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Operating Rules

Revised March 1997

 

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Contents


1. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION

The Cal Sailing Club is a non-profit educational, recreational, and community service organization, open to the public. The purpose of the Club is to promote sailing in all its many aspects. The facilities of the Club are located at the Berkeley Marina. The Club is supported by membership dues and by voluntary efforts of its members and is governed by an Executive Committee, elected from the membership, composed of nine officers whose functions are:

Commodore: presiding officer of the Executive Committee and responsible for the coordination of all Club activities.

Vice Commodore: responsible for publicity, maintaining a membership roster and for representing the Commodore in his/her absence.

First Vice Commodore: responsible for maintenance and repair of Club dinghies, skiffs, motors, and facilities.

Second Vice Commodore: responsible for maintenance and repair of Club sailboard equipment.

Third Vice Commodore: responsible for the maintenance of Club keel boats and cruising equipment.

Rear Commodore: responsible for Club teaching programs and lectures and for matters involving Club ratings and rating information.

Port Captain: responsible for selection of Dayleaders and for the enforcement of Club Operating Rules and the Harbor Rules and Regulations.

Secretary: responsible for minutes of meetings, correspondence, and the records of the Executive Committee.

Treasurer: responsible for financial transactions of the Club.

Members may sail any or all of the Club-owned sailboats or sailboards in certain areas and during certain times, determined by their Club rating. A rating system has been established by the Executive Committee, comprising the following ratings: Novice Skipper, Junior Skipper, Senior Skipper, Cruising Skipper, Novice Windsurfer, Junior Windsurfer, Junior-Plus Windsurfer, Senior Windsurfer, and the Racing rating. Each rating is achieved upon completion of certain requirements.

The Executive Committee has established these Operating Rules and other rules and regulations to enable safe, efficient, and equitable fulfillment of the Club's purpose.

II. PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

1. Every regular member of the Club is entitled:

a. To instruction and training in order that the member may improve and develop his/her sailing skills and knowledge through his/her participation in all Club activities, including organized sailing lessons; and

b. To the use of all Club sailing equipment and property commensurate with the member's rating and with the Club's Constitution, By-Laws, and these Operating Rules.

2. In return for the privileges of membership, every regular member of the club is:

a. Obligated to contribute, each membership period, at least two hours work toward the maintenance of club property or to the assistance with some activity or office;

b. Obligated to know and comply with the Club's Constitution and By-Laws and with these Operating Rules and other regulations established by the Club, ignorance of these rules being an unacceptable excuse for infraction or abuse; and

c. Expected and encouraged to the extent of the member's ability and club rating, to further the training of fellow Club members.

III. SUPERVISION, MANAGEMENT & ENFORCEMENT

1. The Port Captain is responsible for the dock operations and enforcement of these Operating Rules.

2. The Dayleader is responsible for supervising and directing the club's daysailing activities and for the proper use and storage of boats, sailboards, and equipment. In addition, he/she shall report any infraction of the Club's Constitution and By-Laws and of these Operating Rules to the Executive Committee for disciplinary action.

3. Serious infractions, conduct unbecoming a member, or failure to comply with any reasonable request by the Dayleader or other Club official pertinent to the Club's operation shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Any elected Club Officer, Dayleader, or member so designated by the Executive Committee to have such authority, may suspend the sailing privileges of any Club member violating Club rules. Privileges may be suspended only for 36 hours by the Dayleader, unless the Executive Committee extends this. If a disciplinary hearing is required, the failure of the member to appear at one of the next two regularly scheduled Executive Committee meetings may result in action being taken in the accused member's absence. Disciplinary hearings are held in closed session. An accused member may bring witnesses.

4. Incompetence or negligence in the use of boats, sailboards, or equipment by a skipper or windsurfer, or the infraction of the Club's Constitution and By-Laws and of these Operating Rules, constitutes grounds for the Executive Committee to suspend the rating of the skipper or windsurfer concerned.

For further information about disciplinary procedures, see the Cal Sailing Club's By-Laws, Article X.

IV. GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. Government Rules and Regulations including U.S. Coast Guard Rules and Regulations and Harbor Rules and Regulations must be observed by Club members.

