Club problems

Of course I am not saying anyone should be drinking while running training especially if in charge of minors , or be intoxicated while being race or duty officer or while racing and would never remain a member of a club where this behaviour was taking place . But in my thirty- five of sailing I have never seen anyone in this state outside of social events at any sailing club I have ever been a member of or even visited. 

BUT there is a huge difference between this and having a single drink between races or sailing with a hangover and IF you think there isn’t a difference, I think the problem might be yours and not the clubs . As I said the more you post the more sympathetic I am to the mystery club.

But going back to your original point , if you have already raised concerns with the club and the RYA and got nowhere , your best course of action is to find another club. Because you havnt provided any evidence of the allegations of drinking or the whitewash for us to pick over and suggest another course of action . 

Totally agree with all this post ( I have also had a long stint on committee) .I was just suggesting if we had more info of the allegations and the investigation we could see if any mistakes where made in the process and suggest a new course of action for the OP.

-The allegation stated that the accused had drank 4 pints before a training session they were likely to be involved in ( whether as senior trainer or as an employee (club development officer). They claimed it was only 1 pint. None of this was corroborated.

-The ensuing investigation that had to be carried out properly involved the governing body and local authority. The LA asked for the individual to be suspended pending investigation. That didn't happen and the investigation went on with them in post.

- During the course of attempting to collate evidence statements were altered, one of the investigating panel was threatened by the accused. Not all the people involved were able to be interviewed. It didn't get anywhere easily.

- The chair, who happened to also be this individuals line manager, apparently decided on his own without any consultation with the committee or investigating panel to clear them of any wrongdoing and told the LA this.

-The lead of the investigation told the governing body that the process had been hampered and could not draw a proper conclusion because of lies, collusion and corruption. When others got wind of this, a committee member, whose family member was also in the bar, instigated a disciplinary complaint on the basis that the investigator had 'brought the club into disrepute' by saying such things to the governing body. The disciplinary was chaired by this persons relative! 

The investigator who was a well respected and honourable member got suspended and later refused  renewed membership, ie booted out.

I hope that can clarify a little more what this charade is about and that 1) someone has potentially got away with something scot free 2) someone else has been booted out for questioning what has happened. If you can't see that there is corruption afoot here, I don't know how else to explain it. And the primary concern has to be for anyone who is participating in training.

If any other of our club members see what has happened to those that have questioned the conduct of committee members in their operation of the club, they will not speak up if they see anything that's not right. That can't be safe.

The club welfare policy even states:

You could take this as a one off mistake by those accused but there is a wealth of evidence of drinking around racing and as I said as OD. There is a drinking culture that is behind this that is totally inappropriate. This evidence has also gone to appropriate bodies.

Whether you condone drinking and sailing or not, there is no way you can tell that anyone is fit to compete after a heavy night. You can be breathalysed the next day driving and still lose your driving licence.Why should this be any different for sail racing? Many sports have breath tests before competing if concerns are raised. So why allow any drinking at all until after competitions are complete (like the OD rules say below?). I don't come from a sporting background where alcohol is prevalent (despite being in a yacht club for many years), it's a physiological impairment. But in 100's of events over the years in a number of sports I've never seen any competitors or officials drinking, nor boasting about it. And as I mentioned before a comment under a picture of a bladdered sail crew the night before as 'last boat standing' and 'does anyone race sober' gives me great concern for safety. I accept that in leisure sailing, yes people have a drink, no issues, even though the governing body doesn't condone it. But I don't believe it has a place in competition until the event is done and finished. You wouldn't see an umpire at Wimbledon having a drink between matches or Mo Farah having a pint before a race. So why should it be acceptable in sailing?

As for the rules on race officials: