Members Guide

Members Guide

Table of Contents

1. Quick Reference Links

2. Access to LLSC

A key card is required to gain access to the club. This can be ordered at LLSC: Access Card / Container Key.

Please note you need to be logged into Webcollect to see the security subscriptions.

New members are able to order an initial door access card free of charge (max 1 initial access card free per household). Replacement or additional cards will be issued for a fee.

3. Staying Connected

For the very latest information on what’s happening, please join the WhatsApp Community via the invitation link in your Commodore’s welcome email (there is a separate junior WhatsApp community).

The calendar search facility is a great way to find out what’s on and when you are on duty—just enter your name in the search bar.

3.1 Club Contacts

4. Using the Water

4.1 When Can I use the Water?

The facilities of the club are open to all members on every day of the year; it is up to the individual member to decide if the conditions are safe for them to sail at times when organised safety cover is not available.

For safety reasons, access for sailing activities is closed while our partners Swim Pennington are running organised activities. This normally runs from March to October on Tuesday evenings (17:30 to 19:30), Thursday evenings (17:30 to 19:30), and Saturday mornings (07:30 to 09:30). A limited number of activities take place during the winter in those time slots.

4.2 Where can I sail or canoe?

The nature reserve marked by a line of green buoys cannot be entered.

There is a shallow part of the flash marked by a small yellow buoy and obs on the map; we advise giving this shore a wide berth. Do not Sail or Canoe within 30 metres of fishing tackle, as a courtesy to fellow users of the Flash and to mitigate entanglement.
LLSC Course Card Map

4.3 What kit do I need to wear?

Buoyancy Aid to be worn at all times when on the water.

Full wetsuit is mandatory in the colder months, from 1st November to 31st March. To ensure that you purchase suitable kit you can contact Mark Hardy
www.1stmark.co.uk.

4.4 Can I swim?

Other than when you capsize, swimming is only permitted as part of a Swim Pennington organised session. This normally runs from March to October on Tuesday evenings (17:30 to 19:30), Thursday evenings (17:30 to 19:30), and Saturday mornings (0730 to 0930).

4.5 Club Kayaks

The club has a number of Kayaks for members to use for free when safety cover is provided. Please speak to one of our members for more information.

5. Duties

5.1 Duty Roles

The 4 types of duty are detailed below. You will be asked to select your preferences each year and you can drop in to the race box any week to watch how it’s done. If you have any questions please just ask.

• OD (Officer of the Day, aka Race Officer): In charge of the racing and will either be in the Race box on top of the clubhouse or afloat on the blue committee boat. Only those with suitable sailing experience will be expected to perform this role. Training can be provided for this role—just let us know.
• AOD (Assistant Race Officer): Helps the Race Officer; no previous experience or sailing skills are required. You’ll be writing down information as requested by the Race Officer to keep track of the race results, and raising/dropping flags if on the committee boat. This is a great way to watch the racing and learn more. If you want to understand more about what’s involved, why not come along and observe before you have a duty? This is normally shore-based, except during the winter, for open meetings, the regatta weekend, and on Trophy days.
• Cox: Drives the rescue boat (rib): are RYA PB2 (Powerboat 2) qualified and are typically experienced sailors. The club provides training for this role.
• RA(Rescue Assistant): assists the Rescue boat cox who will tell you what to do, so previous experience or sailing skills are not required. You will need to be able-bodied and be dressed to enter the water, e.g. buoyancy aid and wetsuit, although it’s very rare that this is needed.

5.2 Duty Rota

Please view your duties at Duties – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club Use the duties search box to search for your surname and it will bring up all your duties.

Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club is run by its members for its members. As such, all adult members and Guardians are expected to undertake up to four duties per year and, besides being essential for the effective running of the club, they present an excellent opportunity to get to meet other members, get involved, and learn more about how the club and our events operate. Your contribution helps make sure that everyone can enjoy the sailing programme.

If you are unable to fulfil your duty, please arrange a swap yourself with someone else on the rota. The club’s 24/7 Duties WhatsApp group is the best place to arrange this. When the swap has been arranged email Michelle Raines who will update the website accordingly so our web rota is kept up to date for everyone to view.

If something comes up at short notice and you can no longer attend, please let the OD for your event know as soon as possible. This gives them the best chance of arranging alternative cover and keeping the event running smoothly.

Thanks to everyone who gives their time and helps make our sailing possible. Your support is greatly appreciated!