2. Club-owned boats and sailboards shall yield to other boats and sailboards the right-of-way according to the Rules of the Road (Government Right-of-Way Rules.) During races involving Club-owned boats and sailboards, the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) Rules shall apply.

3. Collision with other boats, sailboards, or other objects must at all times be avoided.

4. No Club-owned boat or sailboard may be sailed without an appropriately rated or authorized Club member being on board.

5. An appropriately rated Club member signing out a boat is the skipper of that boat, and has the responsibility for and authority over the actions of the crew and the compliance by the crew with the Club's Constitution, By-laws and Operating Rules.

6. Members shall be responsible for all actions of their guests in regard to Club rules.

7. In the event that a boat is capsized or otherwise endangered the first concern of the skipper shall be for the safety of the boat's occupants.

8. The Club may not accept the donation of property without the advance approval of the Executive Committee.

9. The Executive Committee may authorize certain individuals to call surprise work days when exceptional maintenance efforts are required. On these days, no sailing will be permitted except by the explicit permission of the person calling the work day. Work performed can count towards quarterly work requirements, but members who have already completed required work are not exempt from the work day.

10. The rescue skiff is to be operated by the Dayleader, or with permission of the Dayleader, for club purposes, except that in an emergency a member may assume the responsibilities of Dayleader.

11. For the purposes of these Operating Rules, those rules pertaining to the use of Club boats also apply to Club kayaks, unless otherwise noted.

12. Minors (under age 17) may join by obtaining special permission from the CSC Executive Committee.

V. LESSONS

1. Organized dinghy sailing lessons are held each Monday and Thursday afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm (to 6:00 pm during Daylight Savings Time), and each Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

2. Only Club members are entitled to receive organized Club lessons.

3. Members who wish to take a dinghy lesson must sign up on the Sailboat Lesson sign-up sheet posted in the Club house. Lessons will be provided to members on a first-come, first-serve basis, in the order in which they appear on the sign-up sheet. Each member will receive a minimum of 20 minutes of instruction per lesson. Instructors will limit the time away from the dock with each group of students to approximately one hour if other students are waiting for lessons

4. During scheduled lesson periods, lessons take priority over daysailing. Rated skippers and windsurfers may daysail during lesson periods only if they are not needed to teach, and only with the permission of the Dayleader. Lessons will continue to be provided until all members signed up prior to the end of each lesson period has received a lesson.

5. Sailboard lessons are held on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. No regularly scheduled lessons are provided; rated windsurfers are encouraged to provide instruction to unrated or lower rated members as needed.

6. Keel boat lessons are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 pm until approximately 9:00 pm. Keel boat lessons are intended for Junior Skippers, although non-rated members may attend the lessons. The keel boat lesson instructor may exclude or limit the instruction of non-rated members based on the number of people, weather conditions, or the non-rated member's skill level.

7. All rated skippers may provide lessons. Credit for teaching includes instruction in both practical sailing and rigging. Rated skippers may receive one lesson credit from the Dayleader for each hour of teaching during regularly scheduled lesson periods. A skipper who receives ten lesson credits is entitled to three months free membership.

VI. DAY SAILING REGULATIONS

1. The maximum number of people to be carried in a boat is:

Boat People
Commander * 10
Ensign 8
Rhodes 19 ** 6
Lido 4
JY-15 2
470 and other sloop-rigged trapeze dinghies 2
cat-rigged dinghies 1
kayaks 2

* Commander and Ensigns are designated keel boats.

** R19 is designated a ballasted dinghy.

One person is allowed on any sailboard.

When there are no whitecaps visible and the wind is under 10 knots, two people are allowed on a cat-rigged dinghy or a sailboard.

2. All boats may be single-handed except the keel boats, the R19, the 470, and the JY-15.

3. Children under five years of age may not sail in Club boats.

4. Club-owned boats must carry at least one personal flotation device (PFD) for every person on board. These are to be correctly worn at all times while on board, with the exception of crew while within the cockpit of a keel boat.

5. Windsurfers must wear a PFD while using Club sailboards, except that a PFD is not required for Junior, Junior-Plus, and Senior Windsurfers who are wearing a full (long-sleeved and long-legged) wetsuit and harness. Junior, Junior-Plus, and Senior Windsurfers may use harnesses, provided the harness including all attached hardware has neutral or positive buoyancy.

