Sailing at Rickmansworth
We exist primarily to allow our members to go sailing although we actively encourage other compatible uses of our water and facilities.
Some members just want to cruise around the lake. Most find that sailing with other boats and racing enhances their enjoyment.
Club racing usually takes place on Wednesday evenings in the summer and on Sundays throughout the year.
There is also organised sailing some Wednesday afternoons; see U3A dates in the calendar. We try to promote the use of the club and the water
and there is often activity with the
Cadet fleet on Saturdays and
Launch and Lunch on some Fridays offers the chance for a relaxed sail with others.
We hold open meetings and other sailing events. You'll find details of these events on the website. At these times the Club is open and an OOD will be on duty and arrange safety boat cover.
If you're not competing in the event please don't use the lake during open meetings without the express permission of the OOD.
On a normal Club sailing day any member can sail for pleasure or race. If you're not racing, please let the OOD know.
Taking Part in a Race
If you can sail around the lake you can take part in our racing! Please join in.
We'd love you to start racing
Please just have a go! We're a friendly club so ask someone if you're not sure about something. You could try crewing for someone to get some experience.
Using Club Boats
We have a good, varied fleet of club boats available for club members to hire. You must
book the boat you want to use. You'll find all the details
you need on the booking pages.
Access to the Club
On Club sailing days the Club is opened by the OOD at least one hour before the first race or event is due to start.
Access at Other Times
You can sail at other times -
here's what you need to know about opening up and closing the club.
For private sailing you can ignore the setting up section
but might find useful information there about keys you might need.
Duty Team
The Duty Team usually consists of the OOD and at least one other member. The team should arrive at least an hour before the start of the first race.
The OOD will assign tasks to the team taking into account the weather and the skills and abilities of the team.
Duty Officer (OOD)
An experienced member acts as the OOD when there's organised club racing , they have overall responsibility for running the club safely on that day and will:
- Open the Club at the start of the day
- Ensure there's a safety boat operational and ready to go if needed
- Abandon, delay or suspend organised sailing if they think it's right to do so
- Organise and run the races, record the results and pass the results to the sailing secretary
- If necessary and possible hear and determine any protests
- Try to get someone to look after the bar
- Close up the club at the end of the day
Starting Box
This has moved from the flat roof to the new shed on the blockhouse (the flat roof is now out of bounds, so please don't go up there).
Helping the duty team
Please follow any instructions that they give - they are there to make sure that the day runs smoothly and safely.
The team might welcome help so if you want to assist, please ask the OOD.
Club Duties
We rely on members carrying out duties and helping with club maintenance and our fees are structured on this basis.
The club can only keep going if you do your bit to help.
Normal sailing duties are allocated on DutyMan, you should be sent a reminder by that system but you can look at who's down for duty at any time and, if you like, make your own note of your allocated date(s).
If you can't do an allocated duty, you must arrange someone to cover for you. DutyMan is designed to help with this and should be updated with the change.
Work Parties and other maintenance days
Working Parties are part of Club life and, again, help to keep running costs down. They can also be good fun and a great way to meet other members
You're expected to help out on at least two of these during the course of the year or, if you really can't get to the club when they're happening, make arrangements to complete some tasks at other times.
Housekeeping
Although we have someone who cleans the clubhouse once a week it is up to members to tidy up after themselves.
Please help us to keep the premises looking good by:
- Washing and drying any glasses, mugs, crockery and cutlery that you use (please don't leave them on the draining board) and putting them away.
- Putting or throwing away any food leftovers. If you can take food waste home with you to compost.
- Dealing with any abandoned glasses, crockery or food, even if it isn't yours.
- Removing muddy or wet footwear and clothing before going into the bar.
Grass
We cut the main sections of the lawn but, if you have a boat at the club, you need to keep grass (and any weeds) around it in check.
The Bar 🍻
We have a bar 😂 It is open during organised club events and is the OOD's responsibility.
As the OOD has a lot to do they would probably love it if you could offer to look after it for them. If there isn't anyone behind the bar then please serve yourself.
Please observe the usual licensing rules if you are responsible for under 18s at the club, they shouldn't go behind the bar, buy alcoholic drinks or have those bought for them.
Don't forget to pay, you'll find price lists displayed prominently and we take cash or card payments.
You can also make hot drinks in the galley and there are normally snacks available to buy too.
Guests
Members can bring guests with them to the club but you can only bring the same person 4 times in any year. Please don't forget to sign them in.
At the discretion of the OOD, a guest may helm a member’s boat in a race but, for the purposes of scoring they will rank as non-starters.
Last to leave
If you are last to leave please make sure that:
- All fires, heaters, fridges and lights are turned off.
- All doors and windows are closed.
- No one else is around who might get locked in accidentally.
- All the gates and barriers are locked.
Safety, Health and the Environment
Safety is extremely important for all activities around water and at the club, make safety your first priority.
Going Afloat
Your safety is always your responsibility. Don't go on the water if you're not confident in the prevailing conditions and make sure you have taken adequate measures for your safety
(wear a personal flotation device and suitable clothing for the time of year.)
On Club sailing days a safety boat is available, if you go on the water at other times take the absence of a safety boat into consideration in your decision and make sure that you are safe.
See Bye-Law 1
We have a small dinghy near the block house that could be used to assist someone in difficulty. The oars are kept in the boat, please check that the bung is in place.
Remember that if there is an accident afloat, that prompt action may be very important.
Junior Members and Children
Junior Members and Children must wear a personal flotation device at all times whilst afloat, or near the water (This includes the various streams and rivers in and around the car park and compound).
Please see
Bye-Law 3.
Accidents and First Aid
We have an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) in the clubhouse. If you need to use it, open the case, press the Green ON button and it will talk you through what to do
and shows a video as well. If the AED is used, please advise the OOD or a committee member as soon as you can.
We have First Aid kits and a burns kit in the clubhouse and First Aid kits in the safety boats. All accidents should be reported to the OOD and recorded in the accident book and any equipment used
should be noted in the record book so that it can be replaced.
Weil's disease
Although the chances of catching this disease are extremely rare, these are good ideas:
- Don't leave food around the club, you'll encourage vermin, put unwanted food in the appropriate bin, or take it home with you.
- Cover any cuts and grazes and don't walk around with bare feet.
- If you do end up in the water,
- try not to swallow any,
- shower as soon as possible, and
- drink fresh water.
- See your GP If you experience any symptoms of Weil's Disease, common ones are:
- a temperature,
- symptoms of flu
- joint and muscle pains (particularly in the calf)
Blue Green Algae
It isn't likely that you'll find any at RSC, but it's prudent to be aware of it by reading
this information published by the RYA.
Don't forget that we use blue dye in the water to
control weed growth but it's always best to assume the worst so if you fall into anything that could be this stuff take a shower as soon as you can and, when you get home,
wash and dry all the clothes you were wearing.
If you then experience any of these: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, dry cough, headaches, hay fever symptoms, dizziness, fatigue,
skin or eye irritations go to see your GP.
Sustainability and the Environment
We want to protect the environment and ensure that the club runs in the most sustainable way possible.
You can see more about these policies here.
Boat registration
If you keep a boat on club property or use a boat at the club on a regular basis, you need to pay
the appropriate annual fee for it.
Insurance
You must have valid insurance in place for any boat (except club boats which are insured by the club) that you use or keep at the Club. (
see Bye-Law 5).
Trophies and Prizes
If you take part in our races you might win a prize or a trophy! There are several trophies to compete for, some are won on a single race, others for performance in a series of races.
