Poole - what yacht club?

[AHoy2]

Assuming that any will have me as a member, I am considering joining a "proper" yacht club for the first time in my boating career. My interest is primarily cruising (at least with my own boat) although some low key race crewing wouldn't go amiss.

I have approached both Poole and Parksone clubs for details, both seem equally difficult to assess as an outsider and I do not know members of either club for the inside story. Fees are similar as are listed facilities, berth availability equally far in the future and not a primary motivation. Alternatively, should I consider other clubs in my near cruising area (Solent to Weymouth) and have a second base from my Poole mooring?

AHoy2.

Edit: Looks as if it won't be Parkstone YC, strict deadline for applications of 31st Jan.

 

[TradewindSailor]

Assuming that any will have me as a member, I am considering joining a "proper" yacht club for the first time in my boating career. My interest is primarily cruising (at least with my own boat) although some low key race crewing wouldn't go amiss.

I have approached both Poole and Parksone clubs for details, both seem equally difficult to assess as an outsider and I do not know members of either club for the inside story. Fees are similar as are listed facilities, berth availability equally far in the future and not a primary motivation. Alternatively, should I consider other clubs in my near cruising area (Solent to Weymouth) and have a second base from my Poole mooring?

AHoy2.

Edit: Looks as if it won't be Parkstone YC, strict deadline for applications of 31st Jan.

I don't think you would get into Parkstone unless you race in one of the classes. The waiting lists to join have always been somewhat long.

The Royal Motor have probably got a long waiting list too, but last time I was there very few of the members I met had boats.

 

[Robin]

Assuming that any will have me as a member, I am considering joining a "proper" yacht club for the first time in my boating career. My interest is primarily cruising (at least with my own boat) although some low key race crewing wouldn't go amiss.

I have approached both Poole and Parksone clubs for details, both seem equally difficult to assess as an outsider and I do not know members of either club for the inside story. Fees are similar as are listed facilities, berth availability equally far in the future and not a primary motivation. Alternatively, should I consider other clubs in my near cruising area (Solent to Weymouth) and have a second base from my Poole mooring?

AHoy2.

Edit: Looks as if it won't be Parkstone YC, strict deadline for applications of 31st Jan.

Poole has several clubs. Poole YC, Parkstone YC, Lilliput SC, Royal Motor YC, East Dorset SC are the main ones. Poole, Parkstone and Royal Motor have their own YC marinas but all will have very long berth waiting lists and joining for a cheaper berth is not going to impress as a new applicant.

We have been members at Parkstone YC for about 17 years and were also members of Lilliput SC for 25 years before that so can comment on those. Lilliput is a very friendly club mostly for cruisers rather than dinghies and they have a number of drying moorings as well as some deepwater ones, but the maximum boat length is now 30ft LOA I believe. Parkstone YC is a really good club (I would say that wouldn't I?) and has a very large membership from both dinghies and racing keel boats as well as cruisers and offshore racers. The club has many drying and deepwater moorings plus a marina. Poole YC has dinghy and cruiser sections and also a marina as well as swinging moorings and Royal Motor (sail members as well as power) the same but in lesser numbers. East Dorset has some moorings and is mostly a small cruiser club.

Parkstone have a deadline for applying for membership each year from which they will take in new members if there are vacancies and the year runs 1st April to 31st March, hence the 31st Jan deadline. Once that years quota has joined the list is cancelled so there is no waiting list held over to the next time and there will be a new list and 'deadlline' for applications each year. They will try to keep the balance between the various sections and classes and so if say 30 of those leaving were to be dinghy people then a similar number of newbies will be from them too likewise with cruiser owners. Dinghy and keelboat racing is very hot and applicants would not have much chance if they have a dinghy class not raced at the club. The cruising section is very active and there is a sub-section for smaller cruisers as well. Cruiser racing is keen and there are evening races and offshore or round the cans stuff via PYRA (Poole Yacht Racing Assoc) with a local (PYRA) handicapping system in place. PYRA races are run in various classes from the extremely hot Class 1 to to the family crew Class A end.

You don't need to know someone to propose and second an application because if need be for someone very new to the area they will cover that. Indeed we joined in that way although later found we already knew quite a few members. The important thing is that you need to want to join for the right reasons, like an active common interest in cruising or racing or both, rather than just for a cheap mooring.

I don't know if that is any help.

 

[Sailfree]

Our choice of Yacht Clubs was based on wanting to start sailing a Wayfarer Dinghy.

As such we decided on Parkstone about 17yrs ago but thought Lymington Town was a very friendly club - I just hate paying extra for parking the car!

What I have noticed is that there is the official list and the "unofficial" list. The official list is for applicants that complete the necessary forms. The "unofficial" list consists of people who are really keen to sail and take part and initially turn up at the club offering to crew. After a season they always seem to be accepted as new members the next season!

I have also known some dinghy members that initially expressed an interest but started by joining another local club with vacancies but compete in a number of events (including Poole Week) organised by Parkstone YC. The emphasis is on keen active participating members not just people who want to join a YC.

Remember if it is dinghy sailing you are interested it is a sport with declining numbers and most clubs will find a way of welcoming "active" sailers. Most clubs have "accepted" classes though to try to enable each class to have its own start and not have handicap races. Parkstone only encourages certain adopted classes of dinghys.

