Most stuck-up yacht club?

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I think that one of the good things about this sport is that you are welcomed at other clubs

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I wholeheartedly agree. I have turned-up at dozens of clubs (including 1 or 2 'royals') often bedraggled and salt-encrusted, from a range of boats, some very small some very big. I have sometimes had a dozen distinctly dodgy looking teenagers in tow.

I have always received a friendly and helpful welcome. No-one has ever asked if I belong to a club.

Some points that may be relevant:

I always ask someone first if it is OK to use their facilities.
I make a point of thanking them afterwards.
None of these clubs were on the S coast of England !
 
Yes. The annals of the great unwashed are full of such stories. It's one of the ways the peasants are recognised and I imagine that through the long winter nights sat by the fires made from dried cow dung you speak of little else.
 
I think you miss the point. First, I don't have a local club. Or at least, maybe there is one somewhere for river sailing in Krakow, but I haven't come across it, and I don't want to river sail here. Should I just send a cheque for fees to a club selected at random from the RYA list?

Second, if it's the cost of the facilities that's the issue, they could easily ask me to pay for using it. I'd already paid for the mooring, but I don't mind paying extra for the shower.

The fact that they don't take the money for the shower like a harbour authority means that it's a snobbish social thing, not a money thing.

There's also the question of whether the municipality and/or whoever keeps the moorings realises that the YC doesn't allow use of showers to all visiting yachtsmen, and whether the mooring fee takes account of it. I don't know the answer to that one.

Well, I'd rather go without one shower every ten years. That's OK, I understand perfectly that snotty yacht clubs won't be interested in me, but I'm not interested in them, so it's mutual, and I don't mind doing without the shower that much. So everyone is happy!

Just don't like people who are unhelpful or unwelcoming, or just plain rude (as this guy was).
 
You are absolutely right - there is no excuse for being just plain rude.
Otherwisde, we have to differ although why you think everyone but you is "snotty" might be aleviated by therapy ?
Ken
 
To introduce another Club into this discussion:

I always find the attitude of a certain establishment in Cowes slightly bemusing. They are very happy to take a substantial amount of money from my sailing association to have cocktail parties on their lawn, but a few years ago built a special 'suite' in their grounds so that we shouldn't sully their clubhouse. Furthermore, when attending any function there as a visitor, one is not allowed throught the front gate, but sent round the back to a 'visitors entrance'.

I remember there being very strong questions asked about how on earth a performance dinghy could have the audacity to have a spinnaker coloured as a White Ensign. The matter was going to be REPORTED! It was pointed out to them, that the said boat belonged to the Royal Marines entry in the regatta, and as part of the Navy, they had perhaps, more right to fly a 'white ensign' spinnaker than most people, including members of their club!

Well thats me blackballed from that place for life....
 
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why you think everyone but you is "snotty" might be aleviated by therapy ?
Ken

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You mean I believe that everyone but me belongs to a posh "yacht" club? But I actually believe that there are lots of plebs like me around who just like sailing, or who belong to friendly clubs like the Dabchicks.
 
Oh just remembered another place where you have to use the yacht club showers. At least I think so.

Ostend. The showers are underneath the Yacht Club.

I can't imagine the YC there turning anyone away who has paid his harbour fee. Can't remember exactly, but suspect the Harboumaster gives you the code when you pay.
 
Easy for me, I have my own showers aboard and dont belong (or want to) any yacht club and never have. Simple answer to everybody, with a boat big enough, fit a shower!
 
I became a lot less shower dependent since discovering all the things that one can do with a wet sponge /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I suspect there are some YC members who may have a suggestion about where I might shove it? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif But in the Baltic water salinity is low so a bucket of water over the head and some Dove soap does the trick (see my avatar). Or just jumping in...
EVE.jpg
 
At Nykoping it was 1066, then 1789, then 1917 etc. etc. Once when I needed to use it when the office was closed (yes, I'd paid my fees!), I tried every revolution/conquest in history, unsuccessfuly. Turned out to be the date the first King of Sweden was crowned, or murdered, or whatever /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Serves me right for not having brushed up my Swedish history.
 
A couple of years ago, November 2003 to be precise, I suggested to an Australian office manager that it would be a good idea to change the code on the doors to something we could all remember: 20:17.

Suffice it to say that by revealing this on this forum the door security has not been compromised.
 
Got to be Howth. Stopped in there once, asked for the gate code and was told no! Asked how to get back in and was told to wait at the gate until some member let me back in.

