Membership
Becoming a member is easy. Simply fill in the online contact form and your details will be registered with the Membership Secretary.
Members will be emailed directly with news, dates for committee meetings, and details of future events.
The section takes a pride in its reputation and members are advised to read the Rules and Constitution below carefully.
Members will be emailed directly with news, dates for committee meetings, and details of future events.
The section takes a pride in its reputation and members are advised to read the Rules and Constitution below carefully.
Membership Rules and Constitution
of the
South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social
OFFSHORE SAILING SECTION
These Rules have been formulated after much discussion and debate. They have been accepted by general consensus at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Section in January 2014. All persons undertaking activities which have been organised, approved or sponsored by the SYP Offshore Sailing Section shall be bound by them.
Colin Lightfoot
SYP Offshore Sailing Section Chairman
January 2015
1. NAME
The section of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club, known as the SYP Offshore Sailing Section, shall herein after be referred to as the ‘Section’.
2. OBJECTS
The objects of the Section shall be to encourage and train members to sail in offshore waters with a view to participation in cruising, racing and social sailing within the calendar of the Section and other like bodies.
3. MANAGEMENT
i The ‘Officers’ of the ‘Committee’ shall consist of - Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. There will also be ‘Deputies’ for each post whose duties will carry out the substantive role if the respective Officers are unavailable, making 6 (six) persons in all.
ii Re-election of the ‘Officers’ and ‘Deputies’ shall take place at each Annual General Meeting. If an officer retires or resigns from the Section, a temporary appointment may be made at a Special Committee meeting.
iii The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will held each year, before the end of the financial year and members will be given at least 21 days notice of the date. Only full members may be entitled to hold office or vote at the AGM.
iv The Committee shall meet at least twice a year, one of which shall be the AGM. The other shall be at a time considered most appropriate by a consensus of Committee members.
v A ‘quorum’ for a meeting shall be five Section members of which three must be ‘officers’.
4. MEMBERSHIP
i Full Membership
a. is open to any person who is a member of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club.
b. Honorary members of South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club by virtue of their membership upon retirement.
ii Associate Membership
Associate membership is open to
a. employees of South Yorkshire Police, and those who on their retirement from South Yorkshire Police on pension or gratuity do/did not pay a subscription to the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club, or
b. any other person,
at the discretion of the Committee.
iii The Secretary shall keep a current list of members.
5. AFFILIATION
The Section shall be affiliated to such governing bodies, Social Clubs and societies as shall be deemed appropriate by the Committee.
6. GENERAL CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
i Members shall conduct themselves in a proper seamanlike manner at all times
ii If, in the opinion of the Committee, the conduct of any member is considered to be contrary to the interests of the Section or any such conduct is likely to bring discredit upon the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section and therefore South Yorkshire Police, the Committee may:
a. Caution said member in writing.
b. Suspend any such member for any period they may think appropriate.
c. Strike said person’s name from the Register of Members.
iii. Where members are guests of another Yacht Club, they shall respect the rules of the said YC or they will automatically fall within the scope of Rule 6(ii) above.
iv. Any member accused of such conduct shall have the opportunity to mitigate his actions at a meeting of the Committee - at which at least three Officers of the Committee shall attend.
v. When a vessel is under charter to the section, the designated Skipper shall have total responsibility for that vessel and crew. For the same reason that ‘skipper’ shall have total authority over the use of that vessel and the crew of said vessel, both on board and ashore, and in respect of the safety of the vessel. All members should bear in mind that their conduct reflects on their fellow crew members, the Section and ultimately South Yorkshire Police.
