Yacht club hospitality

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Wansworth

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Back in 1972 on my west country cruise in my 15 foot yacht I moored up in Sutton Harbour after an heroic crossing of Lyme Bay.I entered ,if I recall the Plymouth Sailing Club nearby in search of a shower.Obviously I was not dressed overall but I hoped to revive myself with a shower.I was informed after some haggling that I could have a "Wash" which I did.The steward came to check that I was not stealing a shower.Anyway the yacht club in my village harbour herein Galicia lets all and sundry make use of the facilities as many uk yachtsmen can testify too.....however scruffy they may be.

I will be on a cruise arouind the IOW this summer with my new yacht,my wife will be joining the cruise for a fortnight.How is the the situation regarding showers in yacht clubs 40 yeras on;is ther a protocol I should follow.We will not be stying in marinas too often as we are on a tight budget so anchouring off or useing public piles is are top,can I wander into a yacht club and ask nicely for a shower,even offer to pay!
 
You need one of these:

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I believe the protocol is that they'll let you in as long as you are a member of a yacht club somewhere else. That should see you alright in most cases.

I can make two recommendations to kick off, one is the Folly Inn, which has showers for any visitors using the pub. The other is the Royal Victoria at Wotton creek. Only been there once, on a "rally" (two boats, and we had dinner there) but a friendlier and more welcoming bunch you couldn't hope to meet. Other yacht clubs I have been into, however pleasant and friendly, I was accompanied by another club member so I'm not sure how they would react to one of the lower orders.
 
Evadne said:
I believe the protocol is that they'll let you in as long as you are a member of a yacht club somewhere else. That should see you alright in most cases.

I can make two recommendations to kick off, one is the Folly Inn, which has showers for any visitors using the pub. The other is the Royal Victoria at Wotton creek. Only been there once, on a "rally" (two boats, and we had dinner there) but a friendlier and more welcoming bunch you couldn't hope to meet. Other yacht clubs I have been into, however pleasant and friendly, I was accompanied by another club member so I'm not sure how they would react to one of the lower orders.
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Marchwood Yacht Club is friendly too - and a fascinating building.
 
Evadne said:
I believe the protocol is that they'll let you in as long as you are a member of a yacht club somewhere else. That should see you alright in most cases.

I can make two recommendations to kick off, one is the Folly Inn, which has showers for any visitors using the pub. The other is the Royal Victoria at Wotton creek. Only been there once, on a "rally" (two boats, and we had dinner there) but a friendlier and more welcoming bunch you couldn't hope to meet. Other yacht clubs I have been into, however pleasant and friendly, I was accompanied by another club member so I'm not sure how they would react to one of the lower orders.
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Thanks.so we can showerat least at the Folly.....I willget the secretary to type me out a letter saying I am a member etc on headed note paper....hope they can read Spanish.Thanks for the info...although I would not class myself as "lower orders"!!!!!
 
As a rule, the longer-established clubs are more likely to welcome guests the further they have come from. Most large Solent clubs will not accept any Tom, Dick or Harry from within the Solent, but only members of the senior clubs there and RYA-affiliated clubs from outside the Solent and no doubt foreign clubs too.
 
I have never had anything other than a friendly and helpful welcome at any Yacht club which I have visited. Nobody has even asked me if I am a member of another club.

I prefer to visit Clubs rather than Marinas.
 
I was told that Yacht Clubs in Spain are often just smart social clubs and don't really like scruffy yotties. I only went into a couple and they gave the impression of being pretty up-market. Was there any truth in what I heard?
 
I've been humbled by expansive hospitality in many yacht and sailing clubs - as a visiting yachtman - and although too many to list all, I must make Honourable Mention of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, The Royal Cornwall YC, The Little Ship Club, the Brixham Yacht Club, the Cardiff Yacht Club and the Yacht Club de Dinard....

Missing the list nowadays is the Royal Western Yacht Club, of which I was a Distant Country Member for more than 25 years, until the patronising and yobbish behaviour of a group of more recent members made the modest annual fee an insupportable extravagance.

