Rule 1: Objects: 

1. The name of the club shall be "West Riding Sailing Club" and the objects for which the club is established shall be to encourage and promote the sport of sailing craft of the classes determined upon a General Meeting of the club except that the Management Committee and Sailing Committee may upon application to and with their joint agreement, grant monohulls permission to sail on the club water for specific occasions. 

2. To encourage social intercourse between members; to maintain and conduct at Wintersett (or any such place as may be determined by the members in a General Meeting) a club for the accommodation of members and friends and generally to afford to members and their friends all the usual privileges of a club.

3. The club is a non-profit making organisation. All profit and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve the club's facilities. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body or to members on the winding up or dissolution of the club.

4. The Club burgee shall have a black background with a heraldic Yorkshire Rose and a red border to the upper and lower edge.

5. The Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members, their guests or visitors to the club.

6. The Club will not accept any liability for personal injury arising out of the use of club premises and any other facility of the club or participation in any sailing activity, whether sustained by members, guests or visitors to the maximum extent permitted by law.

7. Before inviting any guests or visitors onto the premises or to participate in events organised by the Club, the member will draw their attention to rule 1(5) and 1(6).

8. Written communication between West Riding Sailing Club and its members or between an organisation acting on behalf of West Riding Sailing Club and the members can be by either electronic or paper form.

Rule 2: Officers

1. The Officers of the club shall comprise of a Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore (maximum two), Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, the Trustees, the Class Captains, the Chairs of the House, Sailing and Social Committees, Publicity Officer, Training Officer, two Ordinary Members, Chief Dinghy Instructor, Chief Powerboat Instructor, Youth Development Officer and such other officers as may be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

2. All officers (except the Trustees & Rear Commodores) shall retire annually but will be eligible for re-election. The Commodore shall serve for a maximum of three years and shall not be eligible for re-election for at least one year. Rear Commodores shall be previous Commodores and will be invited annually by the Management Committee to serve as Rear Commodores. Ordinary Members may serve a maximum of two years.

3. The club shall be managed by a Management Committee which shall comprise of the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodores, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, Chairs of the House, Sailing and Social Committees, the Class Captains, Publicity Officer, Training Officer, and two Ordinary Members.

4. The following Sub Committees shall deal with matters specified and shall report to the Management Committee:

a. House Committee - shall deal with all property management and maintenance and shall consist of:

i. Chair
ii. Bosun
iii. Other members may be co-opted by the Management Committee.

b. Sailing Committee - shall deal with all sailing matters and shall consist of:

i. Sailing Secretary (Chair)
ii. Class Captains of the recognised sailing classes whose duty it is to be a recognised point of contact for their respective fleet, fully representing the views of their class and promoting class activities.
iii. Other members may be co-opted by the Management Committee.

c. Social Committee - shall deal with all social and catering activities and shall consist of:

i. Chair
ii. Bar Steward
iii. Catering Officer
iv. Other members may be co-opted by the Management Committee.

d. Training Committee – shall deal with all sail training activities and shall comprise of:

i. Training Officer
ii. Chief Power Boat Instructor -subject to relevant qualification
iii. Chief Dinghy Instructor -subject to relevant qualification
iv. Youth Development Officer
v. Other members may be co-opted by the Management Committee.

5. The Management Committee shall have the power to appoint additional Sub Committees and officers of such Sub Committees as they think proper.

6. The Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Secretary shall exercise such powers as may from time to time be delegated by the Management Committee.

7. Nominations to replace retiring officers shall be sent to the Honorary Secretary at least thirty-five days before the date of the Annual General Meeting, the consent of the nominee having first been obtained.

Rule 3: Trustees

1. There shall be at least two Trustees of the club, who shall be ex–officio members of the Management Committee, who are willing to be so appointed, from time to time as necessary by the members of the club at a General Meeting. A Trustee shall hold office during his lifetime or until he shall resign, by notice in writing given to the Committee, or until a resolution removing him/her from office shall be passed at a General Meeting of the Club by a majority comprising two thirds of the Members present and entitled to vote.

2. All the property of the club, including land and investments, shall be held by the Trustees for the time being, in their own names so far as it is necessary and practicable, on trust for the use and benefit of the club. On the death, resignation, or removal from office of a Trustee, the Committee shall nominate a new Trustee in his/her place, and shall as soon as possible thereafter, take all lawful and practicable steps to procure the vesting of all club property into the names of the Trustees as constituted after such nomination. For the purpose of giving effect to any such nomination, the [Honorary] Secretary for the time being is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee.

3. The Trustees shall in all respects act, in regard to any property of the club held by them, in accordance with the directions of the Committee, and shall have power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge any club property so held for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the club in compliance with the Committee's directions and certified in writing by the Commodore and Honorary Secretary (which shall be duly recorded in the Minutes of the proceedings of the Committee) but no purchaser, lessee or mortgage shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.