Asked at the reception if there was any spares shops around - was told to talk to "seamus" who seeing me standing there with a broken fan belt in my hands asks "and what would that be?" "broken fan belt" says I "and what would be wrong with it" says he /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Talk about the "Bog Irish" I didn't know where to look with me being Irish myself - I had to walk away and explain to the skipper of the boat not to worry, after all we were in the republic, things would get better as we reached the North /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Sorry Cliff have to disagree got blown into Howth at 3am by a threatened force 8 with a fouled folding propellor,duty chap nudged us into berth with a rub a dub,told us that all facilities were available for us to use,and a diver sent down to clear prop first thing in the morning.Stayed for 3 days,and when we asked to settle the bill were told to buy the diver a pint!
 
Re: Most stuck-up yacht club? [Re:colmce & cliff]

My experience of Howth is a vibrant, fun club with wonderful facilities and a friendly bar. Only downside was berthing single-handed in a gusting F6 while the git in the next berth sat and watched - but he was flying a red ensign! So sorry Cliff, Howth doesn't go into Room 101.

As an aside, every berth I took in Eire and NI cost 25 Euros a night no matter what the facilities (that's £17.50 for a 32' boat). Is it a cartel?
 
Re: Most stuck-up yacht club? [Re:colmce & cliff]

You paid to stay in Howth? oh dear, maybe that was my problem........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif or maybe I just caught the coleen at reception at the wrong time of the month /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
You obviously did not stay in Bangor NI £2/metre +£2 for lecky plus the most expensive diesel price around - rip off Bangor - give it a wide berth now.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Re: Most stuck-up yacht club? [Re: cliff]

Au contraire, Bangor 'twas the next stop and it cost £17 + a few pence, i.e. 25 euros. Diesel was a frightening 49p a litre but it had just gone up. Lecky was free 'cos I "just use it to charge the batteries".

I was tempted to drain some diesel off just to find out what colour the southern green and the northern pink mixed into.
 
The morgue?

Some years ago the New York Yacht Club held the America's Cup. A certain Australian took it off them. I was about to fly to New York as the deciding race was starting so I rang the friend whom I was meeting, a member, and put ten dollars on the result.

"Right!" he said, "We'll have dinner at the Club and settle up there."

He duly paid me over the head of the bolt that had held the Cup down for the past 130-odd years. The atmosphere was beyond funereal - members in reefer jackets in every corner staring at their boots!

This would have to have been the stuffiest club I have visited, but, in fairness to them, the sky had just fallen in!
 
"Despite the sign on the door saying all yacht-owners welcome we quickly downed our pint and left due to the hostility we felt (we were in our waterproofs and not slacks, blazer and tie like the regulars)."

This reply.rather delayed, is to the original posting on this thread by demonboy.

Unfortunately, he and possibly his crew must be lacking in reasonable manners. He mentions the notice on the door which reads "all visiting yacht owners welcome". That is absolutely correct. He goes on to say: "we were in our waterproofs and not slacks, blazer and tie like the regulars".

In the entrance lobby and also on the door to the Bar and Lounge there is a very clear notice requesting visitors (and members) NOT to wear waterproof clothing in the Bar or Lounge. Several dozen coathangers are available in the lobby for wet or outer clothing.

The reason for this polite request is that the furniture and carpets in both the Bar and lounge are well maintained. Much of the furniture is leather upholstered. Not suitable for oilskins!

All visiting yachtsmen are welcome in many clubs but, I think quite reasonably, are expected to respect the clubs that they visit. For up to two weeks, visitors have full use of the club facilities including the RCYC launch which will take them to a from their boats on moorings all day, and for which there is no charge. Just radio Ch37.

I must emphasise that I am only a member of the RCYC and not an officer of the Club and the above is my own personal opinion.

Bob Tyler
 
Got to agree...West Mersea Yacht Club really takes the prize for the most anti social Yacht Club on the East Coast. I guess that their atitude must appeal to some people, but quite frankly they are the sort of people that I would rather not keep company with! When visiting West Mersea which is quite a pleasant place, make a beeline to the Dabchicks Sailing Club a VERY sociable place!

For GENUINE hospitality from East Coast Clubs take a look at Colne Yacht Club, Royal Harwich Yacht Club, and Tollesbury YC (or is it C.C.???). All good friendly clubs where you get a real welcome.
 
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