6. There will be no sailing when the wind velocity exceeds 30 knots. In winds of 20 knots or greater, reefable sails shall be reefed. Spinnakers shall not be used in winds greater than 15 knots. Kayaks shall not be used when the wind velocity exceeds 10 knots or when whitecaps are present.

7. At the discretion of the Dayleader, any member may be denied permission to sail.

8. At the dock, the jib will be lowered immediately, unless the boat is to be taken out within one minute after docking. In winds of 5 knots or greater, the mainsail will also be lowered immediately

9. Scheduled Club activities have precedence over the individual activities of Club members.

10. The skipper and crew sailing a Club boat, or windsurfer sailing a Club sailboard, shall be responsible for seeing that all equipment they have used is properly put away before leaving the dock (including derigging the boat or sailboard, taking it out of the water, and stowing correctly all of the gear) or that this responsibility has been accepted by another skipper and crew, or windsurfer.

11. Junior Skippers intending to practice rudderless sailing must notify the Dayleader before leaving the dock. There shall be no rudderless sailing in the vicinity of the dock.

12. Any skipper or windsurfer who requires rescue because he/she has drifted outside his/her sailing area shall not be permitted to sail for the remainder of the day.

13. All non-ballasted dinghies are required to have mast head floats.

14. When conditions warrant, and on all cruises, the skipper of a boat must assure that an operational compass is on board.

15. The skipper sailing a Club keel boat is responsible for carrying a US. Coast Guard approved Day-Night Visual Distress Signal.

VII. SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES

1. Members may sail Club boats or sailboards by signing out a specific boat or sailboard and sail on the sign-out sheets provided for that purpose. When the boat or sailboard is returned to the dock, the time shall be entered on the sign- out sheet.

2. A member who wishes to be next to sail a specific boat or sailboard or a specific type of boat or sailboard may sign up on the sign-up sheet, noting "time signed up" in the appropriate column, in order to reserve the equipment. He/she must be present when his/her turn comes, or his/her name will be struck from the sign-out sheet.

3. When other members are, or may reasonably be expected to be waiting on the dock to sail, and no other boats or rigs of the same type are available to rig, members may sail a Club keel boat for no longer than 2-1/2 hours, and other Club boats and windsurfing equipment for no longer than 60 minutes. Cruising Skippers sailing Club keel boats may sail in the Cruising Skipper Daysailing Area for no longer than 8 hours.

4. When a Club member turns a Club keel boat over to another person, he/she is responsible for seeing that the person signs out and shows some proof of Club membership and an appropriate rating.

5. When a Cruising Skipper wishes to sail in the Cruising Skipper Daysailing Area, he/she must ensure that, in addition to the boats reserved for Club events and private cruises and other boats sailing in the Cruising Skipper Daysailing Area, one sailable keel boat is available for daysailing. In addition to normal sign-out procedures, the Cruising form must be filed as in Article IX Paragraph 11.

VIII. NlGHT SAILING REGULATIONS

In addition to the above regulations, the following regulations apply after sunset:

1. Club boats may be sailed at night by Senior and Cruising Skippers.

2. Single-handing any Club dinghy during the hours of darkness outside the Inner Area requires the presence of another responsible skipper in another boat.

3. The skipper signing out a Club boat for night sailing must sign out in the log book, giving the estimated time of return, in addition to the other required information.

4. Sailboards and kayaks shall not be sailed during hours of darkness.

IX. CRUISING REGULATIONS

1. Club cruises shall have priority over private cruises.

2. At the beginning of each quarter, the Cruising Chair shall post a Cruising Skipper sign-up sheet in the Club house, for skippers wishing to sponsor a Club cruise. Skippers who wish to sponsor a Club cruise shall sign up on the sheet posted in the Club house at least 10 days before the date of the cruise.

3. Before noon on the Wednesday before the cruise, the skipper shall call the cruise answering service and inform the operator of all necessary information pertaining to the cruise. After 3 p.m. on the following Friday, the skipper shall call the answering service and request the complete list of all persons who have signed up for the cruise. The skipper of each boat on a cruise may sign up one personal guest.