4.a. The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the Committee out of the assets of the club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the club.

b. To be incorporated in every contract, lease, licence or other agreement entered into by the Trustees of the Club: The liability of the Trustees for the performance of any contractual or other obligation undertaken by them on behalf of the Club shall be limited to the assets of the Club.

Rule 4: Members

1. Membership of West Riding Sailing Club shall be open to any individual, without prejudice, who is interested in helping West Riding Sailing Club to achieve its aim, willing to abide by the rules of West Riding Sailing Club and willing to pay any subscription agreed by the Management Committee. Members under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian, who is a member of the club.

2. The club shall consist of the following categories of membership:

a. Family - a member and their spouse or partner and children under 21 years of age.

b. Single - eighteen years of age and over.

c. Cadet – at the discretion of the management committee, a Cadet membership may be granted to an individual member who is under 18 years of age and wishes to attend the club for the purpose of sailing. The category provides a membership for a parent or guardian to attend the club with the Cadet. The guardian has no additional sailing rights or rights to use the lake.

d. Country - at the discretion of the Management Committee, Country membership may be granted to members of the club who, because of a change of residence, are unable to visit the club on a regular basis.
e. Student - at the discretion of the Management Committee, Student membership may be granted to members of the club who are bona fide students in full time education.
f. Retired - at the discretion of the Management Committee, Retired membership may be granted to members of the club who have ceased to sail.

g. Associate RC Yacht – at the discretion of the management committee, an Associate RC Yacht membership may be granted to an individual member who wishes to attend the club for the purpose of sailing radio-controlled yachts of the International One Meter (IOM) Class. The category of membership has no other sailing rights associated with it. Proof of ownership of an IOM class radio-controlled yacht will be required.

The age of a member will be defined as that on 1st December of the club year.

3. An Annual General Meeting shall have the power to elect Honorary Members who shall enjoy all the privileges of a Family or Single member. New members may apply for membership through the Management Committee. A copy of the club rules shall be made available to prospective members.

4. Temporary members may be approved by the Management Committee for periods not exceeding six months, the temporary membership fee to be not greater than one sixth of the annual subscription for the appropriate category of member for each month of the temporary membership. The number of temporary members and honorary members shall not exceed a significant proportion of the total membership.

5. Not withstanding anything to the contrary in these rules, no member of any category shall be admitted to membership, or as a candidate for membership admitted to any of the privileges of membership without an interval of at least two days between their nomination, or application for membership and their admission.

6. Resignations from membership are submitted to the Honorary Secretary in writing. On resignation any club keys held by members MUST be returned to the Honorary Secretary.

7. The membership of any member may be terminated for good reason by the Management Committee provided that: the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Management Committee accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is taken.
 
8. All members and visitors are obliged to comply with the club’s Health & Safety policy.

Rule 5: Fee and Subscriptions

1. All fees and subscriptions shall be determined from time to time by the Management Committee.

2. The Club year runs from 1st December to 30th November. Fees and subscriptions are due on 1st December each year.
Newly elected members joining throughout the Club year shall pay their fees and subscriptions upon election.

4. Members may apply to berth a boat or boats in the Club compounds. Berths will be allocated to successful applicants by the House Chairman. It is the responsibility of the member to maintain their allocated berth(s) in good order throughout the year. The Management Committee will determine any action to be taken where allocated berths are not so maintained.

5. The full berth fees shall be payable for boats stored for any part of the year (1st December to 30th November).

6. The Club does not accept any liability for the security of boats stored in the compounds. The club does not accept any liability for damage to boats stored in the compounds, however caused.

7. If at any time a berth fee, in respect of any boat which has been left in the boat compound is more than three months overdue, then:

a. The Management Committee shall be entitled to move the boat to any other part of the Club premises without being liable for any loss or damage to the boat, howsoever caused.

b. The Management Committee shall be entitled upon giving one month's notice in writing to the member or former member, at their last known address shown in the Register of Members, to sell the boat and to deduct any moneys due to the club (whether by way of arrears of subscriptions or berth fees) from the net proceeds of the sale before accounting for the balance (if any) to the member or former member.

c. Alternatively, any boat which, in the opinion of the Management Committee, cannot be sold on such notice as aforesaid, be disposed of in any manner the Management Committee may think fit and the expenses recovered from the member or former member. Any arrears as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a debt owing to the Club by the member or former member. Further, the Club shall, at all times, have a lien over members or former members boats berthed on the Club's premises in respect of all moneys due to the Club, whether in respect of an arrears of subscription fees or otherwise.

Rule 6: Meetings

1. The senior officer present shall preside at any meeting, alternatively another member may be appointed to the chair for that meeting.

2. The Management Committee shall meet not less than six times per year after prior notice has been given to all its members.

3. The club year shall end on the 30th November each year and the Annual General Meeting shall be held within four months thereafter. General Meetings shall be convened by fourteen days written notice. All paid up Single and Family members of eighteen years of age and over shall be entitled to vote at a General Meeting.