5.3 Safety Boat Driving

The club requires coxes to be approved by our power boat instructors before driving any of the powered boats, as a minimum you will require an RYA PB2 qualification, experience of driving a rescue boat and knowledge of dinghy rescue.

We run PB2 courses occasionally when we are short of registered coxes and a separate “Rescue Course for Coxes” covering safety boat driving and dinghy rescue.

Please report any issues/breakages as per Section 7.4 Issue Reporting Form

5.4 Race Officer

Race Officer (OD) & Race Timer: Race Officer & Safety Boat Guides
Race Officer guide and race timer – useful tips on managing racing – short video: LLSC Race Officer Video Guide. A handy instruction manual to print out and use as a reference: Don’t Panic LLSC Club Racing Guide for Race Officers

Winter Sailing– A guide when using Flash the committee boat Winter Race Officer Guide

Please report any issues/breakages as per Section 7.4 Issue Reporting Form

6. Sailing and Racing

6.1 When do we race?

Sailing and Racing – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

Sundays: Our main sailing day is Sunday where we hold 3 races per day during the summer months and 2 races per day during the winter months with the first start at 12:00
Saturdays: during the summer months (April-October) there are 2 races held per day with the first start at 14:00.
Wednesday Evenings: From April to the end of August the club holds a race each Wednesday evening, normally with a 19:15 start time. Informal sailing from 5pm.

6.2 Club Training/Organised Sessions with safety cover

Lake and Cake – A relaxed few hours of sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, advice for new members, coffee, cake and good company. Please check the calendar for dates and times.
Improver Sessions – Scheduled throughout the year to allow our newer members the opportunity to progress their sailing. Priority will be given to members who have just completed their RYA level 1 & 2.
Friday Nights All members are welcome to sail during junior training, run during April and July.

6.3 Junior Sailing

Junior Learn to Sail:The stepping-stones to becoming a top-flight sailor! For juniors between 8 and 16 years of age. These are free of charge to club members including boat hire for club boats – numbers are limited by boats and instructors so book early. Our popular Junior Friday Night Session’s run between April and July.
Sunday Morning: Juniors run training sessions on Sunday mornings on selected weekends throughout the year. Please check the Junior WhatsApp group for dates.
Junior Camps: Our every popular 3-day camps have been running for some years. Check the training calendar for this years dates and to book your place.
For more information, please join the junior whatsapp group or email juniors@llsc.org.uk

6.4 Weather Forecasts

We advise checking the weather forecast before setting sail.

Weather Forecast – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

6.5 Using your own dinghy

Any craft used by members, their guests or visitors must be insured against claims by third parties for a minimum of £3,000,000.

Classes of boat are restricted to dinghies under 6.4 metres and multihulls designed for disabled people at the discretion of the Management Committee. Please see 6.9 Berthing for more information on our berthing procedures

You can sail your own dinghy any time except for flash closures or when the open water swimmers are using the water, however, for your own safety, especially if you are a new sailor we do advise that you choose a time when the safety boat is deployed. If you choose a time when there is no safety cover we would recommend not to go on the water alone and check the weather forecast.

6.5 Using a club dinghy

Further details can be found at Boat Hire – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

The club has a number of training and race ready dinghies available to all sailing members to use.

We would encourage new members to use the club dinghies whenever there is a safety boat on the water and when they are not being used for a formal training course- all of our regular events are published on the website Events Calendar.

We recognise everyone has different skill levels, ideally you will have attended one of our Start Sailing and/or improvers courses or have already achieved RYA Level II. If you do not hold a qualification you can still use the club dinghies if you are able to demonstrate that you have the ability to rig and handle the dinghy safely.

All of the club dinghies are available to new members at no cost during your first two years of membership. After your second year there is a small fee payable.

All dinghies are available on first-come, first served basis. We have a booking system for the Laser and Laser 2000. LLSC Boat Hire Booking Page

Sails, rudders etc are stored in the container closest to the boat house, this will be locked except for the days when safety cover is scheduled.

Please report any issues/breakages as per Section 7.4 Issue reporting form

6.7 Club Racing

Please take a look at the club racing sailing instructions for more information Sailing Instructions – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

A LLSC Course Card map of all the buoys, nature reserve and obstructions can be found at LLSC Course Card Map

Results can be viewed at LLSC Results

6.8 Club Events

The club hosts many events during the year the main highlights are listed. Please check the calendar for all the events during the year.

