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Choosing a club
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Scooby_simon View Drop Down
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    Posted: 10 Feb 09 at 12:11am
Originally posted by winging it

Originally posted by PlankyPlank

[QUOTE=Scooby_simon]

Grafham IS the bets bit of water around and has
rescue cover all week.

/QUOTE]

The very fact that the club/water board(?) rules require
there to be safety cover whenever there is someone on
the water would put me off right from the start. I've
never sailed on a lake like this so I don't really know
how it works, but somehow the idea sterilises the sport
a bit. Some of the best sailing I've had has been mid
week on a day off when there was nobody else on the
lake.

I'm lucky on Ullswater where there are no such rules and
you can sail whenever you like on a (very) big stretch
of water.



Surely this is a good thing?  One of the main reasons I have chosen Grafham is that I can sail there almost any time I like and still know that should I fall over one time too many someone will notice.  It's not as if the safety cover is going to be shadowing my every move, and I think Grafham is easily big enough for you to get a sense of isolation if you want to, so surely this option offers the best of all worlds?

I have sailed at clubs where you could sail without cover, and indeed did so, especially on Wimbleball in the middle of lovely Exmoor, so I do get you're coming from, but I don't see the harm in having safety cover - it's not as if it restricts you in anyway.

Thanks to Paul and Les - look forward to meeting you soon!

When it warms up, and people stop wanting Ski lessons, I'll be there too!

Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 09 at 4:10pm
It does seem that at this time of year many clubs offer cheap winter membership, with either free or reduced boat storage.  They also usually waive the entry fee -  I know Farmoor does this, as do Datchet and Grafham.  A good way in at this time of year, especially for the bigger clubs with higher entry fees.
the same, but different...

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GregKI View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GregKI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 09 at 9:53pm
Originally posted by andymck

Since I can almost see Farmoor from my bedroom window, but everyone I chat to says they are not the friendliest of clubs. Am currently put off because they want a full year boat parking free for a month and a half before next years subs are due.

Andy



Sorry Andy, I do not know where you got your information from or who you have been talking but that is not the Oxford Sailing Club that I know and have been a member of for the last six years.

Come along on Saturday or Sunday and speak to me about the club facilites there are. Also you can see the range of craft that sail there.

Currently membership is available for Frostbite that lasts until 31st March for with NO joining fee and NO boat park fee . If you became a Frostbit(e) member then there would not be a joining fee for next year either - quids in!

I can't say why people don't find OSC friendly but I have been to Burghfield, Dorchester and Abbey SCs - I guess it's horses for courses ..................


Cheers - Greg

ps - if you do pop along on I'll get you a cup of coffee and a bacon roll and you could sail as my guest for free ............... choice is yours




Edited by GregKI
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GregKI View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GregKI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 09 at 9:59pm
 


Edited by GregKI
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dontdocalm! View Drop Down
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Posts: 74 		Post Options Post Options   Quote dontdocalm! Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 8:35am

Originally posted by andymck

Am currently driving to Burghfield, as its a really friendly club, but since I can almost see Farmoor from my bedroom window, but everyone I chat to says they are not the friendliest of clubs. Andy
I can tell you that Burghfield is not everyone's cup of tea. We've contemplated changing to Oxford SC almost every year now for some time, but the extra mileage prevents us. But in the visits I have made to Farmoor I have always found them very friendly and welcoming which has been confirmed by members known to us.
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 10:23am
I think the thing is that like all things, whether or not you get on at a club is totally dependent on personal tastes.  If you're not too competitive you won't like a club where racing is the be-all and end-all.  Likewise if you're young and outgoing you won't get on at a morris traveller type club (presumbaly, according to grumpf, populated by solo, ent and gp sailors)

What I have found just lately is that there are far more many clubs to choose from than you might first think.  If it weren't for Jeffers I would not have found Hunts, if I hadn't bought a trolley off ebay I would not have found Paxton Lakes.  I have even also found a club on the Cam, also very close to here.  So I might just have joined Grafham and struggled to find spaces for the rest of the fleet.

Above all though I think you just can't judge by appearances or hearsay.  You have to go along and see for yourself, meet some people, look at the facilities, then go to another club and compare.  I've done this this week with looking for a gym and found the best one for my needs.  A sailing club should be the same. 

An offer of a coffee and a bacon butty seems like a great starting point!
the same, but different...

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 11:31am

No excuse for not knowing all your local clubs nowadays, surely?

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/community/generic_map.asp

or

http://www.rya.org.uk/getonthewater/Pages/FindAFacility.aspx ?facility=Club
Wilsonian SC
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 12:21pm
No, absolutely right, but I think I was guilty of tunnel vision because I already knew Grafham, plus I was a bit preoccupied by the house move.
the same, but different...

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 12:24pm

Wasn't 'judging', just an excuse to advertise those two excellent facilities.

What am I doing sitting here on a Sunday? Roll on the season - next week for Wilsonian Warm-Up Series, actually - just got to hang in there another week...
Wilsonian SC
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 09 at 12:47pm
no worries.....and I am also missing the water.  The boat is in the front garden right now and is the weather stays decent ie no more snow I will be hoping to get to Grafham for a blast! 
the same, but different...

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