CLUB RULES
CLUB RULES SLAUGHDEN SAILING CLUB JULY 2025
The following Club Rules are applicable to all categories of membership. Club Rules can be amended by Committee from time to time. The latest version of the rules overrides any previous versions.
SSC is a self-help club which relies on its members to help maintain and improve the facilities. We ask that, wherever possible, members join working parties, including slipway wash down and help with social events and galley duties. Members should also consider an appropriate role on the club committee during the term of their membership.
General
1 The Clubhouse, Veranda and Grounds have a strict NO SMOKING POLICY.
2. BBQs in the grounds are permitted for formal club organised events but not for ad hoc member visits.
3. All categories of Membership must read and adhere to club safety, incident and risk assessment procedures which can be located online and in the clubhouse.
4 Buoyancy aids or life jackets must be worn at all times when launching and whilst on the water regardless of the activity being undertaken.
5 Children joining club training activities must be able to swim at least 25m.
6 For safety reasons children under the age of 14 must not be left unsupervised on club premises, particularly around the creek and are not permitted in the galley under any circumstances.
7 Animals are not allowed in the clubhouse or on the balcony of the clubhouse and should be kept away from the stairs. Dogs are allowed in the grounds but must be on a lead. They should be well behaved and attended by their owner (or a nominated person). The owner will be held responsible for any damage to property or injury to a person that the animal causes. The owner must clear up any mess the animal may make.
The Clubhouse
We want members to enjoy using the clubhouse, but we need your co-operation to ensure that it is a safe and tidy place.
8 The perimeter gates and external doors to the clubhouse are secured by combination locks. Members and weekly temporary members will be notified of the combination number upon renewal of membership or at the time of joining. This number must not be given to non-members, guests (day members) and day temporary members under any circumstances.
9 When not occupied the clubhouse doors, windows, perimeter gates and storage containers must always be kept closed. They must not be left open while people go afloat unless there are others who have undertaken to mount guard. The last person to leave the clubhouse is responsible, even if there is reason to believe that others may return later, to ensure that the safe in the OOD office is locked, all lights and electrical appliances turned off, windows closed and secured and all doors, including outbuildings, containers and the perimeter gates are securely locked.
10 Access should be through the north-west door. The south door, facing the dinghy park, should only be used for exiting the clubhouse. Access to the changing rooms should always be via the NW door.
11 Wet clothing should be shed, where practicable, before entering the building. In any event it must not be taken anywhere other than the changing rooms via the NW door. Damp or dirty sailing clothes must not be worn beyond the galley counter.
12 Changing rooms are not to be used as dumping grounds or for storage of sailing impedimenta such as wet suits, socks, dirty or clean towels or rudders. Any such items will be removed, placed into lost property and or sold for club funds. Sailing equipment including sails should not be washed in the club showers.
13 Adult Members may use the galley to prepare drinks and snacks. It is to be left clean and tidy with everything washed and put away. Any food left in the galley, including that stored in the fridge or freezer which is past its use-by date will be disposed of. Food stored in the fridge or freezer should be labelled with the owner's name. All electrical equipment must be switched off after use. Under no circumstances may the galley or galley equipment be used for cleaning boats, engines, wet suits, sails, or any other items.
14 Any club furniture taken outside must be returned by the person who took it out or the last one to use it. It must not be left outside.
The Dinghy Park and Racking
For the purposes of these rules the word boat includes sailing dinghies, tenders, kayaks, canoes, or any other type so agreed by the committee. The Dinghy Park Supervisor and the Membership Secretary work closely together to make the dinghy park a safe and orderly area but we can only do that with your co operation.
15 For Security reasons CCTV is now in situ monitoring the dinghy park and surrounding grounds. To be effective CCTV has recording capability. It is a condition of membership that all categories of membership accept the fact that they may be recorded when entering the grounds of the club.
16 All boats using club facilities must have third party insurance. Details of your insurer's name and the policy number must be provided upon request.
17 All craft must be in a seaworthy condition and space may be denied to members whose craft do not meet this requirement. The club will decide the allocation of boat space which may change from time to time. A change of ownership of a boat is to be advised to the Dinghy Park Supervisor.
18 Boats must occupy their spaces by 1st July; otherwise, the space may be forfeited. The club expect boats to be sailed during the season. Failure to do so may result in boat spaces being re-allocated to members that are more frequent sailors when space is at a premium.
19 Boats not in their allocated space may be relocated to the correct location. Boats in their allocated spaces may also be moved under the supervision of club officers if necessary. Whilst care will be taken, relocation will be done at the owner's risk.
20 All boats using club facilities, except those of temporary members and visitors, must have the boat's name and the letters SSC on the outside.
21 Road trailers must not be left in the dinghy park unless permission has been granted by the Dinghy Park Supervisor.
22 All boats in the dinghy park must be securely tied down, especially in winter.
23 The club slipway is designed for dinghies and light boats only. Cars and heavy boats on trailers exceeding 400kg axle weight must not be taken onto the slipway.
