check with the Safety Boat Driver for the Race.
Any of the club safety boats can be used but a RIB should be preferred. The keys and the dinghy oars are kept in the broom cupboard in the clubhouse. The Safety Boat driver should check that the boat is equipped with oars, fuel and spare fuel, towropes, anchor, radio and first aid kit. Ideally the safety boat should be manned and ready to go before dinghies are launched. To save fuel in light wind conditions it can be kept on it’s mooring with the crew on board or on the running mooring with the crew on standby. Ultimately it is the responsibility of individual boats and their crew to decide to sail or not except for juniors where the OOD with advice from the safety boat driver may decide that conditions are too extreme for sailing.
The first priority for the safety boat is to ensure that sailors in difficulty are made safe and if necessary immediately brought ashore. While one rescue is under way watch must be kept to see that others are not in difficulty. Boats and gear can be rescued later. At every incident check that the crew of any capsized boat(s) have not been, for example, knocked unconscious; don’t tow the first boat to go over.

Starting:

Sort out race form (in the red folder) and fill in the details of the event
Find and prepare flags
Find the race clock.
Set the course and display the appropriate number or letters. Try to get a good windward start or windward leg somewhere on the course. Feel free to consult others on a suitable course.
Check the safety boat is in operation and that the radios work.
Start the race. The starting sequence is clearly displayed on the notice board.

Finishing:

Shorten the course in time for the slower boats to finish. Note the time of each boat as it finishes
Check each boat is safely ashore. Work out results using guidance in the Race Office, Dinghy or Keelboat Convenor will help if required.
Take down and put away any flags. Take in any course boards. Switch off radios (see above)
Lock the sliding door. Leave the key on the hook near to the radio

Black Rock/Loch Eil/Corran Red: On the first scheduled date for these races the aim should be to try to sail the proper course without shortening, or at least to reach the Black Rock/ Loch Eil or the Corran Red as the case may be. This is on the basis that there is an alternative date available when it may be possible to sail the full course. If it is obvious that a decent race is not going to be possible then a round the cans alternative can be offered to avoid disappointment while the main event is postponed. On the alternative date all reasonable efforts should be used to obtain a result by shortening the course as necessary.

OTHER DUTIES: Encourage all to take part. Write a report and take photos that can be sent to the papers or put on the web site. These can be emailed to the papers along with the results. Leave copies or email to the Dinghy Convener or Keelboat Convener direct. The Red A5 notebook can be used to record general comments.

TRAINING CREDENTIALS: The Club is a recognised RYA teaching establishment and each year we try to run learn-to-sail training courses for adults and juniors, along with various improvers courses, powerboat and shore based courses. The training Principal is Jon Gay

Full details of training courses are posted on the website and the club notice board.

MONDAY NIGHT: Is Keelboat racing

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Is dinghy racing

CLUB NIGHT: is a Thursday night when a Safety Boat will be available from 18:30. This is an opportunity for members to enjoy sailing in company. Continuation training will also be organised for adults and juniors on the basis of the RYA scheme using the Club or members own boats. There will also be dinghy racing for those who wish to participate.

THE “THURSDAY CLUB”: This group arose from the members efforts to clear up after the storm of January 2005 caused chaos in the dinghy park. We meet at 1000 for coffee every Thursday. The aim is to carry out the basic maintenance tasks around the club, enthusiasm is the only requirement! Lunch is about 1300. Sometimes work continues after lunch. Do come along, even for an hour or two.

USE OF CLUB FACILITIES: It is the responsibility of all members to keep the clubhouse clean, tidy and dry. After dinghy sailing and swimming, please mop the floors. All members should ensure that anyone using the clubhouse does so as a paid member of LYC

Useful Numbers

Boyd Brothers (Corpach Wharf) ……….01397 772235
Corpach Canal Basin ……………………….01397 772249
Canal Duty Officer…………………………..07917 348025
Coastguard – Stornoway …………………..01851 702013
Linnhe Marina (Appin)…………………….07721 503981
Owen Sails ………………………….. 01631 720485
Arisaig Marina …………………….. 01687 450224
Dunstaffnage Marina ……………. 01631 566555
Lochaline Harbour/Marina ……. 07583 800500
Mallaig Marina ……………………. 07824 331031

For alterations or additions to the handbook contact the Committee.

Rotas General – See the weekly newsletter for the rota for the month.

It is the responsibility of the OOD and Water Taxi Driver to arrange his/her own assistant and to arrange to swap duties if the dates are inconvenient. Advice/help on starting procedures is available from the Keelboat/Dinghy Convenors or any Committee Member.