Overseas Club Members Welcome?

[Contest1]

I always thought sailing club members were generaly welcome in other clubs.
Recently in a small harbour in the Mar Minor, Costa Blanca, and was refused entry to the club restuaunt which was the only one within walking distance.
Didn,t bother to persue the matter as I was in company but just wonder what is the general view.
Courtown sailing club in Wexford Ireland has few facilities but we are very welcoming.
Should I have asked to speak to someone??

 

[stranded]

I always thought sailing club members were generaly welcome in other clubs.
Recently in a small harbour in the Mar Minor, Costa Blanca, and was refused entry to the club restuaunt which was the only one within walking distance.
Didn,t bother to persue the matter as I was in company but just wonder what is the general view.
Courtown sailing club in Wexford Ireland has few facilities but we are very welcoming.
Should I have asked to speak to someone??

Their club, their rules. I understand Spanish clubs often have quite formal dress codes?

 

[[3889]]

Many "up market" clubs have a list of acceptable clubs whose members they will admit. I visited Real Club Nautico de Tenerife and only got in as we had a Royal St George member with us. The liveried doorman checked the club list and the RStG membership card. We were in shorts and Ts so I don't think dress was relevant.

 

[Resolution]

Perfectly understandable. Many UK clubs welcome visiting yachtsmen as this helps boost F&B takings and space is seldom limited. This changes indeed as you go more upmarket. If members of a club are paying substantial subscriptions in order to enjoy better facilities, then it would be illogical to permit any itinerant yachtie to use the facilities for free. For this reason formal reciprocity arrangements tend to work best between clubs with similar subscription levels and facilities.
Many Spanish yacht clubs are not members clubs as we know them, but commercial operations "selling" membership and run for a profit.
On the dress code question, my UK club has reciprocal arrangements with a club in Mallorca with tremendous facilities. Despite having my own membership card I was declined entry to their dining room as my dress was not suitable - long trousers required. Their club, their rules , my learning curve.

 

[johnalison]

Things are very different in Belgium, Holland and Germany, and probably elsewhere, where the club restaurant facilities are often run as a franchise where the general public may, and often do, visit for what are often good meals.

 

[Daydream believer]

I always thought sailing club members were generaly welcome in other clubs.
Recently in a small harbour in the Mar Minor, Costa Blanca, and was refused entry to the club restuaunt which was the only one within walking distance.

If you were you towing a caravan behind a transit truck with a roller on the back- I would have refused you entry as well :encouragement:

 

[Contest1]

If you were you towing a caravan behind a transit truck with a roller on the back- I would have refused you entry as well :encouragement:

Your wife must be a saint.

 

[Daydream believer]

Your wife must be a saint.

No! she plays golf 2-3 times a week
Means i get to go sailing on my own :encouragement:

 

[langstonelayabout]

I was always taught that visitors by water should be greeted as friends and should be able to avail themselves of our club facilities, within reason of course. It has worked well over the years and many visitors have been welcomed at our clubhouse, galley and bar. Many that arrive in vehicles marked 'Coastguard' and 'RNLI' are also welcomed.

Sadly it isn't universal. Abroad it can vary and there is a posh sailing club (name withheld) at the entrance to the harbour that used to ask me to leave frequently when I was younger. These days I wouldn't join or recommend their club out of principle...

What can go around may come back and bite them on the b*m one day. Meantime don't give up visiting as there are many friendly clubs who will be pleased to receive you!

 

[Mistroma]

I always thought sailing club members were generaly welcome in other clubs.
Recently in a small harbour in the Mar Minor, Costa Blanca, and was refused entry to the club restuaunt which was the only one within walking distance.
Didn,t bother to persue the matter as I was in company but just wonder what is the general view.
Courtown sailing club in Wexford Ireland has few facilities but we are very welcoming.
Should I have asked to speak to someone??

We visited La Isleta at South end of Mar Menor several times over a couple of years and they were always very friendly. We mainly stopped for coffee and a quick email check on their Wifi but did have at least one meal each year. Friends told us that they had offered to put F1 on their TV early next day to allow them to watch whilst having the odd drink.

We didn't visit the other club nearby as it had large Privada signs at the entrance. Most places were welcoming from Rias and down into the med. but we do tend to take the hint and avoid ones emphasising that they are private.