SPRING UPDATE FOR MEMBERS
Please see our web-site for up-to-date
information: www.gdsc.org
1 Membership Level
Following
the past few years of reduced water level and limited sailing at Torside,
membership levels have reduced as people left to sail elsewhere. Now we are
back with a full reservoir and sailing programme and we need to increase
membership again to its former level. As the club is run completely by
volunteers [membership fees cover the rent, rates, site maintenance,
electricity, insurance and to keep the safety boats running] increased member
numbers reduces the duty load on each individual.
Please
share any ideas you have on how best to promote the club and raise membership. A
poster campaign has been suggested with posters up in prominent places. If you
are willing to display a poster at home or at work or you have relatives that
live on a busy throughfare like Mottram Moor please let me know.
2 Cleaning
When
we had full membership we were able to pay for a weekly cleaner. At present we are reliant on volunteers to keep
the clubhouse clean and tidy. Cleaning materials, brooms etc are available in
the cupboards. Any help is much appreciated especially if the last person out
of the changing room at the end of a sailing session could take it upon
themselves to empty the changing room bin in the outside dustbin [with the
green lid].
3 Tie-Downs
Please
can all boat owners be reminded that their craft must be secured to two
independent tie-downs that are firmly embedded in the ground - this is to
prevent damage to your boat and those adjacent in high wind. It is a demand of
most insurance policies and also of the club insurance that all boats should be
secured when on shore. The club cannot be responsible for damage caused by
inadequately secured boats. Tie-downs can be purchased from Roger Tolman for £8
each or £15 a pair. roger@tolmanr.freeserve.co.uk
I
have been reliably informed by Dave Morris that screw-in metal dog stakes are
very effective as well.
4 Keys
Please
can all members who hold sets of gate and clubhouse keys let me know so that I
can update the list of who has what. Members who would like a set of keys these
are available at a cost of £ 8 [returnable deposit]. Please ring or Email
5 Use of club boats
The
following will apply for all club-owned (junior) equipment:
-
The club has made a considerable investment in equipment for Junior Training
sessions and consequently wants to ensure it is protected and maintained.
-
The purpose of the Junior equipment is to support Junior training and formal
Junior sessions i.e. Friday nights, Taster sessions or Race Training sessions.
-
Experience has shown that unless the use of the equipment is supervised, it is
more vulnerable to breakage. When this has happened it has not been reported
and so the equipment has not then been available for the next Junior session.
-
Consequently the Junior equipment is not available for hire (whether fee paying
or not) or general use by club members, including free sailing and Sunday
racing. It should only be used in formal sessions supervised by an instructor.
-
The exception to this is use by the Junior Assistant Instructors, who have
reached a level of competency, and in recognition for their contribution to
junior sessions.
This policy also applies to any adult members
unless under instruction.
6 Safety / Buoyancy Aids
Can
all members, especially those with experience, be alert and check that buoyancy
aids fit appropriately - especially on children. i.e. they shouldn’t be able to
slide up and cover the face. Nobody wants to interfere in someone else’s
pleasure but less experienced sailors in borrowed equipment may be less aware
of the dangers. Safety crews and ODs will refuse to allow people onto the water
if they feel that buoyancy aids [or any other equipment] are not safe.
7 Entrapment Under capsized boats
This
issue was recently red flagged by the RYA. They are requesting details
of all incidents of entrapment, including near misses, to be reported to them. If
this occurs while you are sailing or on duty please can you log the details:
date, weather conditions, boat involved and details of the incident in the new
incident book in the Club House so that Roger can forward the details to the
RYA. The statistics received will help to define future safety policy and boat
design.
The
RYA recommends the following to reduce the risk of entrapment:
1.
Rescue crew to be
extra vigilant at counting heads if capsize occurs to assertion that all the
crew are free of the vessel
2.
Rescue boat crew
must not stand on capsized hulls if there is any risk of someone trapped
underneath. Use ropes to right asymmetrics .
3.
Fit quick release
harness clips
4.
Rescue boat crew
need to be dressed and prepared to enter the water if needed and equipped with
a suitable blunt end knife to cut trapped sailor free if necessary
5.
The RYA recommends
the fitting of mast head floatation devices especially to juniors boats to
prevent capsizing.
8 Boat Disposal Policy
If
someone leaves a boat at the club and are not a paid-up member they will be
liable for storage and disposal fees.
9 Duty Captain List
If
you need to change a duty, please contact the duty captain for that month
-names listed on website.
http://www.gdsc.org/dutyroster.htm
10 Cards
Just
before we moved temporarily to Pennine we had some fundraising cards printed
featuring views of Torside and sailing. They are excellent quality cards, blank
inside for your own message and can be used for birthdays, thank-yous etc. Unfortunately
the card market is a little like that of the charity calendar - unpredictable.
Cards
continue to be available. They are priced at £1 each or £5 for an assorted pack
of six .They are available in the galley at the clubhouse .If anybody needs a
bulk purchase please let me know at: 01457-864357 jenny_morris@sky.com
11 Electric Urn
Please
don’t use until the team rejigging the generator have stabilised the
electricity supply
12 Sailing
Please
check web site for details of the sailing diary, race series, open events etc
At
present sailing available on:
Wednesday Night Race Series - Friendly
event suitable for people new to racing as well as experienced racers. Alternately
if you want to come and free sail you will be most welcome [but if you come
regularly you’ll be invited to help out with the odd safety duty]. Sign-up duty
sheet in clubhouse for those racing /regulars. People usually arrive from
Friday Nights
from
Saturday - Buddy
sailing, rescue boat out on water if training session happening - check website
for details. Saturday 7,14,21st June, Alan, Neil and Phil will be on
the water training juniors for the Honda Rib Challenge.
Sundays - racing
or open events [see website for details]
and free sailing, bar and galley open.
13 Executive Committee
Elected
at Autumn AGM. They meet monthly on 3rd Thursday of the month. Minutes
of the AGM can be viewed on request and are summarised on an annual basis and
sent out to all members prior to the AGM. Members can attend meetings and ask
for issues to be raised. So please let us know if there is something you feel
needs addressing.
There
are a number of vacancies on the committee and if anybody would like to get
involved please speak to Roger or any of the committee.
14 Taster Session
There
will be a taster session on 31st May for new juniors interested in
trying sailing. The cost will be £15 which will be counted as the fee for club associate membership if the junior decides to
join the club following the session.If you know of someone who would like to
start sailing please pass on this date and Roger Tolmans contact details so
they can prebook a place. roger@tolmanr.freeserve.co.uk
Tel: 0161-427-4864
15 Windsurfing
Viki
and Tim are going to be offering some monthly windsurfing sessions targeted at
parents and juniors. The next is 14th June. If you have an interest
in windsurfing please make contact on 0161-427-5150 Viki Packman viki@btinternet.com Tim Snellgrove timsnellgrove@btinternet.com