Strange attitude of yacht club to potential new members

[Jaguar 25]

About to move Kittiwake from Liverpool to the south coast and investigated several yacht clubs around Portsmouth/Chichester. On asking one of them if they could accommodate Kittiwake for winter storage I was told that I would have to join the club. I told them that I was quite prepared to join if I could be a winter storage space. The response from the berthing officer was "well you have to apply to join first and, if accepted and you become a member, then we can see if there is a space available." When I said that there is no point in joining if I can't keep my boat there he simply said you have to join first! He wouldn't even give an indication as whether it would be likely that a space would be found and definitely could not be deemed to be welcoming.

Obviously they don't need new members.

Completely different attitude at Emsworth and the mooring officer for Chichester conservancy, Adrian Rowe was very helpful. We are now taking up winter storage at Thornham marina, who were very welcoming and friendly.

Perhaps they don't like scousers!:ambivalence:

 

[KAL]

Did he have a little square moustache, short hair and a brown shirt as well? Ah, the power they hold after attaining their precious committee post. You can bet his own boat gets pride of place each year, NOT under the trees or in the far, dark, damp corner of the yard. Oh, and near the water and leccy too.

Thankfully our club is incredibly friendly and no-one has megalomaniac ideas.

 

[l'escargot]

Many clubs have limited storage/moorings available and don't need members whose only motivation in joining is to take advantage of those facilities. They would be naturally suspicious of someone who lived a long distance away and was just looking for somewhere cheap to park their boat. A marina is different, it is purely a commercial arrangement.

 

[Boreades]

But why do you feel the need to join a yacht club?
(strange, peoples is)

 

[Boreades]

Thankfully our club is incredibly friendly and no-one has megalomaniac ideas.

Go on, which club is that?

I might be tempted to join as a member.
Yours,
Groucho Marx

 

[Jaguar 25]

I thought that it would be a more friendly place where my son and I could better learn of the issues related to sailing in the Solent/Chichester area from other members. Also should be more cost effective!

 

[Jaguar 25]

They would be naturally suspicious of someone who lived a long distance away and was just looking for somewhere cheap to park their boat. A marina is different, it is purely a commercial arrangement.

My son, who is joint owner of Kittiwake, lives locally and they were informed of this!

 

[onesea]

But why do you feel the need to join a yacht club?
(strange, peoples is)

Its a northern thing where they are friendly and social places...

I thought that it would be a more friendly place where my son and I could better learn of the issues related to sailing in the Solent/Chichester area from other members. Also should be more cost effective!

Your learning its different down here... Clubs are not the same not as friendly, I am sure there are exceptions (Royal Victoria being one). Then I cannot think of any others down here I was made feel welcome enough to enter (that almost includes the one I am a member off!).

If yiou have not sailed down here you will also see the difference in the sailors, its just not the same...

 

[PhillM]

Try Royal Southampton. Very friendly, very easy to join - there is even an introductory membership that you can sign up to right away. There are mornings available on the Hamble and Beauleiu. Call Maggie in the office, she will get you sorted out.

 

[doug748]

It is a lot to do with pressure of space and availability.

Mooring officers are in a tough position and have lots of random enquiries from people who may contact them and never be heard of again, or show up 6 months later and expect accommodation on the strength of a phone call. Unless they are desperate all they can really say is moorings are available for members and there is a waiting list, or not.

I have been contributing to the thread on South West Moorings and know of 3 small clubs where the response would be pretty similar. Having said that, I do feel it should be possible to give you some sort of hint about the possibility of getting sorted out.

 

[lustyd]

I thought that it would be a more friendly place where my son and I could better learn of the issues related to sailing in the Solent/Chichester area from other members. Also should be more cost effective!

You can still join the club and get those things, then next year you could take advantage of the cheaper storage having made friends. You've decided to pay elsewhere anyway which you could have done if you'd taken the risk. This only serves to reinforce their expectation that you were joining for cheap accommodation rather than being active members. I only live in Reading and find it impossible to spare sufficient time to sail AND socialise with a sailing club, so keep my boat in a normal marina.

 

[[3889]]

Its a northern thing where they are friendly and social places...

