Responsibilities & Liabilities

Personal Buoyancy – All Sailors and helpers must wear suitable buoyancy when afloat. Any race competitor that infringes this rule will be disqualified.

Liability – Sailors are responsible for their own safety and that of their boat. The Club cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury whilst taking part in programmed events. The decision to sail is down to individuals; this is especially relevant in challenging weather. By entering a race you imply you’re happy with the conditions and comfortable with your abilities and any potential risks.

Boat Maintenance – Sailors must ensure their boats are properly maintained and fit for the conditions. For Scows this means they must be seaworthy, equipped with a suitable level of buoyancy and sails must have reefing points with lines either attached or carried in the boat at all times. Please refer to the Class Rules here for further descriptions, restrictions and requirements. The Officer of the Day reserves the right to stop any unsuitable boat or one that breaches Class Rules from racing.

Insurance – All sailors must ensure that their boats have adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims of at least £2m.

Safety Cover – Although reasonable efforts will be made to provide adequate safety boat cover for club events, sailors are reminded that, particularly in extreme weather conditions, covered should not be relied upon, and in ay event they can only be given such assistance as can be practically provided in the circumstances. It is unlikely that safety cover will be available for any informal sailing, such as pottering, not officially organised by the Club. In these circumstances is advised that sailors adopt a ‘buddy’ system to look out for each other.

End of the Season – All boats are to be removed from Needs Ore by 31st October and Rope Factory Field by 7th November. Any boat left after these dates will be deemed to be abandoned and is liable to be removed or disposed of by the Boatswain