Racing

• RNLI– Sunday in Late March. 3 races open to visitors too and to raise funds for the RNLI who usually attend with items for sale.
• Flash Dash– A two day Open meeting at the end of March for Asymmetric boats (including RS100, RS200, RS400, Devotti D-one, RS/Laser 2000, Feva).
• Open day– Typically a Saturday in early May this is an opportunity for the club to showcase itself to potential members. We take as many people as possible out for a taster session.
• 4x Trophy Days– There are 4 trophy days between Spring and Autumn. Each has its own trophy and the overall club champions are determined from these events. 3 races per day with all boats starting together.
• S2S– A race from sunrise to sunset, a great weekend for all. Held close to the longest day of the year in June.
• Regatta Weekend- Late August- Fun for all the family including a BBQ and bottle race.
• Pursuit races- x3 Guy Fawkes, New Year and Le Mans. The boats all start at different times, slowest first and the winner is whoever is leading at the end.
• Open meetings– Everyone sails the same class of boat. Depending on size, these events are either run alongside club sailing or have exclusive use of the water for a “Flash Closure”
• Revett & Tipsy – LLSC Winter Racing Series one of the largest & best winter dinghy series in the UK, with separate Laser, Asymmetric and Junior Fleets.
• RYA North West Senior Race Series (NWSTT)- A mid-week racing series held on Tuesdays throughout the spring and summer. Held in the North West Region for anyone over 50 (except crews in double handers). For more information the series has a Facebook group “North West Dinghy Sailors Senior Travellers”
• RYA North West Junior & Youth Race Series–Regional sailing events from April to October for children and young people aged 18 or younger.

Events

• Commodore’s Supper and Quiz Night-March:Join the Commodore and the committee for an enjoyable evening to kick off the season. Hear what’s in store for the year ahead while enjoying some great food from the galley – and then put your knowledge to the test in our quiz to get you in the competitive mood for Sunday’s Trophy Day.
• Bonfire-NovemberJoin us for our annual Bonfire Party and enjoy a relaxed social evening around the fire. It’s a great opportunity to get together with fellow club members, catch up with friends and enjoy the warmth of the bonfire.
• Christmas Soirée and Family Party-December:Join us for our annual Christmas parties!
  The Christmas Soirée includes a three-course meal, followed by an evening of partying.
  The Family Christmas Party includes a visit from Father Christmas, making his annual appearance to see our younger members, along with lots of fun and games.

6.9 Berthing

Please speak to our berthing officer before leaving your boat on the dinghy park. More information and contact details can be found at Berthing Procedures – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

Berths can be purchased at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club : Subscriptions

6.10 Purchasing your own boat

If you’re considering buying your own dinghy, ask for advice first, as everyone’s requirements are different. Take a look at our club race results to see which dinghies are regularly sailed. Choosing a dinghy that other members use can be a great way to tap into their knowledge, and racing against similar boats is a great way to improve your skills.

7. Volunteering and Using LLSC

7.1 Volunteering at LLSC

We are a member-owned club and everyone is encouraged to volunteer, the contribution of everyone’s time and skills helps make LLSC the great place it is. We are only able to keep membership fees low because of all the people who play a part in helping to run and maintain the club.

If you have any technical, practical or other useful skills, or simply have a little spare time that you could offer to the club, please speak to a member of the committee. There are lots of ways to get involved, and you may be surprised how much you can contribute.

A few times a year, we organise working party days when members come together to spruce up the club and tackle some of those jobs that keep everything looking its best. Please do come along and get involved – many hands make light work! It’s a great way to give something back, while also meeting and getting to know other members.

The more you put into being a member, the more you’ll get out of being a member – and the more you’ll feel part of the club.

7.2 Can I bring visitors/guests to the club?

All members are permitted to sign in up to 3 guests at a time and each guest may attend as a guest up to 3 times per year. If you have friends and family who would like to visit please invite them, but do remember to sign them into the guest book by the main door in the clubhouse.

7.3 When is the galley open?

The galley is open during Saturday and Sunday racing. An evening meal is also available after Wednesday night racing. The club bar is often open after racing.

7.4 Incident Reporting

Incident Report (Unauthorised use of water)

The lake wardens have asked the club to report incidents of people entering the water or launching craft without the correct safety equipment.

Please report via the online form – Incident Report – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

Boathouse/Club Boat Form (Breakages/Issues)

If you’ve used the boathouse or club boats and have had an issue, or something has broken, please report it here so that it can be fixed as soon as possible.

Things do break, and accidents happen, so do please report any breakages.

Please report via the online form –Boathouse and Club Boats – Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

8. LLSC Club Course Map

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