General Club Information
CLUB KEY
Members may purchase club keys from the Membership Sec. The keys are for the sole use of members and must not be passed on to other persons. The key allows access to the pill head gate adjacent to the Anchor Inn car park, the dinghy compound, race officer's box and the club pram dinghy. A separate key for the Boat Shed is available on payment of a deposit. The pill head gate must be locked after entry or leaving. If you are last to leave ensure the premises and compound are properly locked.
CLUB NIGHT
A general meeting of the club and social evening is held on the first Thursday of each month in the clubhouse, throughout the year. All members are welcome.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
These are held on the fourth Thursday of each month except December, in the clubhouse.
GALLEY CATERING
Refreshments can be purchased in the clubhouse during and after racing and sail training events. The tea/coffee/soup making facilities are for the use of club members at any time. Please use this facility responsibly. Leave the money for items consumed, clean and tidy cups/plates and close the galley. The rota for galley duties is in the sailing programme on the website.. The Safe Food Record Book must be completed after each galley duty. This is a statutory requirement. For advice on catering contact the Membership Secretary or Social Secretary.
CAR PARKING
All member's vehicles should display a club sticker. The car park at the rear of the clubhouse should be used and not the hard standing at the top of the slipway. On sailing days please park at the rear of the car park so that the space directly behind the club is available for dinghy rigging.
COMPOUND FACILITIES
The compound at the rear of the boatshed is for dinghies and trailers. Trailers must be kept at the far end of the compound. Ensure that boats are securely tied down to avoid damage that can happen during high winds & Spring Tides. The compound at the head of the floating jetty is for storing pram dinghies. These must be locked and securely tied down to prevent being lifted by high winds and spring tides. Trailers and pram dinghies must be marked to identify the owner.
EMERGENCY AID
First Aid boxes are situated in both RIBs, Tom Skuse, the Boat Shed, the Galley. A defibrillator is situated on the wall by the galley entrance.
JETTY AND SLIPWAYS
One floating jetty and one concrete slipway are provided. Except during special events, cruiser owners are requested to moor on the upstream side of the floating jetty to enable the launching of pram dinghies. The latter must not be launched over the white jetty fendering.
CLUB TENDERS
The club owns various small tenders for use by its members. One is specifically for use by the safety boat officer and crew and is kept in the boat shed or dinghy compound. Another is kept on the floating jetty and should be locked securely after use and the oars returned to the boat shed.
DINGHY MOORINGS
These are provided by the club on payment of the appropriate fee and situated on the far bank of the pill in the vicinity of the floating jetty. Members must supply their own warps for attachment to the club chain. Advice on mooring can be obtained from the berthing officer.
PERSONAL BUOYANCY & WETSUITS
Adequate personal buoyancy must be worn by occupants of ALL classes of dinghies (including pram), surf boards, canoes and paddle boards whilst afloat whether racing or cruising. Wet suits alone are not considered adequate. Wet/Dry suits are to be worn in Spring and Winter Series.
RACE OFFICER
This duty commences approximately 1.0 hour before the start of the race. Race start times are shown in the sailing programme. It is the responsibility of the Race Officer to ensure that before starting a race, safety cover is provided as set out in the risk assessment and race officer guides.
The Race Officer shall obtain a current weather forecast and display this on the notice board at the Race Officer's Box.
If racing is to be held in the shipping channel, the Race Officer shall contact Sharpness Docks ( VHF channel 13 or 01453 811644) and advise sailors of shipping movement.
CLUB SAFETY BOATS
The club has two RIBs. These are kept in the RIB store and are manned by suitably qualified members. RIB crew must wear wet/dry suits, personal buoyancy and suitable sailing footwear. They will stand by on race days under the direction of the OOD. Please note that safety boats will not accompany dinghies that go cruising.
THE BOATSHED
During the sailing season the boatshed is used for storing club equipment, as a cafe during regattas and as a lecture room if required for sail training. Members' equipment left in the boatshed is liable to be moved and no liability for loss or breakages is accepted by the club.
EXCHANGING DUTIES
It often happens that members are not available for sailing or galley duties. It is the responsibility of the member to find a replacement. This is usually not difficult and members with similar duties later in the programme will often agree to exchange. Exchanges may be made using the website.
BOAT INSURANCE
Members and visitors must be covered against third party risks to a minimum of £3,000,000 for all craft at Thornbury Sailing Club.
SMITHY'S BUOY
The club maintains a mooring buoy in Woolaston Pill for the use of cruising dinghies and yachts. It was placed there in memory of DON SMITH.
CLUB BOATS
The club owns a number of boats that are available for use by members when they are not being used for training events. A small charge is made for the use of the boats which should be paid in accordance with the instructions in the clubhouse. The boats may not be used if the wind is above 20MPH.
PROTECTION OF YOUNG & VULNERABLE PERSONS
The club follows the guidelines prescribed by the RYA.
PLEASE NOTE:
All meetings, bar, galley, sailing activities and duties are subject to any government restrictions in place on the dates published in the programme. Please consult the club website for up to date information. Some procedures may also be unavoidably adapted during such times.
Last updated 15:19 on 8 March 2024