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Green Wyvern Yachting Club

Rules of the Club

1. NAME:

The club shall be called "The Green Wyvern Yachting club"

2, BURGEE

The club Burgee shall represent in design a yellow wyvern on a background of green and red.

3. OBJECTIVES

The club has been formed to organise cruises on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads for the pupils of a variety of schools; to instruct and train its members in sailing, cruising and racing; to promote friendship between its members of various schools, and to develop those qualities of leadership and responsibility which the control of a yacht and its crew necessitates. The Club will also provide the opportunity for friends and acquaintances to meet and cruise together even though they live in different parts of the country.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Members will normally be elected by a meeting of Skippers at the end of the week's cruise. It will be exceptional for anyone to be invited to become a member until the end of his/her second week's cruise.

4.1 In special circumstances the Committee can invite any person for membership. These appointments can only be made to the rank of member; promotion above this will require the person concerned to sail on a Club cruise in the normal way.

4.2 All members will be required to abide by the G'NYC Code of Conduct.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS

A subscription will be levied. The rate of subscription and the manner in which it is applied will be decided from time to time by the Committee and agreed at the AGM.

6. VOTING

All members will be eligible to vote at the AGM upon the payment of the current subscription fee.

6.1 Decisions regarding club policy and procedures, including amendments to club rules, will be proposed by the committee to a General Meeting. The AGM will usually take place in the Autumn, but Extraordinary General Meetings can be called at any time by the Committee, or by a least six Club members in writing.

6.2 The election of the Officers and Committee will normally take place at the AGM. Members will be given the opportunity to vote at the AGM or in advance by post. Voting will be by single transferable vote if appropriate.

7. APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Except in the special circumstances above, appointments and promotions will only be valid if made during a meeting of Skippers following an official GWYC cruise organised by the Secretary.

7.1 Appointments and promotions can be made by a meeting of Skippers of the GWYC at the end of other cruises if the cruise has been approved by the Committee prior to sailing. All personnel of cruises thus approved will be required to abide by the GWYC Rules and Code of Conduct.

7.2 Except when made by the Committee, appointments and promotions can only be made by GWYC Skippers who have sailed in the same cruise as the crew member concerned for the duration of the week.

8. OFFICERS

The officers of the club shall be a Commodore, Vice-Commodore and Rear-Commodores. The Commodore shall fly a swallow-tail flag; the Vice-Commodores swallow-tail flags with one yellow ball in the upper corner of the hoist; the Rear-Commodores swallow-tail flags with two yellow balls in the upper corner of the hoist. Skippers and First Mates must fly a club burgee when in charge of a yacht in an official cruise, and skippers may do so in a private cruise.

8.1 The Commodore and Vice-Commodore will be elected biannually in alternate years.

8.2 The Committee may recommend any Skipper for the office of Rear-Commodore for approval by an AGM. This is an honorary position in recognition for services to the club. and has no active role or seniority over skippers.

8.3 The Club will present a burgee to each skipper elected to the rank of Rear-Commodore.

9. COMMITTEE

The Committee will consist of the Commodore, Vice-Commodores, Secretary and Treasurer, and any skippers they may co-opt for special purposes. In addition four other Skippers may put themselves forward for election by the AGM for a maximum two-year tenure...... it will be normal for two skippers to be elected each year.

9.1 Its duties will be to propose and implement amendments to tire Club Rules and Code of Practice for approval by a General Meeting, to elect Skippers, and to control all activities of the Club for which the Secretary is not directly responsible.

9.2 The Committee will be required to meet at least three times each year. No decision made by the Committee will be valid unless passed by a minimum of five Committee members.

10. SECRETARY

The Secretary will be proposed by the Committee for election by the AGM.

10.1 His or her duties will be to charter craft for cruises. allocate Skippers and crew to yachts, to communicate with all other yachting associations as necessary, and to provide whatever assistance the Committee shall require.

10.2 To keep full minutes of all meetings of the Club and Committee which shall be signed by the appropriate Chairman upon the agreement of the Club or Committee at the next following meeting of he Club or Committee.

11. TREASURER

The Treasurer will be proposed by the Committee for election by the AGM.

11.1 He/She will be responsible for maintaining and drawing up Club accounts for reporting to the AGM, for liaison with insurance agents and for the allocation of monies as directed by the Committee.

11.2 Prepare an annual balance sheet and cause such balance sheet to be audited at least once annually and shall distribute to members at least 14 days before the date of the AGM.

12. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

At every meeting of the Club, the Commodore, or in their absence, a Chairman elected by those present shall preside.

13. SKIPPERS

Skippers will be proposed by Commodores-of-the Week, following discussion and approval by a meeting of Skippers at the end of an official Club cruise, for approval by the Committee. They will be required to have sailed for a minimum of two weeks as First Mate, acting as Skipper, on an official club cruise.

13.1 They will be expected to navigate a yacht competently, to be responsible for the safety and comfort of the crew, to look to the safety of the yacht and the preservation of its gear. to maintain cleanliness and order on board, and to be expert in Broadsmanship and be able to instruct all lower ranks in their various duties.

13.2 It shall be within the discretion of the Committee to refuse to assign a yacht to any skipper or First Mate who fails in any of these respects.

13.3. The Club will present a burgee to each member elected to the rank of Skipper

13.4 Skippers will be expected to hold Emergency First-Aid Certificates and to obtain Royal Yachting association Level 3 Qualification as soon as practicable following appointment.

14. FIRST MATES

First Mates will be recommended by a meeting of Skippers following an official Club cruise for election by the Committee. They will be expected to fulfil all the duties of Skipper. First Males who have been offered the control of a yacht by tile Committee shall have the privileges of Skipper during the cruise on which they "act"

15. MATES

Mate members must be capable of sailing (including tacking) under the Skipper's supervision, and of bringing in and taking out a yacht. They must be able to take responsibility for sail raising and lowering, for care of halyards and gear, and for making a yacht fast. They must be able to quant efficiently and to reef a yacht without assistance.

Mates must be able to take charge of a cooking party and to provision a boat without assistance.

16. CREW

Crew members must, as a rule, have spent at least two weeks cruising with the Club. They must know their ropes, be capable of hoisting sails and making halyards fast, of furling sails, of putting up awnings and of sailing (other than tacking). Crew members will be promoted to the ranks of M3, M2, and M1 as they gain experience and expertise.

17. CRUISING

The following amendments or additions to normal sailing rules shall apply when two or more Skippers are cruising under the Club burgee:

When running or reaching, the overtaking yacht shall have the right to pass to windward (this is to prevent the 'bunching' of the fleet in the event of slower yachts getting away first).
When tacking, the overtaken yacht shall make it as easy as possible for the overtaking yacht to pass and draw clear ahead,
Great care should be taken not to follow too close on a yacht about to pass through a swing bridge. As a general principle the first yacht to arrive the bridge should be allowed to pass through first, but Skippers must exercise discretion since, with a big fleet, it is not always possible to pass through a bridge in the order of arrival without wasting a great amount of time.