4. Club members who wish to sign up for a cruise should check the skipper sign-up sheet in the Club house, in order to determine when cruises will occur. If a skipper has signed up, they should call the cruise answering service during the week before the cruise after noon Wednesday and before 3 p.m. Friday, to reserve a space. Each Club member may sign up one guest. If members and guests sign up in excess of the capacity of the participating boats, they will be placed on a reserve list. If people guaranteed a place have not shown up at the dock by the specified meeting time, reserve list people will have priority to participate in the cruise, in the order in which they appear on the sign-up list. Members who have not signed up for the cruise by 3 p.m. Friday may still participate, if all reserve list people have been taken aboard. Members do not have priority over guests who are signed up before them.

5. Skippers on Club cruises may limit the number of people per boat, for reasons of safety. This may be done if, for example, he/she feels that weather conditions are such that a full load of inexperienced people would interfere with the operation of the boat. Comfort should not be a consideration.

6. Three keel boats may be cruised only when one sailable boat remains available for daysailing. Four keel or more boats may be cruised only by permission of the Executive Committee.

7. Skippers who have signed up for a Club cruise or who have obtained permission for a private cruise shall post a note to that effect in the dock box to ensure that the boats will not be checked out by members wishing to daysail them.

8. It is the Cruising Skipper's responsibility to see that the following equipment is on board during a cruise:

  • a. Personal Flotation Devices (At least one per passenger, plus at least one type IV)
  • b. a working outboard motor and sufficient gas
  • c. working running lights and battery
  • d. anchor, chain, and line
  • e. paddles
  • f. US Coast Guard approved Day-Night Visual Distress Signal
  • g. sound device
  • h. working compass
  • i. First Aid kit
  • j. knife, screwdriver, wrench, and pliers
  • k. two flashlights, at least one floating
  • l. charts
  • m. fire extinguisher
  • n. non-overlapping jib (storm jib)
  • o. bailing buckets

9. The Skipper shall check weather conditions in advance of the cruise, and the cruise shall not depart if the winds have reached velocities in excess of 30 knots, or if the reports indicate adverse weather conditions might be encountered. The Skipper shall also perform a radio check prior to leaving the dock.

10. For each cruise, the skipper of each boat shall file a Cruising Form. Before the cruise leaves Berkeley, the form shall be completed and posted in the dock box. The form shall be signed at the conclusion of the cruise, and then filed in the Cruising Chair folder.

11. A Senior Skipper may sail a separate boat on a Club cruise, provided that he/she has passed the written Cruising Skipper exam, or that the accompanying Cruising Skipper has ascertained before the cruise that he/she is sufficiently knowledgeable of conditions to be encountered on the cruise, and of Club rules relating to cruises. The Senior Skipper's boat must remain in hailing distance of the Cruising Skipper's boat at all time, while sailing outside the Keel Boat Area.

12. A 10 h.p. or greater outboard may be taken on a cruise only if a motor of the same type, in good working condition, is available for use on the Dayleader's recovery skiff.

13. The outboard motor taken on a cruise shall be flushed in fresh water before being returned to the motor locker, whether it has been used or not.

14. A Cruising Skipper who has taken a Club cruise during the quarter, or who is signed up to take a Club cruise, is eligible to take a Club boat on a private cruise. A Cruising Skipper who has taken or signed up for two cruises during the quarter will have unlimited cruising privileges for the quarter.

15. A Cruising Skipper who wishes to take out a private cruise must obtain permission from the Cruising Chair before the cruise.

16. It is the responsibility of the Commodore to keep the Cruising Chair informed of Club activities, other than Club cruises, for which the keel boats have been reserved. The Commodore is responsible for posting a notice in the dock box to reserve the boats.

17. Private cruises of longer than 24 hours duration must be approved by the Executive Committee.

X. DAMAGE AND REPAIRS

1. The skipper or windsurfer rigging or sailing a boat or sailboard when any damage or loss occurs must promptly furnish the labor necessary to repair the equipment, or provide equivalent labor to the Club, as judged by any Club Officer. Until the repair is completed, the skipper or windsurfer may not sail a Club boat or sailboard without the permission of the Dayleader or any Club Officer.

2. All repair and maintenance of Club property by Club members shall be accomplished under the supervision of the appropriate vice Commodore, Dayleader, or Port Captain.