Not sure whether it is, TBH. I got the same response as the OP when enquiring about rejoining my local club I had previously been a member of for 20 yrs. Fortunately, I knew enough to bypass the obstructive yard manager but I think KAL's post hits the nail on the head.

 

[Jaguar 25]

Not sure whether it is, TBH. I got the same response as the OP when enquiring about rejoining my local club I had previously been a member of for 20 yrs. Fortunately, I knew enough to bypass the obstructive yard manager but I think KAL's post hits the nail on the head.

Cheers Quiddle. The experience was definitely different to the warm reception that I received at DSC!

 

[[3889]]

Cheers Quiddle. The experience was definitely different to the warm reception that I received at DSC!

Just to be clear, DSC is not the club I was refering to in my post

 

[ripvan1]

Would it be a certain club in Langstone Harbour? - There are several but one in particular is so far up its own jacksy that it must be rated as one of the most unwelcoming clubs in the country - nay europe even.

 

[VicS]

About to move Kittiwake from Liverpool to the south coast and investigated several yacht clubs around Portsmouth/Chichester. On asking one of them if they could accommodate Kittiwake for winter storage I was told that I would have to join the club. I told them that I was quite prepared to join if I could be a winter storage space. The response from the berthing officer was "well you have to apply to join first and, if accepted and you become a member, then we can see if there is a space available." When I said that there is no point in joining if I can't keep my boat there he simply said you have to join first! He wouldn't even give an indication as whether it would be likely that a space would be found and definitely could not be deemed to be welcoming.

Obviously they don't need new members.

Completely different attitude at Emsworth and the mooring officer for Chichester conservancy, Adrian Rowe was very helpful. We are now taking up winter storage at Thornham marina, who were very welcoming and friendly.

Perhaps they don't like scousers!:ambivalence:

You seem to be muddling clubs, which may have limited storage space for members boats, often at low cost, with commercial boat yards who will charge you the full commercial rate. One club I visit from time to time has only enough space for half of the members' boats, consequently each member is only able to lay up ashore at the club in alternate years. There is currently a waiting list for membership.

Winter storage is Thornham Marine's main business. It gets pretty full ..... like packed solid .. you are probably lucky they have space for you this late in the year

I am not surprised at the response from whatever club it was you approached. You undoubtedly gave the impression that you were primarily after cheap storage

You may well be right they probably do not want new members There is a waiting list for membership. of many clubs in the Solent area.

PS I dont belong to a club. I keep my boat at a boat yard. Ashore during the winter and usually on one of the yard moorings for the summer.

 

[Daydream believer]

Some people do abuse club facilities
Our membership officer allowed a "prospective" member to place his boat on our hard as an emergency.
He had bought the boat expecting to leave it where it was but had to move it suddenly
he claimed he would join our club & started application procedures
It took a year to get his subs & his boat has been dumped. We have had to move it twice & ins pite of numerous conversations ( & lies) it is still in the way. Needless to say subs & storage fees have not been paid this year
This is only one example of people abusing our helpfulness.
I can fully understand the " join first" attitude. People are just looking for a cheap storage & not intending to be involved in the club

 

[JumbleDuck]

I can fully understand the " join first" attitude. People are just looking for a cheap storage & not intending to be involved in the club

On the other hand, what if someone has both (a) a boat and (b) a desire to be involved in a club.

 

[Daydream believer]

On the other hand, what if someone has both (a) a boat and (b) a desire to be involved in a club.

Then they are welcomed with open arms
However, my experience ,letting moorings, soon tells one, after a few questions, who the chancers are

 

[oldgit]

Did he have a little square moustache, short hair and a brown shirt as well? Ah, the power they hold after attaining their precious committee post. You can bet his own boat gets pride of place each year, NOT under the trees or in the far, dark, damp corner of the yard. Oh, and near the water and leccy too.

Thankfully our club is incredibly friendly and no-one has megalomaniac ideas.

Dare one ask which position you have volunteered for in your particular club ?
There are folks in every club who tend to hold some very forthright and vocal views on club officials.
However their names are curiously absent when the list for nominations goes up each year.Either they are not prepared to stand up and suffer or nobody else wants them within a mile of the job.
Our club has a five year waiting list for moorings,you have no choice but to join club before going on list.Large numbers of our club members are in local boatyards/marinas awaiting a letter.