MYC Welcome Pack 2024
Welcome To Margate Yacht Club
The Club: Margate Yacht Club (MYC) is a small, friendly, community sailing club and RYA Training Centre run by volunteer members since 1932. The aim of the Club is to promote sailing and all that goes with it; a love and understanding of the water, tide and wind, through training, racing and cruising. We are committed to promoting sailing to everyone and we enjoy an active, fun, and inclusive community. Dinghy sailing is the Club's primary activity but some members also maintain yachts, and others also enjoy kayaking and SUP boarding.
The Season: Our sailing season typically runs from March-November though we may squeeze in some additional sailing sessions when the weather permits. But even through the worst winters we host events in the yard, and help one another with repairs and maintenance so we can all be ready for next season.
The Location:
Our Clubhouse (which is under refurbishment and due to reopen in 2023), is at 12 - 14 Fort Hill, Margate, CT9 1HD
Our Boat Park, is at Rendezvous Arches, Margate, CT9 1HG
The boat park and arches are currently doubling up as our temporary home whilst the Clubhouse on Fort Hill is redeveloped. The yard is simple but it does have everything we need toilet facilities, a sail room, basic changing facilities, boat storage, wetsuit/buoyancy aid/helmet room, space to make tea/coffee, and not forgetting a fantastic sea view.
Who is welcome? We have around 140 members with ages ranging from 8 to 80+. Some have been sailing all their lives, others are just learning. You do not need to have any previous experience of sailing to become an MYC member.
Training Courses: We are an RYA recognised Training Centre and we are also a full "OnBoard Club" which is the RYA national initiative to increase youth participation in sailing. You can join and learn to sail by crewing up with a more experienced sailor, and also sign up for RYA qualifications to get the basics under your belt, or simply to refresh your sailing skills. We typically offer the following courses over a season:
- RYA Level 1 'Start Sailing' and Level 2 'Basic Skills'
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Safety Boat
- RYA Youth Sailing Scheme Stages 1-4
Club Coaching: We also run informal coaching days as well as free shore-based training for all members to enable them to be active participants including: tractor driving training to launch and recover boats safely and Race Officer/Assistant Race Officer training to help run races. The Club only runs through the membership volunteering. So, you not only have the opportunity to do some sailing yourself, but also to help others in supporting sailing sessions. We ask that all members commit to at least 3 duties each season to support the Club. For example:
Race Officer/Assistant Race Officer Setting the course as race officer or supporting the race officer in the race box where you learn how to run a race and the rules of racing.
Safety boat - we always have 2 crew in the safety boat to lay the course and help support the boats that are on the water. The safety boat skipper must be PB2 qualified, and we usually host courses each year to help train up new members.
Tractor driver - we need a volunteer to help run heavier boats up and down the slipway on race days.
Duties - can be selected on our website margateyachtclub.co.uk, to which every member will receive log-in details. You will be able to see available duties, and select any dates for which you are available to help.
Club Boats: You don't need to own a boat to join MYC, Club boats are available for hire for membership at just £5 per session. The boats available include:
- 3 x RS Vision - Adult double hander
- 1 x Bahia - Adult double hander
- 1x Laser 2000 Adult double hander
- 4 x RS Quba - Adult Single handers or youth double hander
- 4 x RS Tera Sport - Youth single hander
You can book and pay online for Club boats via our website. www.margateyachtclub.co.uk
All new members, no matter how experienced, must be assessed by a member of our instructor team before using any Club boats for their first time.
Racing: We love to race at Margate Yacht Club. It's a good way to learn and hone all the skills and techniques needed for sailing. While it is competitive, our community welcomes all ages and levels of ability and encourage all members to our regular Wednesday and Sunday race sessions which are typically scheduled as follows:
Sunday
9am Meet in the boat park
9.30am Race briefing
10am on the water
10.30am Race start.
Wednesday
5.30-5.45pm Meet in boat park
6pm Race Briefing
6.15pm on the water
6.45pm race start.
For younger members, we'd love to draw your attention to our popular Youth Squad session which takes place on Wednesdays May-August. This is a fun training based on the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme for 816-year-old members. The costs are £5 per session including RYA certification and all kit/equipment.
Club Fees: Annual memberships fall due on 1st January for the year. Boat park and storage fees fall due on 1st April each year. We also have limited storage available for kayaks and SUP's.
Boat Parking: The Club bosun is in charge of space allocation in the boat park. Space for boats that are actively used by sailors taking part in club racing/events are prioritised, and spaces are reviewed annually.
Boat Park gate keys: These are available upon payment of a deposit.
Club Rules: We pride ourselves on being a friendly and accessible community of sailors but we do have some essential rules which help to run the Club smoothly, and keep our members safe. Full Club Rules, and all our other policies are posted on our website www.margateyachtclub.co.uk
Sailing Safety: When sailing, we recommend that all sailors -
- Check wind/weather/tide and check-in with your fellow sailors.
- If you are not part of an official race or club outing, let someone know when you are going afloat, and when you return.
- You and any crew must use the signing on sheet to indicate when you go afloat
- and when you have returned safely to shore.
- Take a phone in a waterproof case.
- Wear a buoyancy aid.
- If you have hired Club equipment, please rinse it down and return to where you found it. If there is any damage, please log with the Club Bosun.
- Insure their boats for Third-Party liability.
Racing: Following the safety briefing, members must sign on for each race on the sheet provided, this should include your boat details as well as helm and crew names for results and safety purposes.
Access to the Water: Access to both Margate slipways is via key locked barrier. The Club holds keys for these which, if used, must be returned to the boat park before going afloat, and the gates kept locked at all times.
Keeping in Touch: Members can request access to our WhatsApp group which we use to broadcast race announcements, safety messages and for general Club chat.
Website and Contacts: www.margateyachtclub.co.uk
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Last updated 12:40 on 11 February 2024