Member's Committee, Duties and Volunteering

No matter how the times change, Spinnaker Sailing Club will always be a Member's Club at heart. This means we would not be able to function without input from volunteers. As well as helping to ensure Spinnaker Sailing Club can continue to run it's racing programme and be a wonderful environment to sail in volunteering is a great way to meet other members, making new friends who share your enjoyment of water sports. Within our Byelaws you can see how many duties you would be expected to perform as a member (generally speaking 2 or 3 per adult member a year).

Managing Spinnaker Sailing Club - Our Committees

Although we are very fortunate to have a small team of employed staff to make things happen Spinnaker Sailing Club is managed by a committee of members! The Main Committee provide the direction and strategy for Spinnaker Sailing Club, whilst looking after the maintenance of our facilities, and making sure all our legal requirements are met. Then our Sailing Committee focus on ensuring lots of fun sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and paddleboarding happens with our activities programme.

Volunteering

We ask that all club members volunteer to support the Club, either through Racing Duties (which members can sign up for here) or by supporting the club using any specific skills they have for example being able to support our maintenance with a specific trade skill (such as being able to conduct electrical testing). Further down this page there is more information about specific duty types in support of our racing programme.

If you have any questions regarding how to volunteer, or what duties would suit you, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Opt Out Fees are available if you feel you cannot, or do not want to perform any duty of sort. However, we feel volunteering time helps members get to know each other better, and creates a friendlier environment where we all know each other.

Work Parties

In addition to the duties we also run two or three Work Parties per year, where we ask all members to support Spinnaker Sailing Club by helping tidy up the club site through jobs such as strimming, litter picking, painting, and generally tidying up. Normally there is a day in March and another in September/October, with occasionally one in June/July as well if the grass/plants are growing too well!

Club Racing Duties

Race Officer - Able to run club racing. Usually an experienced racing sailor. Note that other members will help you on the day with setting the course etc.

Assistant Race Officer - No racing (or even sailing) experience is necessary, although a basic understanding of sailing does help. You will help the Race Officer by recording boats as they cross the start/finish line at the end of laps and making signals using the flags and hooter.

Safety Boat Driver - Experienced powerboat driver with RYA Safety Boat Certificate. In addition to providing safety cover the Safety boat will assist with laying the course. Spinnaker Sailing club provides Safety Boat course for free for members who are prepared to commit to undertake duties 3 x Safety Boat Driver duties in the 12 months following qualification.

Safety Boat Crew - Ideally holds the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate. Spinnaker Sailing Club provides the Power Boat level 2 course at below cost price for members who are prepared to commit to 3 x Safety Boat Crew Duties in the 12 months following qualification (when you will be able to drive the boat practicing and refining your new skills).

Last updated 15:24 on 19 November 2024