3. Any Club member who notices a defect, breakage, or loss of equipment while sailing must bring this to the attention of the Dayleader immediately.

4. Damage to non-Club boats or sailboards shall be reported immediately to the appropriate authority and directly, or through some other Club officer, to the Commodore.

5. These rules shall apply whether or not the skipper or windsurfer was negligent. Failure to comply with these rules, or to cooperate in repairing damage, may result in disciplinary action being taken. Where negligence or abuse is involved, the member may be required to pay for the damage in an amount not to exceed $100, except in the case of members granted permission to sail boats or sailboards outside the normally designated areas, in which case the amount shall not exceed $250.

XI. CLUB RATINGS

1. Only Club members may hold Club ratings.

2. Club members may skipper Club boats or sailboards only in accordance with these Operating Rules and the member's rating.

3. Any former member of the Club, absent for less than two years, shall retain his/her former rating upon rejoining. Otherwise, he/she must retake the appropriate tests, or, upon petition, the Executive Committee may grant reinstatement of his/her former rating.

4. Tests taken in partial fulfillment of a Senior Skipper, Cruising Skipper, or Senior Windsurfer rating will expire in two years, if the rating requirements are not fulfilled. Tests taken for Novice Skipper, Junior Skipper, Novice Windsurfer, Junior Windsurfer, or Junior-Plus Windsurfer will expire in one year, if the requirements are not fulfilled.

5. No one under the age of 16 may obtain a Club rating without the approval of the Executive Committee, except for the Novice Windsurfer and Kayak ratings, where the minimum age is 14. Under no circumstances may anyone under the age of 12 obtain a rating. No one under the age of 17 may obtain a Senior Skipper, Cruising Skipper, or Senior Windsurfer rating.

6. A Junior Skipper rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. A three part examination consisting of:
    • (1) a written test covering basic knowledge of sailing, Club Operating Rules, Rules of the Road, and safe sailing practices;
    • (2) a rigging test, in which the candidate launches, rigs, and derigs a Lido, and which will include reefing the mainsail; and
    • (3) a practical demonstration of the candidate's ability to sail a Lido in winds of at least 10 knots. In addition to demonstrating basic sailing skills, the person taking the test must demonstrate the ability to anchor the boat, and to right a capsized Lido.
  • b. Donating two hours of extra work to the Club. This work and the written and rigging tests shall be verified by the person giving the sailing test before the sailing test may be given.

    The following persons are authorized to give the Junior Skipper rigging and practical tests: any person so authorized by the Executive Committee, any club member who has passed the Senior Skipper dinghy test, or any Club member holding a Senior or Cruising Skipper rating. The Junior Skipper written test may be given by the Dayleader or other person of authority.

  • c. Junior Skippers may:
    • (1) skipper Junior-designated and special Junior boats only when the Dayleader is present and only when the recovery skiff is operational. Junior-designated boats include Lidos, Lasers, Bytes, 470's, JY-15's, and Rhodes 19's. The Rhodes 19's, JY-15's, and 470's are designated as special Junior boats requiring a separate checkout.
    • (2) skipper Club boats in the Junior Area. At the discretion of the Dayleader, they may be restricted to the Inner Area.
  • d. Junior Skippers may sail special Junior boats as follows:
    • (1) Rhodes 19: Junior Skippers may sail the Rhodes 19 after passing a Rhodes 19 rigging, launching, sailing, and retrieval check-out/test, administered by anyone authorized to give Junior tests. If the test is given by a Junior Skipper, the Junior Skipper must be previously checked out in the Rhodes 19. There is no wind strength requirement for this check-out/test. Safe launching and retrieving of the Rhodes 19 should be emphasized.

      Sailing area boundaries and other Junior Skipper dinghy operating rules apply to the Rhodes 19. The maximum number of people on board is six and the minimum is two. A larger anchor, two bailers, two paddles, and a throwable (type IV) flotation cushion must be carried. Life jackets must be worn at all times.

    • (2) 470: Junior Skippers may sail the 470 after passing a 470 rigging, launching and sailing check-out/test, administered by anyone authorized to give Junior tests. If the test is given by a Junior Skipper, the Junior Skipper must be previously checked out in the 470. Wind strength requirement for this test is at the discretion of the person giving the test. Demonstration of a capsize and recovery should be part of the check-out/test.

