BLUNDELLSANDS SAILING CLUB
Clubhouse
The Foreshore
off Thornbeck Avenue
Hightown
Merseyside
L38 9EY

Tel. 0151 929 2101

Email: bsclub@rya-online.net

Welcome to Blundellsands Sailing Club

BSC is very fortunate in having the lease of this tidal section of the River Alt. The Alt was once one of the most polluted rivers in England. It is now clean enough to support fish life. The estuary mud, small areas of salt marsh and reed beds are home to a wide variety of birds. Because of the above features, the area is designated “A Site of Special Scientific Interest”. Had we not been long established here and having a reputation for being a caring and responsive organisation, we may not have been able to continue sailing here. We maintain this role and members do not pollute the River and avoid interfering with the wild life in and around the River.

Whilst sailing from the Alt, you will see mullet coming in with the flood and signs of flat fish in the shallows. Oystercatchers, plovers and ringed plover, curlew, sanderling and greenshank are common here. Dunlin and knots form great shimmering clouds at certain times of the year. Mallard and shellduck are seen all year. In winter, huge flocks of migrant geese visit this area. All year, heron feed at the River's edge at low water. Members have occasionally seen kingfishers. Don't miss walking the River Alt to the mouth as not only will you learn the nature of the route to the sea but also it will help you in understanding the River.

Introduction

The following notes are not rules and regulations but supplementary information for members. The Club's Rules, Sailing Instructions and Byelaws are in the Club Diary.

Enclosed herewith are the following:

•  Altcar Rifle Range Danger Area and map of the River Alt.

•  The Mouth of the River Alt map

•  Mooring arrangements - diagram.

•  Courses for single tide races.

For the Calendar of Sailing Events and List of Trophies – see Annual Club Diary.

Safety - Lifejackets or buoyancy aids should be worn at all times, particularly when transferring from jetty to tender, tender to yacht or when on deck. Even the mud is treacherous; so don't lay your moorings on your own.

Who's Who and What They Do

The names of elected Officers and Members of the Club's Committees are detailed in the Diary. They change from year to year. The Committee members with whom you may come into contact are as follows:

Commodore - Chair of the General Committee and main representative of the Club.

Vice Commodore – Chair of the Sailing Committee.

Rear Commodore – Chair of the House and Grounds Committee. The main role of this Committee is to ensure the maintenance of the clubs premises.

Hon. Secretary

Hon. Treasurer

Hon. Membership Secretary

Hon. Sailing Secretary

Club Captain

Yard & Berth Master

General Committee Members

News Letter Editor

Membership Secretary collects the Membership Fees, Subscriptions and Mooring and Berthing Fees.

Sailing Secretary arranges the Sailing programme. He and the Sailing Committee arrange the Sailing Events Calendar and organise Club Sailing Races. Each Sailing Race is controlled by an Officer of the Day who is a sailing member who has responsibility for setting the course, starting and timing the race and working out the winners from the handicap formula. An information pack is provided for ODs. Members are expected to take their turn as Officer of the Day once a year when experienced. Six regularly used courses are shown in the club diary and on the attached map of courses for single tide races. The chosen course will depend on the direction of the wind and weather conditions.

The Sailing Committee ensures that the facilities for sailing are properly maintained. There are two jetties for launching tenders, one is adjacent to the Club laying-up yard and the other jetty is at the Club House. The river course is marked with port (red painted) and starboard (green painted) scaffold pole perches, in order that all members can follow the constant changes of the river channel. These perches are renewed or repositioned every spring by a Working Party of members, organised to maintain this and other club equipment. A map of The Mouth of the River Alt is attached. This part of the navigable channel is difficult as it is bordered on the south side by the River Alt training wall and on the north side by sand banks. The margin for error is small and it is important to keep to the marked channel, while observing the depth of water and state of the tide. New Members are advised to do their first trip to Sea from the Alt with a "Pilot" or alternatively having sailed the channel on another member's boat. It is also recommended that all Members should observe the Alt channel at low tide at least once a year in order that they can appreciate the meanderings of the River.

