1. Name
The Club shall be called the Hastings & St Leonards Sailing Club.
2. Objects
The object of the Club shall be to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of Sailing and to foster good seamanship, good sportsmanship and a love of the sea.
3. Patron, President, Vice-Presidents and Honorary Members
The Patron and the President of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and it shall be within the power of any General Meeting of members, by resolution of which due notice shall be given, to elect as Vice-President, Honorary Life Member or Honorary Member any person who has rendered special service to sailing or to the Club.
4. Officers
The Officers of the Club shall consist of a Commodore, Vice-Commodore and Rear Commodore (who shall be Flag Officers), Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Sailing Secretary, Honorary Assistant Sailing Secretary, Honorary Principal Race Officer, Honorary Boatswain, Honorary Coxswain, Honorary Wine Steward, Honorary Membership Secretary, Honorary Health & Safety Officer, Honorary Youth Promotion Officer and Honorary Social Organiser. In the event of any casual vacancy in the offices the Executive Committee may appoint one of themselves or some other member of the Club to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.
Only those members who have previously served at least one year as a committee member and have been full members of the Club for at least two consecutive years shall be eligible to serve as Flag Officers. This rule shall not apply to Rear Commodore who need only have served at least one year as a committee member and have been an Associate member for two consecutive years. No Flag Officer shall be eligible for election to a particular Flag rank for more than two consecutive years.
In addition to the above, the Officer of the Day shall be an Officer of the Club for the day upon which the person fulfilling this role is Officer of the Day and for that day(s) only.
5. Trustees
All Club property (other than cash which shall be under the control of the Honorary Treasurer) shall be vested in the Flag Officers and Honorary Secretary for the time being as Trustees of the Club. They shall deal with the property of the Club as directed by the Executive Committee and they shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club property.
6. Committees
(a) Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Flag Officers, the Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Sailing Secretary, Honorary Wine Steward, Honorary Youth Promotion Officer, Honorary Membership Secretary, and Honorary Health & Safety Officer, (four to form a quorum) who shall also form the Membership Sub-Committee.
(b) Sailing Committee
The Sailing Committee shall be chaired by the Vice Commodore and shall comprise the Honorary Sailing Secretary, Honorary Assistant Sailing Secretary, Honorary Boatswain, Honorary Coxswain and Honorary Youth Promotion Officer and five other members elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Sailing Committee in so far as is possible shall consist of members who are boat owners or crews and should represent all classes sailed in the Club.
(c) House Committee
The House Committee shall be chaired by the Rear-Commodore and shall comprise the Honorary Wine Steward, Honorary Social Organiser and no more than seven other members elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(d) The Sailing Committee and House Committee shall discuss the business of the Club as applicable and make recommendations to the Executive Committee which shall have the final power of decision.
(e) To further its aims and objectives a Committee may, by majority vote, co-opt onto it any appropriately qualified Club member.
(f) Management
The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club in accordance with these rules and shall define the various duties of the Officers of the Club and of all other committees of the Club. All members, including Junior and Associate, where appropriate shall be expected to assist with the running of the Club.
(g) Bye-Laws
The Executive Committee may from time to time make, alter and repeal bye-laws regulating the use by members of any Club premises or of any gear and equipment provided by the Club, the holding of races and the good conduct of Club affairs. All bye-laws so made shall be posted in the clubhouse and, provided they are not inconsistent with these Rules, shall be binding on all members and other persons using the Club premises and shall be construed as part of these Rules until rescinded or varied by the Club in General Meeting.
(h) Election of Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and retiring members shall be eligible for re-election.
(i) Removal of Officers and Committee Members
Any General Meeting shall have the power to remove any officer or member of a committee and all vacancies occurring by such removal shall be filled at the same or next General Meeting following thereafter.
7. Membership
Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Sailing as a particular sport.
(a) The Club shall consist of seven classes of membership:-
(i) Full Member
Any member who attained the age of 18 before the beginning of the membership year (1st March) and who does not qualify as a Family Member
(ii) Family Member
The member and spouse/partner and any dependant child of either of them who has not attained the age of 18 before the 1st March, or who is over 18 and in full-time education, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
(iii) Junior Member
Any child who has attained the age of 8 but not attained the age of 18 before the 1st March, or who is over 18 and in full-time education, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. A Junior member under the age of 18 may only apply for membership of the Club provided a parent/guardian also joins the Club in one of the membership categories.
(iv) Associate Member
A non-sailing member of 18 or over
(v) Temporary Member
Any person authorised in writing by the Executive Committee of the Club to use the premises and/or any facility for a specified time not exceeding one calendar month.
(vi) Guest sailor or member of another RYA affiliated club
Any such person is entitled to sail at this Club for a maximum of 3 times in any sailing season before being required to apply for membership. Any member is only allowed to sail with a guest a maximum of 3 times in a season. All guests must be signed in on each occasion.
(vii) Honorary Member
Any person elected to such membership by the Executive Committee of the Club.