      Sailing area boundaries and other Junior Skipper dinghy operating rules apply to the 470. The 470 may only be sailed with two people on board. Anchor and paddle are optional on this boat. Note that crew using the trapeze, even if wearing a full wetsuit, must still wear a life jacket.

    • (3) JY-15: Junior Skippers may sail the JY-15 after passing a JY-15 rigging, launching and sailing check-out/test, administered by anyone authorized to give Junior tests. If the test is given by a Junior Skipper, the Junior Skipper must be previously checked out in the JY-15. Wind strength requirement for this test is at the discretion of the person giving the test. Demonstration of a capsize and recovery should be part of the check-out/test.

      Sailing area boundaries and other Junior Skipper dinghy operating rules apply to the JY-15. The JY-15 may only be sailed with two people on board.

7. The Novice Skipper rating is expected to be granted primarily during the winter months, when winds are so light that it is difficult to arrange a Junior Skipper practical sailing test. The Novice Skipper rating is obtained by completing all requirements of the Junior Skipper rating, except that in lieu of a practical sailing test, approval for the Novice rating shall be obtained from a Club member authorized to give Junior Skipper tests, who has observed the candidate's ability to sail a Lido in light winds.

Novice Skippers may:

  • a. skipper Lidos with permission of the Dayleader, in winds clearly under 10 knots. Lidos must be either single-handed, or sailed with one other Club member as crew;
  • b. skipper Lidos only in the Inner Area.

8. A Senior Skipper rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. A three part examination consisting of:
    • (1) a comprehensive written test on the theory and terminology of sailing, and on the appropriate response to conditions encountered in the Club's sailing areas;
    • (2) a rigorous practical sailing test of the candidate's ability to sail any one or several of the club's dinghies in heavy weather performing usual and unusual maneuvers; and
    • (3) a rigorous keel boat sailing test in heavy weather.
  • b. At least 10 hours of extra work for the Club. This should normally involve the accomplishment of a single major project.

Senior Skippers may:

  • a. sail any Club sailboat, not including the sailboards, at any time, in accordance with these Operating Rules;
  • b. possess the keys giving access to the Club equipment;
  • c. sail Club keel boats in the Keel Boat Area and any Club dinghy in the Senior Area;
  • d. skipper a Club boat on a cruise when accompanied by a Cruising Skipper in the same or another boat, subject to the provisions of Article IX paragraph 12.
  • e. skipper a Club boat outside the normally designated areas only with the explicit permission of the Executive Committee.

Senior Skipper sailing tests are given by members of the Rating Committee who are authorized to give either or both the dinghy test and the keel boat test. The dinghy and keel boat tests must be given by two separate Rating Committee members. The written exam is given by the Rating Committee Chair.

Senior Skippers must, to retain these privileges, assume a leadership role in the Club, and contribute significantly to such club activities as lessons and maintenance, and giving Junior Skipper tests.

9. The Cruising Skipper rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. a written examination testing the candidate's knowledge of San Francisco Bay, Aids to Navigation, U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, general cruising considerations, coastal piloting, and Club cruising regulations.
  • b. the Red Cross Standard First Aid Course or the Red Cross Multi-Media Course.
  • c. sponsorship of four Club cruises, under the supervision of four different Cruising Skippers. The qualifying cruises must meet the following specifications:
    • (1) The candidate must have passed the Cruising Skipper written exam before undertaking the qualifying cruise.
    • (2) The candidate must plan the cruise and handle all preparations. On the cruise he/she shall be in charge, but the Cruising Skipper may overrule any decisions he/she feels to be inadvisable.
    • (3) Before the cruise, the Cruising Skipper shall review the candidate's cruise plan and shall assure that he/she is carrying the proper cruising equipment
    • (4) The candidate shall always be at the helm while inside harbors and while leaving or arriving at any dock, berth or mooring facility.
    • (5) A cruise from each of the four areas listed below is required. A cruise which overlaps two areas will be recognized as fulfilling the requirements for only one cruise.
Area Description Examples
Raccoon Strait must extend into Raccoon Strait: Ayala Cove, Sausalito, Tiburon
West Bay must pass between Angel Island and Yerba Buena Island: Mile Rock, San Francisco, Horseshoe Cove
North Bay must pass to some point North of Bluff Point on the Tiburon Peninsula: Point San Pablo, San Rafael, China Camp
South Bay must pass under the Oakland Bay Bridge: Oakland Estuary, Mission Rock, Ballena Bay
  • (6) At least one of the qualifying cruises must return more than one hour after sunset.

d. receiving approval of the Executive Committee for appointment to the rating. The Cruising Skippers accompanying the candidate on the required cruises shall thoroughly evaluate the candidate's ability to skipper a cruise and report these evaluations, in detail, to the Executive Committee in writing.