If it big boat cruising then there is a chronic shortage of marina berths on the south coast and most clubs try to help existing long term members that are moving from dinghys to bigger boat and are not interested in people looking for a marina berth - they can go to MDL!.

IMHO Parkstone does not welcome motor boat members except existing members that are moving to motor due to their age but then it is a "sailing" club!

We are in the fortunate position of sailing both a dinghy and a big boat but pleasure for £ the dinghy wins hands down. One close friend said that if he won the lottery he would spend each summer doing dinghy regattas eg Falmouth week, Federation week and Poole week. Having done 2 of them last year I can understand where he is coming from!

It would help if you stated more of your interests/intentions.

 

[yellowspinnaker]

I'm a Poole Yacht Club member, and I can tell you that applications for membership are processed all year; there's no cutoff date.

There is no 'waiting list' for members, but there is a very long waiting list for marina berths - stretching to years.

We have over a thousand members, active dinghy racing (YW Dayboat, GP14, Osprey, Laser, Mirror, Optimist, Topper and various others) and a healthy cruiser racing fraternity.

Cruising itself is well catered for, and we have a Classic & Wooden boat section too. Social events go on all year, dinner dances, quizzes, talks etc.

Naturally we think we're the best club around. Whilst an introduction and proposer/seconder on an application form is a help it's not absolutely essential, perhaps I should tell you that it helps if you're fairly local.

Perhaps if you drop in and ask if you can have a look around you will discover more You could, of course, apply to join and see how you get on, you can always change your mind before paying any fees!

If you PM me then perhaps I could show you round?

 

[Poignard]

We visited Poole YC last year and were made very welcome. The facilties were good and so was the meal we had. The members were very friendly.

If I wasn't happy with being in Portsmouth I would certainly apply for membership and just hope I lived long enough to get a berth in the club's marina!.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I'm a Poole Yacht Club member, and I can tell you that applications for membership are processed all year; there's no cutoff date.

There is no 'waiting list' for members, but there is a very long waiting list for marina berths - stretching to years.

The waiting list for permanent berths in Kirkcudbright is around sixty years at the moment.

 

[AHoy2]

Thanks for the replies.

My main interest, in addition to the general benefits of club membership, is getting involved with the cruising fraternity i.e. information, cruises in company, shared crewing. On the flip side I enjoy getting involved in club activities and giving support where possible (plenty of previous experience in committee activities, running rallies, training etc. but not in a boating context).

As I mentioned, I am aware of the l_o_n_g waiting lists for club marina berths, however, I already have a Poole mooring and would see a club mooring only as a possible later benefit.

I have edited my OP as Parkstone YC is a non-starter due to the cut-off date. Also, based on the comments by TradewindSailor and Robin I am unlikely to fit the profile of a successful applicant, I have limited interest in racing (a bit of Wayfarer and Cruiser racing back in the early '70s didn't fire me up for competitive racing, but good for the experience and as a bit of fun) and I definitely don't have a boat for class racing - reasonable PY though :>)

yellowspinnaker, I will drop you a PM re. Poole YC.

AHoy2

 

[Robin]

Thanks for the replies.

My main interest, in addition to the general benefits of club membership, is getting involved with the cruising fraternity i.e. information, cruises in company, shared crewing. On the flip side I enjoy getting involved in club activities and giving support where possible (plenty of previous experience in committee activities, running rallies, training etc. but not in a boating context).

As I mentioned, I am aware of the l_o_n_g waiting lists for club marina berths, however, I already have a Poole mooring and would see a club mooring only as a possible later benefit.

I have edited my OP as Parkstone YC is a non-starter due to the cut-off date. Also, based on the comments by TradewindSailor and Robin I am unlikely to fit the profile of a successful applicant, I have limited interest in racing (a bit of Wayfarer and Cruiser racing back in the early '70s didn't fire me up for competitive racing, but good for the experience and as a bit of fun) and I definitely don't have a boat for class racing - reasonable PY though :>)

yellowspinnaker, I will drop you a PM re. Poole YC.

AHoy2

I hope I didn't confuse you about Parkstone because the cruising section is very active and is separate from the cruiser racing section although of course some will do both. It is perfectly acceptable to join as a purely cruising member. The dinghy section is a different case as they favour the classes adopted by the club but then there are 18 of them from ABs & Cadets through Toppers, Lasers, Merlins, Fireballs, Wayfarers, Enterprises, Darts, RS100, RS400, 420s, etc etc etc, even Shrimpers!

Anyway good luck with whatever you chose.

 

[richardbrennan]

Perhaps a slightly different slant on this thread; should you join the club where you are moored or where you visit most as these are not necessarily the same thing.

I used to be a member of mainland based club, but found that as Cowes is often the most convenient destination for a day sail from my mooring in Portsmouth, that the club I visited most was the ISC. I therefore switched my membership there and have not regretted it.

 

[AHoy2]

A "distant" club was one of my considerations, however, I don't have a regular cruising routine or destination so visits and participation would be low. Your arrangement makes good sense for the Solent.

.. should you join the club where you are moored or where you visit most as these are not necessarily the same thing.