Only Full Members and parents or guardians qualifying for Family Membership shall hold office or vote at any meeting except where otherwise provided for in these rules. Full, Family and Junior members will be considered sailing members. Associate and Honorary members will be non-sailing members. Temporary members may be sailing or non-sailing members.
(b) All candidates for membership shall be proposed and seconded by a member with full voting rights. The application must be on the Club’s printed Application for Membership Form which must be completed and signed by the candidate and countersigned by the proposer and seconder and forwarded to the Honorary Membership Secretary, who shall present it to a meeting of the Executive Committee after a list showing the grade of membership applied for, the applicant’s name and their postal town address, the proposer and seconder has been displayed on the Club noticeboard for not less than fourteen days. Applicants will be elected on a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Junior members shall be proposed either by a parent or guardian who is a Full Member, or by any member of the Executive Committee.
Junior membership may be extended to students over the age of 18 who are still in full-time education. Such Junior members may be required to provide proof of this fact. In all cases where an age limit applies the effective date shall be the 1st March of the current sailing year.
(c) Associate, Honorary, Temporary and Junior members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership (see 7(a)) except that they shall not be qualified to be officers or members of the Executive Committee except where provided for in Rule 4. Associate members may be elected to the House Committee and at an Annual General Meeting are entitled to vote for members who will sit on the House Committee.
(d) It is expected that any member wishing to discontinue membership of the Club will notify the Honorary Membership Secretary in writing, not later than the 1st March in any year.
(e) The Executive Committee may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute, provided that at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee then present vote in secret ballot in favour of expulsion, or suspension, or refusal of membership. The notice convening the meeting shall also be sent to such member giving particulars of the conduct complained of and such member shall be invited to attend the meeting to give such explanations orally or in writing as the member desires before the Executive Committee make their decision. Seven days’ notice of the meeting shall be given. The Honorary Secretary shall notify such member of the decision of the Executive Committee. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the club’s members and decided by a majority vote.
8. Subscriptions
(a) All persons joining the Club for the first time shall pay a joining fee.
(b) Subscriptions may only be altered by general consent of the Club at an Annual General Meeting and current subscription rates will be posted in the clubhouse or be obtainable from the Honorary Treasurer. Subscriptions are due on the 1st February each year. Associate members becoming Full members shall pay the difference in subscriptions if applicable.
(c) Applications to join the Sailing Club after 31st October as Junior, Full or Family members will be required to pay the joining fee together with two-thirds the appropriate membership fee and the boathouse fees in full. The applicable date for reduced fees shall be the date of acceptance by the Executive Committee. This concession will not apply to Associate members.
(d) Boathouse Fees. The Executive Committee shall have the power to review boathouse fees annually and to make adjustments according to the circumstances prevailing at the time. Boathouse fees are due on the 1st February each year.
(e) anyone renewing their membership late, i.e. after 1st March shall pay an administration fee equal to the entrance fee in addition to their renewal fee.
9. Arrears
Any member not having paid their subscriptions or any other monies due to the Club, by 1st March in any year, shall cease to be a member. No such person shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until their subscriptions and all monies due to the Club have been paid and they shall not remove, or cause to be removed, any boat or other property belonging to him/her from the Club premises until all arrears have been cleared. If after notification they still be a defaulter, the Club shall be entitled to sell the said property in any manner they see fit.
10. Finance
(a) The accounts of the Club shall be made up to 31st October and shall be audited by auditors, who shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting.
(b) The funds of the Club shall be kept by the Honorary Treasurer under the supervision of and in such place and manner as shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to expend the Club funds as they think fit in accordance with these Rules and the objects of the Club.
(c) If at any time the Club in General Meetings shall pass a resolution authorising the Executive Committee to borrow money, the Executive Committee shall thereupon be empowered to borrow for the purpose of the Club such amounts of money either at one time or from time to time upon such terms and security and in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem proper.
(d) All members with full voting rights whether voting on such resolutions or not and all persons becoming Full members of the Club after the passing of such resolution shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had voted in favour of such resolution.
(e) Any member guaranteeing the banking account or lending money to the Club, shall, if not an officer or elected member of the Executive Committee, be entitled, after giving seven days’ notice, to be present at the next properly constituted Executive Meeting.
11. Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Club, of which not less than twenty-one clear days notice shall be given in writing, shall be held no later than 31st March each year for the purpose of passing the accounts and receiving the reports of the Commodore, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Sailing Secretary. In all matters the Club is deemed to have given twenty-one days notice by posting first class post the day before, or second class post three days before. All offices shall then be deemed to be vacant and the Meeting shall proceed to elect the Patron, President, Vice-Presidents, Honorary Members and Officers of the Club and Auditors and to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee for the ensuing year.
Nominations for all officers and members of the Executive Committee must be duly proposed and seconded by members having full voting rights and must include the consent of the nominee to serve if elected. Such nominations and all other matters for inclusion in the Agenda must be made in writing and must be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the Meeting. Any questions not included in the Agenda shall not be considered by the Meeting except as a matter of urgency and with the consent of the presiding officer. The quorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be fifteen members with full voting rights.