4. The audited annual accounts shall be available to members at the Annual General Meeting. The auditor shall not be an Officer of the club as described in Rule 2(1).

5. Extraordinary General Meetings may be called at any time by the Management Committee or a requisition signed by a minimum of seven adult members of the Club, or one fifth of the adult membership of the Club, whichever shall be less in number. Such requisition to state the subject of the proposed meeting which must be called within thirty days of receipt of such notice by the Honorary Secretary.

6. Twenty-four, or one half of the vote carrying members of the Club, whichever shall be less in number, shall form a quorum at a General Meeting.

7. Four members of the Management Committee shall form a quorum at a Management Committee Meeting.

Rule 7: Guests

1. Members may, subject to the rules for the time being in force, personally introduce friends as guests; any individual may be introduced as a guest on not more than three separate occasions in any one year.

2. Individuals introduced as “Guests”, sailing or otherwise, must sign the visitor’s book.

3. The Management Committee may allow bona-fide members of sailing clubs affiliated to or recognised by the Royal Yachting Association, or any other persons, to use the facilities of the Club upon such payment as the Management Committee may decide.

Rule 8: Sailing and Racing

1. A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety whether afloat or ashore. Nothing in the Rules of the Club, Sailing Instructions or anywhere else reduces this responsibility. It is for the boat to decide whether it is fit to sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching, the boat confirms that it is fit for those conditions and that its crew is competent to sail in them. The provision of a patrol boat does not relieve the sailors of their responsibilities.

2. There are no restrictions on adult members (over the age of 18) sailing at West Riding Sailing Club. Patrol boat cover is unlikely to be provided other than at club racing times and members going afloat at any other time do so at their own risk. Where a patrol boat is not afloat, members are advised to have another craft available on the water to give assistance as necessary.

3. Members who are under the age of 18 must not go afloat alone unless another craft is available on the water to give assistance as necessary, the agreement of the second craft being obtained prior to launching.

4. From the beginning of November to the end of March the MINIMUM sailing wear should be a suitable wet/dry suit. An adequate personal buoyancy aid must be worn in all circumstances whilst on the water at all times throughout the year.

5. On entering a boat for a race, a valid Certificate of Measurement and current Certificate of Buoyancy shall be produced if required; this does not remove the obligations of the owner/helmsman to ensure that the boat complies.

6. All races shall be governed by the current racing rules published by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with such amendments as may be ordered by the Management Committee or any Sub Committee properly acting on its behalf and duly published.

7. All boats or boards sailed by members shall be insured and carry an indemnity in respect of liability to third parties of not less than £2,000,000. The Management Committee reserve the right to increase this figure in line with prevailing levels without referral to an A.G.M.

8. The club owns a number of boats which may be sailed by any of its members at West Riding Sailing Club. Members using club boats are responsible for the condition of the craft(s) whilst in their care, are expected to treat club boats with respect and return them in the same serviceable condition. In the unfortunate event a club owned boat suffers damage or component failure, the member borrowing the boat is obliged and expected to arrange with the club Bosun for repairs to be made, the costs of which may be charged to the member concerned.

Rule 9: Bar

1. No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to members on the Club premises otherwise than by or on behalf of the Club.

2. The purchase and sale of all such liquor shall be managed by the Management Committee or a Sub Committee thereof.

3. Subject to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and any statutory amendment or modification thereof, such liquor may be supplied to members, temporary members, visitors, and their respective guests.

4. The Management Committee shall determine the occasions on which provision shall be made for the sale of such liquor but, subject thereto, the permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor shall be from 11.00am to 11.00pm on every day.

Rule 10: Opening Hours

1. The opening hours of the Club premises shall be between 10.00am and 11.30pm unless otherwise determined by the Management Committee.

Rule 11: Books

1. There shall be kept on the Club premises a list of members and their addresses and a Visitors book in which shall be kept the names of all visitors and guests.

Rule 12: Pets

1. All dogs must be kept on leads and under control within the club grounds. No dogs (with the exception guide dogs) are to be admitted to the club buildings. Any fouling of the club grounds by a dog shall be removed by the owner or persons responsible for the dog.

Rule 13: Smoking

1. Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the Clubhouse.

Rule 14: Alterations

1. No additions, alterations or amendments shall be made to:

a. these rules b. the approved classes of dinghies sailed at West Riding Sailing Club except by a proposal at a General Meeting which receives a vote in favour by a minimum of two thirds of the members present and entitled to vote. Details of any proposed addition, alteration or amendment should be submitted to the Honorary Secretary not less than thirty-five days before the General Meeting at which the proposal will be put, and the proposal shall be made available not less than fourteen days before the General Meeting, to all members who are eligible to vote.

2. If a resolution affected by Rule 14(1) is put to, but not carried by, a duly convened meeting no similar resolution may be submitted to a General Meeting held during the subsequent twelve months.