7. PAYMENTS
i. There is no subscription fee payable in order to be a member of the section.
ii. All payments are made to supplement the charter fee, fuel and mooring costs for individual boats.
iii. These payments, which will comprise of a deposit and final balance payment, are to be made to the skipper, or trip organiser in advance. Payments will only repayable at the discretion of the committee. The deposit is non-refundable unless the charter is cancelled prior to any payments being made to the charter company. The final payment is normally required 8 weeks prior to the charter date. Failure to pay the balance on time may result in the loss of deposit and the place being offered to other members.
iv. A subsidy may be available for full members of the Section who are paying members of the SYP Sports & Social Club.
v. All members to be aware that when chartering a vessel, the crew may be liable to provide a deposit to cover any insurance excess required by the chartering company.
vi. Such payments shall be as deemed financially appropriate by the Treasurer.
vii. The crew may be required to share the cost of minor loss or damage. Serious damage is covered by the Charter Company insurance subject to an excess (normally £1,500 unless racing). Funds are held with the Treasurer which may cover this in part or its entirety, providing there has been no negligence, that all appropriate steps have been taken to minimise damage and that a report made of the incident as soon as practicable afterwards to any interested parties. In the event of loss or damage, the committee will decide based upon the circumstances if required.
8. FINANCE
i. The Committee shall control the funds of the Section and act as trustees for all its property. The Treasurer of the Section shall hold to the credit of the Section all its monies received and the funds shall be vested in the Section.
ii. The Accounts shall be made up at 31 March each year and kept in accordance with the rules of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club.
iii. The final decision as to Section charters rests with the Committee.
iv. Subsidies for trips organised by the Section will be decided by at least 3 officers from the committee.
9. MINUTES & RECORDS
The Secretary shall keep correct minutes of all meetings, which shall be published, to the membership.
10. ALTERATION TO RULES
Alteration to an existing Rule shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting, and notice of the proposed alteration shall be given to the Secretary in writing not less than 14 days before the meeting.
11. INTERPRETATION
Interpretation of the Rules shall rest only with the Committee.
12. REQUIREMENT FOR BOAT SAFETY
i. All seaborne activities subsidised by, or organised in the name of, the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section shall be at the discretion of the Committee ‘skippered’ by:
a. A member who has been authorised as a ‘Section Skipper’ who is - by way of experience etc. - acceptable to the company from whom the vessel is chartered.
b. A member who has a Full RYA qualification for Coastal Skipper (Practical) or above.
c. A Day Skipper who is permitted by a charter company to skipper a boat.
d. A member who owns his boat and although not a holder of a RYA ‘certificate’, has the experience for such an undertaking.
ii. All passages carrying members more than twelve miles offshore must be skippered by a member qualified as at Rule 12(i)(a),(b) or (d) above and have a First Mate, (a second person qualified under Rule 12(1)(a),(b),(c) or (d))
iii. All boats chartered or used in the name of the Section shall be sailed in accordance with all the Laws and Rules laid down for the safe passage of vessels upon the seas, channels, waterways and harbours of the water in which the vessel is being sailed. All research into such Laws and Rules shall be the responsibility of the Skipper.
iv. All skippers undertaking water based activity organised in the name of South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section shall ensure a passage plan is completed in accordance with MCA rules and complete a risk assessment prior to the activity.
v. Members of the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section and their guests and visitors use the boats, moorings and other facilities provided at their own risk and agree to, and accept, the following limitations of liability.
vi. In the event of loss or damage being caused during any section organised event, or any other significant incident, the facts must be reported to the committee as soon as reasonably practicable.
Each member acknowledges that the Committee and others organising or helping to organise South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section events do so voluntarily. To that extent permitted by law neither they, nor the section Committee, nor the section can in any circumstances be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage to an owner, member, their crew, guests, vessel or equipment whether through negligence or otherwise of any member, organiser, helper or third party. The safety and management of any vessel, its equipment and crew is the responsibility of the skipper. No section event shall be considered a training event unless it is specifically designated as such. Each skipper in a section event must assess for himself or herself whether the event is within their capabilities and whether or not their personal safety or that of their crew could be endangered. By participating in a section event, each skipper warrants that their vessel and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise during the course of the event and that the boat carries appropriate third party insurance. The participation of any other vessel in an event shall not relieve other participants of their responsibilities. Members, their crews and their guests take part in section events entirely at their own risk and on the understanding that they indemnify the section, Committee Members and others organising or helping to organise the event for any death, injury, loss or damage to themselves, family, crew, guests or vessel. By inviting crew or guests to participate in an event organised by the section the sponsoring member warrants that their attention has been drawn to these limitations. Participation in any section activity is always based on the section Constitution and Rules.