Associate and Junior members are entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting, but are not permitted to vote, except where otherwise provided for in these Rules.
12. Extraordinary General Meeting
The Executive Committee may at any time and shall on the requisition of any twelve members with full voting rights (or one-fifth of the total number of such members, whichever shall be the less) stating the business for which it is required, convene an Extraordinary General Meeting for any specific purpose. Not less than twenty-one clear days’ notice in writing shall be given and the quorum shall be not less than fifteen members with full voting rights. In all matters the Club is deemed to have given twenty-one days’ notice by post first class the day before, or second class three days before.
13. Class of Boat
The classes of boats sailed shall be listed at the AGM. As of January 2004 these are:
Class A Core Class Boats.
All listed class boats shall be raced as separate fleets unless, at the start of a series, potential numbers are considered by the Sailing Committee to be insufficient. They shall have priority over other classes of boat for storage space, but not for position, in the boathouse provided that, in the judgement of the Sailing Committee, they are used regularly for club events:
Dart 16
Laser,Laser Radial and Laser 4.7
Miracle
Shearwater
Topper
Class B Development Class Boats.
All listed class boats may be raced as a fleet or in fleet groups according to numbers. They shall be stored in the boathouse, subject to space availability and provided that, in the judgement of the Sailing Committee, they are used regularly for club events:
505
TapazMagno
Merlin Rocket
Mirror
Oppie
Tasar
Windsurfers(any class)
Class C Other Boats
All other class boats shall be raced in the Handicap fleet and may be stored in the boathouse provided that they have a Portsmouth Yardstick or Provisional Number and are used regularly for club events, subject to specific prior approval by the Sailing Committee and review at a subsequent AGM.
Boats not having a Portsmouth Yardstick or Provisional Number shall not be stored in the boathouse unless, in the opinion of the Sailing Committee, there is an overriding reason to allow temporary storage for the current sailing season or such shorter time as may be decided by the Committee.
14. Sailing Rules
The Sailing Rules shall be those of the International Sailing Federation unless otherwise ordered by the Sailing Committee.
15. Club House
(a) The clubhouse shall be opened to members at such times as the Executive Committee shall by bye-laws determine.
(b) Conditions of Sale
(i) Intoxicating liquor for consumption off the premises shall only be supplied to members of the Club aged 18 and over.
(ii) The supply and sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises shall be restricted to:-
(a) Members of the Club aged 18 and over.
(b) A person visiting the Club who is already a fully-paid member of another recognised yacht or sailing club and aged 18 and over
c) Permitted hours
These shall be decided from time to time by the Executive Committee within the licensing laws as may be enforced by Hastings Borough Council.
(d) Guests
Any member shall be entitled to introduce three guests to the Club, at any one time, provided that no guest shall be introduced on more than three occasions in any one year and provided that no person whose application for membership has been declined or who has been expelled from the Club shall be introduced as a guest. A member introducing a guest shall be responsible for such guest’s conduct and ensure that the Visitors’ Book is properly completed on each occasion.
(e) Control
Any Officer of the Club, or any member of the Executive Committee, or any person authorised by the Honorary Secretary of the Club shall have power to prohibit the entry to, or order the removal from the Club premises of any person at any time for just cause.
(f) Games
The Executive Committee shall have power to prohibit any games on the Club premises which, in its opinion, are unlawful games or are injurious to the interests of the Club.
16. Voting
Every Full member shall be entitled to vote. Family membership shall entitle each parent, spouse or guardian to one vote. In every case where the number of candidates is greater than the number of vacancies, the election of Officers and Committee members shall be decided by ballot. In other cases voting shall be by show of hands unless a ballot is requested by twelve members with full voting rights present at a General Meeting. When an equal number of votes is cast for and against a proposal, the presiding officer shall have a second or casting vote. Postal or proxy voting will not be permitted at any General Meeting.
17. Liabilities
The Club shall not be liable for personal injury sustained by any member or visitor, nor for any damage or loss by fire, theft or other causes to boats, masts, spars, gear, or any other property either in or near the Club premises, notwithstanding such injury, damage or loss be caused, occasioned or rendered possible by the negligence of the Club, its Officers, members, servants, or any other person.
All owners must have adequate nsurance for any property stored in or around the Club Boathouse, including minimum third party insurance.
Junior Members (under age 18 years of age): Parents and guardians have sole responsibility for their children and wards and must appreciate that the Club cannot be expected to exercise supervision or control.
18. Rules
The Rules of the Club shall be deemed to be accepted by all members and by all other persons using the Club premises. These Rules may be added to, repealed, or amended by resolution at any General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall have power to decide any question not provided for in these Rules or arising upon the interpretation thereof.
19 Income/Profit
All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the club. No surpluses will be distributed to members or third parties. This does not prevent donations by the club to charities or to other clubs that are registered as community amateur sports clubs.
20 Dissolution of the Club
In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:
(a) A registered charitable organization(s).
(b) Another Club which is a registered CASC.
(c) The sports national governing body for use by them for related community sports.