;)
 
snowleopard said:
I was told that Yacht Clubs in Spain are often just smart social clubs and don't really like scruffy yotties. I only went into a couple and they gave the impression of being pretty up-market. Was there any truth in what I heard?
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There is some truth is what you say but I have never been refused entry in some prestigious clubsThey dont like wet feet marks on the polished floors for starters.The smaller newer yacht clubs many attached to a marina will welcome visitors eagerly as they are naturally friendly and value your visit and also value your bar bill!
 
In my experience most clubs are very welcoming & I have never been asked to show a membership card - even as a teenager on a hired Broads cruiser with a couple of mates. However, if in doubt, look for another yot with the relevant burgee, engage them in conversation & then ask if their showers are open to visitors. It would be a churlish oaf that didn't extend you an invite.
 
mogy said:
I used to have a solar shower ,are they still available?
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Yes, if you mean the black bag with a short hose and spray head. Force 4 and others stock them. The other option I have seen advertised is a pressurised container type (like the ones for weed killer, etc) with a spray head - just fill up with warm water, etc.
 
Boathook said:
Yes, if you mean the black bag with a short hose and spray head. Force 4 and others stock them. The other option I have seen advertised is a pressurised container type (like the ones for weed killer, etc) with a spray head - just fill up with warm water, etc.
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Thanks,another possibility
 
Royal Victoria in Wooton Creek is a really freindly and welcoming club. I'm sure you will be welcomed by them for showers, grub, and beer.

Hill Head SC also a very friendly bunch.

Have fun.
 
snowleopard said:
I was told that Yacht Clubs in Spain are often just smart social clubs and don't really like scruffy yotties. I only went into a couple and they gave the impression of being pretty up-market. Was there any truth in what I heard?
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We walked into the yacht club in San Sebastien and were treated well. We were pointed towards the showers and they were very helpful. The chap in charge was quite a gentleman.

This was despite the fact that I looked like a complete ragamuffin, scruffy ripped shirt, tatty pair of trousers and a towel and a change of clothes stuffed in a supermarket carrier bag. We had also just climbed over their security fence to get off the pontoons as we didn't have a key.

It was upmarket, but friendly. The only thing they didn't do is ask us where we'd come from, what the trip was like etc...they didn't seem too interested in the sailing bit, which was surprising; if a spaniard turned up here having sailed across, I'd be interested in his trip.
 
semisimple said:
We walked into the yacht club in...... scruffy ripped shirt, tatty pair of trousers and a towel and a change of clothes stuffed in a supermarket carrier bag. We had also just climbed over their security fence ....
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You sound like my kind of Yachtsman!

I don't know why but this reminds me of RKJ rubbing whiskey in his beard (World Of My Own) to get rid of the smell of diesel after a siphoning episode.

Top marks!
 
st599 said:
Marchwood Yacht Club is friendly too - and a fascinating building.
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Is it possible to visit mid week, and get a shower and a beer? I've only ever visited at weekends and I might want to stop there midweek in the summer.
 
oldbilbo said:
I've been humbled by expansive hospitality in many yacht and sailing clubs - as a visiting yachtman - and although too many to list all, I must make Honourable Mention of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, The Royal Cornwall YC, The Little Ship Club, the Brixham Yacht Club, the Cardiff Yacht Club and the Yacht Club de Dinard....

Missing the list nowadays is the Royal Western Yacht Club, of which I was a Distant Country Member for more than 25 years, until the patronising and yobbish behaviour of a group of more recent members made the modest annual fee an insupportable extravagance.;)
Click to expand...
I'm very pleased to see my home club, Cardiff Yacht Club, in your list.
I have had pretty much the same experience as you. All the clubs I have been to have been very welcoming. The top one for me was Dunmore East Sailing Club whose members apologised for the club being closed, it was too early in the season. One then drove us to his home for showers and another arranged for a fuel tanker to come down and sell us some diesel.
Allan
 
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