Colin Lightfoot
SYP Offshore Sailing Section Chairman
January 2015
1. NAME
The section of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club, known as the SYP Offshore Sailing Section, shall herein after be referred to as the ‘Section’.
2. OBJECTS
The objects of the Section shall be to encourage and train members to sail in offshore waters with a view to participation in cruising, racing and social sailing within the calendar of the Section and other like bodies.
3. MANAGEMENT
i The ‘Officers’ of the ‘Committee’ shall consist of - Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. There will also be ‘Deputies’ for each post whose duties will carry out the substantive role if the respective Officers are unavailable, making 6 (six) persons in all.
ii Re-election of the ‘Officers’ and ‘Deputies’ shall take place at each Annual General Meeting. If an officer retires or resigns from the Section, a temporary appointment may be made at a Special Committee meeting.
iii The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will held each year, before the end of the financial year and members will be given at least 21 days notice of the date. Only full members may be entitled to hold office or vote at the AGM.
iv The Committee shall meet at least twice a year, one of which shall be the AGM. The other shall be at a time considered most appropriate by a consensus of Committee members.
v A ‘quorum’ for a meeting shall be five Section members of which three must be ‘officers’.
4. MEMBERSHIP
i Full Membership
a. is open to any person who is a member of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club.
b. Honorary members of South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club by virtue of their membership upon retirement.
ii Associate Membership
Associate membership is open to
a. employees of South Yorkshire Police, and those who on their retirement from South Yorkshire Police on pension or gratuity do/did not pay a subscription to the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club, or
b. any other person,
at the discretion of the Committee.
iii The Secretary shall keep a current list of members.
5. AFFILIATION
The Section shall be affiliated to such governing bodies, Social Clubs and societies as shall be deemed appropriate by the Committee.
6. GENERAL CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
i Members shall conduct themselves in a proper seamanlike manner at all times
ii If, in the opinion of the Committee, the conduct of any member is considered to be contrary to the interests of the Section or any such conduct is likely to bring discredit upon the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section and therefore South Yorkshire Police, the Committee may:
a. Caution said member in writing.
b. Suspend any such member for any period they may think appropriate.
c. Strike said person’s name from the Register of Members.
iii. Where members are guests of another Yacht Club, they shall respect the rules of the said YC or they will automatically fall within the scope of Rule 6(ii) above.
iv. Any member accused of such conduct shall have the opportunity to mitigate his actions at a meeting of the Committee - at which at least three Officers of the Committee shall attend.
v. When a vessel is under charter to the section, the designated Skipper shall have total responsibility for that vessel and crew. For the same reason that ‘skipper’ shall have total authority over the use of that vessel and the crew of said vessel, both on board and ashore, and in respect of the safety of the vessel. All members should bear in mind that their conduct reflects on their fellow crew members, the Section and ultimately South Yorkshire Police.
7. PAYMENTS
i. There is no subscription fee payable in order to be a member of the section.
ii. All payments are made to supplement the charter fee, fuel and mooring costs for individual boats.
iii. These payments, which will comprise of a deposit and final balance payment, are to be made to the skipper, or trip organiser in advance. Payments will only repayable at the discretion of the committee. The deposit is non-refundable unless the charter is cancelled prior to any payments being made to the charter company. The final payment is normally required 8 weeks prior to the charter date. Failure to pay the balance on time may result in the loss of deposit and the place being offered to other members.
iv. A subsidy may be available for full members of the Section who are paying members of the SYP Sports & Social Club.
v. All members to be aware that when chartering a vessel, the crew may be liable to provide a deposit to cover any insurance excess required by the chartering company.
vi. Such payments shall be as deemed financially appropriate by the Treasurer.
vii. The crew may be required to share the cost of minor loss or damage. Serious damage is covered by the Charter Company insurance subject to an excess (normally £1,500 unless racing). Funds are held with the Treasurer which may cover this in part or its entirety, providing there has been no negligence, that all appropriate steps have been taken to minimise damage and that a report made of the incident as soon as practicable afterwards to any interested parties. In the event of loss or damage, the committee will decide based upon the circumstances if required.