24 The space under the clubhouse is not to be used by members for dumping or storage. Unauthorised items may be disposed of.
25 Tenders should be associated to a boat on a mooring. Tenders over 10 feet / 3.1m long will be charged at the same rate as a dinghy. When space allows non sailing, non-planning open dinghies (up to 12' / 3.6m) may be temporarily allocated a space at Membership Secretary discretion (outboard limit 8hp).
26. Tenders with fixed cable steering are not permitted in the dinghy park. Engines should be portable, stored and not left on tenders (or dinghies) overnight whilst in the dinghy park.
27 Members are asked to cut the grass in and around their boat space and help keep the dinghy park looking neat and tidy throughout the season.
28 Club Sailing Boats may only be used for club related events, for representing SSC in external events such as the AYC Regatta and for informal hire which may include external hire for such events as the AYC Regatta subject to permission of the membership secretary or flag officer. On each occasion a boat hire form must be completed which outlines the terms and conditions for each hire prior to commencement of hire. Club boats should be returned clean and securely tied down / locked with any noted faults reported on the Bosun board for attention. All sails should be returned to the containers.
29 All craft (dinghies, kayaks, canoes and similar; trailers, engines, and associated equipment etc) must be removed from the dinghy park no later than one month after an expired membership unless otherwise agreed by Committee. Craft not removed after this period will be deemed abandoned and subject to the Abandoned Craft Policy.
The Creek
30 Limited availability for berthing in the creek exists based upon certain constraints. Refer to separate terms and conditions regarding mooring in the creek that appear on the home page of the website under 'Join Us' Slaughden Creek rules. Rates under 'Membership Fees' can also be found in this section.
Boat Restrictions
31 Membership does not extend to anyone (including existing members) that moor or launch planning boats such as Ribs or Motorboats (8 HP+) on the River Alde or Ore unless agreed by exception by Committee.
32 Displacement boats moored on the River Alde or Ore will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Committee.
Guests (Day Members), Temporary Members and Recognised Visiting Clubs
33 For dinghy sailing the minimum period to join as a temporary member is one week arranged through the Club Coordinator. Upon completion of an online or manual application followed by approval an invoice will be raised electronically for payment. Payment in every instance must be received prior to launching. For paddle sports daily temporary membership is possible in accordance with the terms outlined in the Temporary Membership policy - Paddle Sports section under Join Us on the home page of the website.
34 Full members' guests are always welcome at SSC to use the clubhouse facilities, attend social events or to sail providing that they are accompanied by the member. Guests of full members are not permitted to launch their own craft or a member's craft but can accompany the member in the members craft and visit the clubhouse whilst the member is in attendance. Guests of full members automatically become Day Members when signed into the visitor's book by their sponsor. Sign in automatically triggers an extension, for the guest, of the club's insurance arrangements to protect against public and personal liability whilst on site. The maximum number of guests that a Membership can invite on any given day is 6. Guests may not visit the club on more than FOUR occasions in any one year regardless of sponsor. Full members should be over 18 years of age to sign in guests. Guests wishing to visit the club more than four times must take out permanent or temporary membership or, in the case of a partner, join as a family member. Visiting yachtsmen and Yachtswomen are also welcome and may use the facilities but not attend social events.
35 To encourage children of non-members under 18 years of age to take up sailing they may be signed in by a committee member for up to 4 weeks. They will be expected to join as junior members if they wish to continue after that period. For children under 14 years of age parents must be present at the club.
36 Parents or guardians of sponsored juniors at YOTAS should be signed in by the sailing instructor (SI) in charge and should attend with the junior on training evenings for the duration of the course.
Recognised visiting clubs.
37 For recognised visiting clubs an application should be sent to Committee for, approval to visit. Approval will normally be granted providing that a club member Sponsor / Host, responsible for the group, is in situ at all times whilst the visiting club are on site. A recognised visiting club should consist of circa six craft and limited to an annual one-off event. Rule 8 continues to apply. It would be expected reciprocal arrangements would exist open to all club members. Craft associated with recognised visiting clubs will be permitted to launch from Slaughden slipway and store their craft in the dinghy park overnight if required. A launch fee per boat or donation to the club would apply for the duration of the visit.
Taster sessions single Canoe / Kayak
38 Non-members (individuals) are permitted to launch from Slaughden slipway during weekday evening informal sailing sessions providing they are accompanied by a club member host responsible for any such visits. The purpose of this rule is to encourage new members to join the club. The maximum number of visits is two over any timeframe. This rule will be reviewed in 2024 subject to new member status. Rule 8 continues to apply.
Club rules approved by the Committee Updated March 2025 Peter Samuels
Updated July 2025 - Peter Samuels
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Last updated 08:49 on 26 August 2025