The Cruising Skipper written exam is given by the Rating Committee Chairperson.

Cruising Skippers may:

  • a. skipper a Club keel boat on a private cruise to any point within the Cruising Area, with the explicit permission of the Cruising Chair, provided he/she has fulfilled his/her Club cruising requirements as stated in Article IX, Paragraph 15;
  • b. skipper a Club boat outside the Cruising Area only with the explicit permission of the Executive Committee;
  • c. supervise the operation of Club rowing tenders in sheltered areas, on Club cruises; and
  • d. skipper a Club keel boat in the Cruising Skipper Daysailing Area provided that the equipment listed in Article IX Paragraph 9 is aboard.

Cruising Skippers must, in return for these privileges, skipper at least one Club cruise each quarter. Cruising Skippers failing to fulfill this requirement will be required to make up at least one of the cruises missed, in order to regain lost privileges.

Cruising Skippers have all of the privileges and responsibilities of Senior Skippers.

10. The Novice Windsurfer rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. a written test covering basic knowledge of windsurfing, Club Operating Rules, Rules of the Road, and safe sailing practices;
  • b. a rigging test, in which the candidate rigs and derigs a sailboard; and
  • c. a self-rescue (paddling) test.

Novice written tests are given by the Dayleader or other person of authority. Novice rigging tests and self-rescue tests are given by the Dayleader, or Junior, Junior-Plus, or Senior Windsurfers.

Novice Windsurfers may:

  • a. sail Novice-designated sailboards and sails in the Inner Area in winds clearly under 20 knots, only when the Dayleader is present at the dock and when the recovery skiff is operational. At the discretion of the Dayleader, the Novice Windsurfer may be denied permission to sail.

11. A Junior Windsurfer rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. a practical demonstration of the candidate's ability to sail a sailboard on all points of sail, and to tack, jibe, and dock;
  • b. a rigging test, in which the candidate rigs and derigs a sailboard; and
  • c. donating two hours of extra work to the Club. This work shall be verified by a Dayleader or other person of authority before the sailing test may be given.

Junior Windsurfers may:

  • a. sail Novice and Junior-designated sailboards and sails only when the Dayleader is present at the dock and only when the recovery skiff is operational;
  • b. sail Club sailboards in the Junior Area. At the discretion of the Dayleader, they may be restricted to the Inner Area.

Junior Windsurfer tests are given by Senior Windsurfers or anyone else specifically authorized by the Executive Committee.

12. A Junior-Plus Windsurfer rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. a rigging test, in which the candidate rigs and derigs the high performance Junior-Plus equipment with emphasis on the care of the equipment;
  • b. a practical demonstration of the candidate's ability to perform advanced windsurfing techniques, including water starts and use of a harness;
  • c. donating two hours of extrawork to the Club. This work shall be verified by a Dayleader or other person of authority before the rigging test may be given.

Junior-Plus Windsurfers may:

  • a. have all the rights attributed Junior Windsurfers;
  • b. sail the high-performance Junior-Plus designated equipment. Junior-Plus Windsurfers are required to present proof of their rating to the Dayleader or another person or authority before signing out Junior-Plus equipment.

The Junior-Plus Windsurfer rating does not increase the allowable sailing area for a member. The Junior-Plus Windsurfer is still restricted to sailing within the Junior Sailing Area.

Junior-Plus Windsurfer rigging tests are given by Senior Windsurfers or anyone else specifically authorized by the Executive Committee.

13. A Senior Windsurfer rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. a written test covering theory, terminology and Club rules;
  • b. a rigorous practical sailing test in winds clearly over 20 knots;
  • c. at least 10 hours of extra work for the Club. This should normally involve the accomplishment of a single major project.