Club Captain ensures that matters such as perching, sailing times, course plans, VHF Channels, estimated times of arrival and details of moorings are discussed for Club Cruises. Briefings take place, usually on a Friday evening a few weeks before the cruise date. All Boat Owners sailing on the particular Cruise are invited to attend. Members with limited knowledge of navigation will be given guidelines. Communication between the boats is essential, particularly in the event of difficulties, e.g. engine trouble, or other emergencies and a VHF Channel will be agreed before the Cruise commences.

Yard & Berth Master is in charge of all Moorings and the Club's laying up Yard. Vacant moorings are advertised on the Club notice board. If you wish to request a mooring or a place in the Yard, applications must be made in writing to the Yard & Berth Master. The General Committee allocates moorings according to suitability, availability and seniority. If you are allocated a mooring in the south reach of the River Alt, you may require a small outboard for your tender to overcome the flood and the ebb. New Members are reminded of the importance of insurance, Bye Law number 9 states:

"Members Boats must be insured at all times for at least Third Party cover. A form of Declaration shall be completed by each Boat Owner and presented to the Yard & Berth Master prior to 31 March in every year. The Yard & Berth Master is empowered to refuse entry of any Members boat to any part of the Club's Premises or to the launching of his her or their boat without compliance of this Bye Law.”

Please assist the Yard & Berth Master by providing him the required declaration of insurance cover as soon as possible after joining the Club and thereafter on an annual basis every year before 31 March. All ladders stored in the yard must be chained and padlocked to the boat/trailer. All tenders, dinghies and launching trailers in the club grounds or yard must be chained and padlocked so they cannot be removed.

Social Events are organised by the Social Committee and are shown in the Diary and on the Club Notice Board. The two annual formal Club Dinners are the Fitting-Out Dinner in February and Prize Giving Dinner in November. The Fitting-Out Dinner provides the Club with the opportunity to invite Commodores and Secretaries of the kindred Clubs in the region to our Club by way of reciprocity for the invitations, which we receive during the year to their formal occasions. The other Events are at the discretion of the Social Committee but generally include, e.g. Spring Cocktail Party, a "Mid Summers Do", the RNLI Day, Christmas Party and New Years Eve Party, as well as other social events throughout the year. You will find these functions enjoyable, don't miss them and get your name on the list early to avoid disappointment.

The Club Hours - The Club House and Bar are open on Friday evenings between 6:30 pm and 11:00 pm and on Sunday afternoons from 3.30 pm to 7:00 pm. New members are requested to ask their proposer to bring them down to the Club to meet the Members and to enjoy the informal atmosphere of the Club. The Bar is an essential and enjoyable part of the Club where you will find a warm welcome and make many friends.

The Club Grounds - Members may park a tender or dinghy at their own risk in the space surrounding the Black Hut. The tender/dinghy and trailer must be secured with a chain and padlock for safety. Oars may be left in the Black Hut, not be left in the boats. Cars are not permitted to obstruct the access to or park in the Club Grounds. A key for the clubhouse is available on request from the Hon. Secretary on payment of a £3 fee.

Gates - Members are required to keep both the Gate to the Club Grounds and the Gate to the Club access road at Thornbeck Avenue closed at all times to prevent members of the public using the grounds and unauthorised access.

The Black Hut is available for members to store the following articles only, at their own risk. Spars with or without sails, Rudders, Tillers, Oars, Paddles, Ropes, Anchors and Warps and other small articles. But tenders, inflatable dinghies, trailers/launching trolleys, mooring buoys or other items, must not be stored in the Black Hut. Members are requested to ensure that the Hut is properly locked after use and that it is kept clean and tidy.

Notices on Club House Notice Boards are posted by the Secretary, Sailing Secretary, the Committees or the Membership Secretary. Useful information, e.g. sailing, social or working parties, is posted here. No other notices may be posted except by the above.

Working Parties are held at times throughout the year for a variety of purposes and all members are expected to take part in this Club Activity as a condition of membership.

Club Regalia are available for sale at the Club on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, e.g. club ties, cravats, polo shirts, and fleeces.

Club Secrets will not be disclosed in this pack! They include key combinations on padlocks, etc.

Club Web Site

http://homepages.rya-online.net/blundellsandssailingclub

Contains the monthly newsletter archive, history of the club and other useful information, e.g. waypoints, weather links, etc.

Download Information Pack