8. FINANCE
i. The Committee shall control the funds of the Section and act as trustees for all its property. The Treasurer of the Section shall hold to the credit of the Section all its monies received and the funds shall be vested in the Section.
ii. The Accounts shall be made up at 31 March each year and kept in accordance with the rules of the South Yorkshire Police Sports & Social Club.
iii. The final decision as to Section charters rests with the Committee.
iv. Subsidies for trips organised by the Section will be decided by at least 3 officers from the committee.
9. MINUTES & RECORDS
The Secretary shall keep correct minutes of all meetings, which shall be published, to the membership.
10. ALTERATION TO RULES
Alteration to an existing Rule shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting, and notice of the proposed alteration shall be given to the Secretary in writing not less than 14 days before the meeting.
11. INTERPRETATION
Interpretation of the Rules shall rest only with the Committee.
12. REQUIREMENT FOR BOAT SAFETY
i. All seaborne activities subsidised by, or organised in the name of, the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section shall be at the discretion of the Committee ‘skippered’ by:
a. A member who has been authorised as a ‘Section Skipper’ who is - by way of experience etc. - acceptable to the company from whom the vessel is chartered.
b. A member who has a Full RYA qualification for Coastal Skipper (Practical) or above.
c. A Day Skipper who is permitted by a charter company to skipper a boat.
d. A member who owns his boat and although not a holder of a RYA ‘certificate’, has the experience for such an undertaking.
ii. All passages carrying members more than twelve miles offshore must be skippered by a member qualified as at Rule 12(i)(a),(b) or (d) above and have a First Mate, (a second person qualified under Rule 12(1)(a),(b),(c) or (d))
iii. All boats chartered or used in the name of the Section shall be sailed in accordance with all the Laws and Rules laid down for the safe passage of vessels upon the seas, channels, waterways and harbours of the water in which the vessel is being sailed. All research into such Laws and Rules shall be the responsibility of the Skipper.
iv. All skippers undertaking water based activity organised in the name of South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section shall ensure a passage plan is completed in accordance with MCA rules and complete a risk assessment prior to the activity.
v. Members of the South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section and their guests and visitors use the boats, moorings and other facilities provided at their own risk and agree to, and accept, the following limitations of liability.
vi. In the event of loss or damage being caused during any section organised event, or any other significant incident, the facts must be reported to the committee as soon as reasonably practicable.
Each member acknowledges that the Committee and others organising or helping to organise South Yorkshire Police Offshore Sailing Section events do so voluntarily. To that extent permitted by law neither they, nor the section Committee, nor the section can in any circumstances be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage to an owner, member, their crew, guests, vessel or equipment whether through negligence or otherwise of any member, organiser, helper or third party. The safety and management of any vessel, its equipment and crew is the responsibility of the skipper. No section event shall be considered a training event unless it is specifically designated as such. Each skipper in a section event must assess for himself or herself whether the event is within their capabilities and whether or not their personal safety or that of their crew could be endangered. By participating in a section event, each skipper warrants that their vessel and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise during the course of the event and that the boat carries appropriate third party insurance. The participation of any other vessel in an event shall not relieve other participants of their responsibilities. Members, their crews and their guests take part in section events entirely at their own risk and on the understanding that they indemnify the section, Committee Members and others organising or helping to organise the event for any death, injury, loss or damage to themselves, family, crew, guests or vessel. By inviting crew or guests to participate in an event organised by the section the sponsoring member warrants that their attention has been drawn to these limitations. Participation in any section activity is always based on the section Constitution and Rules.