Senior Windsurfers may:

  • a. sail any Club sailboard at any time during daylight hours;
  • b. sail Club boards in the Senior Daysailing Area. A wetsuit must be worn when sailing outside the Junior Area.
  • c. possess the keys giving access to the Club equipment;

Senior Windsurfer sailing tests are given by members of the Rating Committee who are authorized to give the Senior Windsurfer sailing test. The written exam is given be the Rating Committee Chairperson.

Senior Windsurfers must, to retain these privileges, assume a leadership role in the Club, and contribute significantly to such club activities as lessons and maintenance, and giving windsurfing tests.

14. The Racing Rating may be obtained by passing the racing written test, consisting of an open-book examination of the candidate's knowledge of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) Rules. Racing exams may be graded by any member of the Rating Committee who holds the Racing Rating or any person approved by the Executive Committee. No Club boat or sailboard may be raced in Club races, or races sponsored by any other organization, unless a Racing Skipper is on board.

15. The Kayak Rating may be obtained by successfully completing the following:

  • a. reading the handout on the use and care of kayaks.
  • b. donating one hour of extra work to the Club. This work shall be verified by a Dayleader or other person of authority before a kayak may be used.

Kayakers may:

  • (a) use Club kayaks only when a Dayleader is present and only when the rescue skiff is operable.
  • (b) use Club kayaks in the Junior Area. At the discretion of the Dayleader, they may be restricted to the Inner Area.

XII. SAILING AREA BOUNDARIES

1. Dinghy and Sailboard Areas

  • a. Inner Area: Inside the sheltered area bounded on the west by the eastern shore of Hs. Lordship's peninsula; on the south by a line extending from the south tip of Hs. Lordship's peninsula due east; and bounded on the east by a line extending straight out from the small craft dock (the long easternmost dock that has no hoist). If Novice Windsurfers find themselves drifting outside these limits, they should immediately derig their sailboards and paddle upwind until they are well inside the Inner Area.
  • b. Junior Area: Bounded on the south by a line from the radio tower near the Ashby Avenue overpass to the north end of Treasure Island; on the west by a line extending from the northwest end of the Emeryville peninsula to Hs. Lordships peninsula. Junior Skippers, Junior Windsurfers, and Junior-Plus Windsurfers shall not sail within 100 yards of the leeward shore, except to dock, and should stay clear of mudflat areas, especially during low tides. At all times, they must remain in sight of the clubhouse.
  • c. Senior Area:
    • (1) an area east of a line from Hs. Lordships peninsula to the northwest end of the Emeryville Peninsula.
    • (2) an area bounded on the south by a line from the radio tower near the Ashby Overpass to the north end of Treasure Island, on the west by a line from the east end of the Bay Bridge to the west tip of the Point Richmond peninsula, and on the north by the Berkeley Pier.
    • (3) a small area north of the Berkeley Pier, bounded on the west by a line from the end of the Fishing Pier to the Olympic Circle "C" buoy, with room to round the end of the Fishing Pier, and on the north by a line from the "C" buoy to the northwest tip of North Waterfront Park. When sailing within the Marina, Harbor Regulations should be scrupulously observed.

    Members sailing in the Senior Area shall be careful to observe the applicable time limit on their equipment.

2. Keel Boat Area

An area bounded on the west by a line from the west tip of the Point Richmond peninsula to the tower of the Bay Bridge at the easternmost shore of Yerba Buena Island, on the south by a line from the southwest tip of the Emeryville Peninsula to the northern tip of Treasure Island, and on the north by a line 1/4 mile south of the Point Richmond jetty and Brooks Island, extending to Fleming Point. Additionally, it is permissible to sail to the Olympic Circle "F" and "G" buoys, with 50 yards to round them on the west side.

3. Cruising Area

Club keel boats may be cruised to any point accessible by water from the Berkeley Marina to a line from Mile Rock (approximately two miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge) to Point Bonita.

4. Cruising Skipper Daysailing Area

Any point accessible by water in an area bounded on the north by the Richmond Bridge, on the south by the Oakland Bay Bridge, and on the west by the Golden Gate Bridge.

Revised: 05:53:23 31-Oct-2001 Maintained by CSC Webmaster HE.net