Volunteer

How to volunteer to help at the Club

Have your diary/calendar ready to see which dates will suit you.

Now click on Duty Roster and scroll down through the list of dates. Click on the big green 'VOLUNTEER' button for a task/day that suits you.

Volunteering and helping out is all part of being a Club member; we ask our members to help out a minimum of two days each year. Some enjoy it and help out more frequently. You can also meet other members of the club and make new friends.

I'm not trained - what sort of duties can I do?

Duty Roles at Rutland Sailing Club

We have a duty for everyone. Below are the Duties that the Club needs members to do to help the operation of Club and open event activity.

Gate duty: At large events we have to manage the flow of vehicles and trailers around the site, and in the overflow parking area. This is a low impact duty that will require longer periods of standing. For certain locations of this duty a chair can be used if needed.

Ferry Duty: This is a regular weekend duty throughout the summer months, you will need to be trained on the driving of the ferry this can be organised with the office.

This role is to assist the cruiser fleet sailors to get to and from their moored boats. This is a low impact duty where you can sit whist not piloting the ferry. There is also a hut to use in case of inclement weather.

Assistant Race Officer: This is a regular Sunday, or Thursday* evening in the summer months duty, the Race Officer will brief you on the job roles required on the day. You will be based in a committee boat for the duration of the duty. Job roles involve the hoisting and dropping of flags, using the hooter, recording lap times and sail numbers. This is a low physical activity but will have periods where concentration is needed to ensure accurate recordings and processes are followed.

Race Officer: This is a regular Sunday, or Thursday* evening in the summer months. The duty involves the ownership of providing sailors with a high-quality Club racing course and management, you need to have experience of Assistant Race Officer duties, you can then be trained to take on this role, please ask at the office for more information. This is a low physical activity but will have periods where concentration is needed to ensure accurate recordings and processes are followed.

Rib Crew: This is a regular weekend duty or Thursday* evening in the summer months. The Coxswain driving the RIB will brief you what to do, you might be asked to keep watch in a particular direction or asked to help a sailor climb out of the water into the RIB (normally you would grab their buoyancy aid shoulder strap and pull), or even the assisting in laying and recovery of marks. If you ask - you might be offered a little RIB driving experience. This is a higher physical duty that will require a good fitness level to manhandle boats and individuals.

Coxswains: Our Club coxswains all have the RYA Safety Boat certificate, lots of RIB driving experience, and a First Aid qualification. We welcome new coxswains, and we subsidise the cost of training. If you'd like to find out more - please ask at the office of any of the Coxswains. This is a higher physical duty that will require a good fitness level to manhandle boats and individuals.

*Thursday evening Duties count as a ½ duty due to the length of time volunteered.

Background

Our Club Bylaws say that " 4.8 All members are required to do a minimum of two duties per year on race committee boat or rescue unless medical or other reasons do not permit, in which case the Office must be informed and will offer alternative duties."

Council have interpreted 'All members' as 'all voting members'. Many members, including non-voting members, do a lot extra - for example most parents help out at Youth & Junior training and events.

Last updated 16:18 on 27 November 2023