Who belongs to a YC and why, why not?

Try the Port Solent Yacht Club for £ 18 per year.

In a congested area like the Solent where most marinas are full up by Friday afternoon, the advantage of membership is that berths are reserved for you on any organised Rally with the YC.

It is also good to chat with other like minded Yachties who see value in not becoming too narrow minded about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to sialing - the latter being a common trait of the lone sailor.
 
We have always belonged to a club. Started from dinghy days inland - try sailing a dinghy on an inland laske without joining a club! Went cruising 30 some years ago and joining a club seemed natural, found a very friendly one with the added bonus of cheap moorings and winter layup. Moved later to a more upmarket club, not for any snooty reasons but because we changed to a bigger boat that couldn't go on club moorings or layup there, plus we were travelling farther afield and met more people from that club on our travels. Also joined the CA at the same time and oh boy was that snooty and very cliquey though I cannot imagine why, needless to say we are no longer members. Our current club has 2,500 members, isn't a 'Royal' but has a marina and loads of moorings with a launch service, the dinghy section is huge and runs lots of big events from National to World Championships, plus we are an excellent training ground and RYA teaching establishment for youngsters.

What do we get? Good friends, good company, nice bar with occasional happy hours, good restaurant, nice affordable marina berth with views across Poole that some in the soccer management business paid millions for. It can take ages to get from the carpark to the boat or vice versa as every boatowner we pass has a friendly chat. If we want to cruise in company, there are lots of opportunities, if we want to cruise alone that's fine too, or we can do a bit of both. In winter there are RYA courses from VHF to Yachtmaster, plus regular talks, bridge classes and even jive lessons.

Each to their own, we have visited loads of other clubs over the years and have never really found an unfriendly one, although we have met a few unfriendly individuals on occasion, but that reflects normal life doesn't it.

So there you are, join one if you wish, don't join if you don't wish. But whatever you do, join for the 'right' reasons because appying just to get a cheap mooring or somewhere to park the car is not what it is about and that is why there are interviews at most clubs, not to see if you know which knife to use for the starter.
 
Why should an Essex sailor join a club in Falmouth? Rather a long way to go to "sit in the snug!"
 
Jimdew... I take the same view. Based in Mersea, the clubs would give me nothing for the near £1000 to join (Dabchicks or West Mersea YC). The yard gives me parking, layup, mooring etc. In order to get in to other clubs (which club are you a member of sir) we joined Roach Sailing Association (£5 a year) as we have some friends who are members.

I was commodore of another Blackwater club, and it was patently obvious to me then, although not to several other committee members that the 60's style self help club HAS to change or die. Leisure time is very different now, and more people are prepared to pay someone rahter than "help out" . The club had 800 members, and "working parties" never had more than 30 attendees, butstill the message didn't get across
 
You dont need to be a member of a yacht club! All you need is an RYA membership card. Not only will it get you into a comfortable civilised area to eat at the SIBS & LIBS, but it will get you into most clubs.

For example we were in Jersey in Nov a few years ago, just for the weekend. On the Sunday in Jersey in Nov everywhere was closed, wanting some food we had already driven around the island once, then we found the Royal Channel Island Yacht club, quick flash of the RYA card and before we knew it we were tucking into roast beef and yorkshires!
 
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