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{"ID":260,"SpaceID":1,"PageID":29,"HasCommentsThread":false,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"Tips for Skippers and Organisers"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.londonsailing.club/Cms/Spaces/DEFAULT/Tips+for+Skippers+and+Organisers"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[]},"Path":"Tips+for+Skippers+and+Organisers","Title":"Tips for Skippers and Organisers","Author":{"ID":9,"Name":"Simon Tottman","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"Version":8,"IsDraft":false,"IsOldVersion":false,"PublicationDate":"18/01/2023 20:54","VersionDescription":"v8 - Simon Tottman","HideHeader":false,"IsFullWidth":true,"ThemeCode":null,"BackgroundColour":null,"JumpLinks":[],"Blocks":[{"Columns":[{"Width":12,"WidthClasses":"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12","Elements":[{"ID":716,"Type":"HTML","Content":"\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eIf you’re considering organising a trip… THANK YOU!\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eLondon Sailing Club is fundamentally non-professional in nature and Corinthian in spirit, and so its success depends on members wanting to organise, host and/or skipper their own trips. The Club is always keen to facilitate more members getting involved in running trips, and we hope the following sections will prove helpful. Similarly, any of the Committee will be delighted to help answer questions or provide general advice to current or prospective members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e1. It’s my first time, so where do I start?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eUnless you happen to own a yacht (which most of us don’t!), organising your trip may initially feel like a classic ‘chicken and egg’ scenario. People can’t really sign up to your trip until you’ve booked a boat, but you may not feel totally comfortable reserving a boat until you know that at least some people are willing to sign up...\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eOne solution is to start chatting about the idea of a trip with other members you meet at one of the Club’s monthly socials, and then perhaps a winning date and a plan will emerge through conversation. The more common approach is to just go for it: reserve the yacht, advertise the trip and start talking to people about it. Remember also that, for UK trips, it’s often worth consulting the tide tables before selecting a date – nobody enjoys having to get up at 4am or being unable to visit the best anchorages due to adverse tidal streams!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eOnce you’ve selected a date and reserved a yacht (which will probably require you to pay the charter firm a 50% deposit) then things get much easier, because you now have some clarity around the cost of the trip and whether or not the people who seemed interested in the idea are physically able to make the actual date.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eHowever you decide to conceive the trip, attending the Club’s monthly socials and meeting other members in person can prove invaluable – and this is something the Club actively encourages. People are far more likely to feel comfortable signing up to your trip (and transferring deposits/money to your bank account) if they’ve met you in person or they’ve met other sailors who already know you. You can also greatly improve the appeal of your trip by chartering a decent and modern (but still affordable) yacht that’s based in an accessible location. The following section has some practical tips about what our members typically expect from a sailing trip.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e2. What do members typically expect when they come on a trip?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eWhilst some of our members have done plenty of sailing (and a few of your crew may be more experienced than you are!), many people also join the Club as a sociable way of being introduced to the sport. It’s even possible that one of your crew may never have set foot on a yacht before! As such, the key to making the trip successful extends far beyond the practicalities of just sailing and navigating the yacht. It’s equally important to foster a good atmosphere aboard, to prepare nice food, and to make sure everyone feels comfortable enough to enjoy the overall experience. It’s meant to be fun, after all! Moreover, when the trip as a whole is going well, then the sailing will tend to go well too.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eHere are a few specific things to bear in mind…\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe yacht\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003ePeople will expect a seaworthy, well-equipped and modern cruising yacht. Most of our members’ trips make use of charter boats (which, by law, will already be MCA-coded) that are 36-44 feet in length and no more than ten years old. Unless your trip is geared towards racing, people will expect a ‘comfortable cruiser’ with nice cabins and heads, rather than a stripped-out racer with pipe-cots or bunks! People will expect the yacht to have been cleaned and prepared to a professional standard before they arrive, and they won’t expect to have to clean the heads at the end of the trip.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe food\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eAn army marches on its stomach, and it’s important that both the quality and quantity of food aboard the yacht is of a good standard. Remember that people are signing up to a sailing trip, not a camping trip! Most of our skippers budget around £20 per sailor for a weekend - that’s enough to cover cooked breakfasts, lunches, snacks, hot drinks and soft drinks. If you plan to stay overnight in marinas, then people will usually opt to go ashore for evening meals in a pub or similar. Note that many charter firms will let you book an online delivery from your favourite supermarket, and some may even offer to load those provisions into your boat/fridge before you arrive – this is both a great idea and a massive time-saver. Most people will not be happy to drink ‘tank’ water on a charter boat but, rather than providing bottled mineral water, consider alternative solutions (such as refillable plastic bladders) that are both kinder to the environment and that reduce the amount of waste or single-use plastic on board.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eYou as the skipper\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003ePeople will want to feel reassured that they’re in safe hands from the outset. They’ll expect you to inspire confidence in them and help them learn how they can contribute to the running and sailing of the boat. Be confident, but also be realistic about your own abilities. Whilst the Club doesn’t endorse anyone’s sailing credentials, our experience suggests that, if you’ve never skippered in the UK before, then taking five strangers out into the Solent aboard an unfamiliar yacht may not prove a stress-free experience for anyone. Similarly, if the weather forecast looks dire and the charter firm suggests you rebook your trip for another time, don’t be afraid to postpone or cancel the trip. That’s all part and parcel of being a sailor, and even a disappointed crew will welcome a firm decision that’s been made with their safety and comfort in mind!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe atmosphere\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eIf some or all of the crew are new to one another, make a conscious effort to get people talking and mingling when they first arrive. Sailors rarely need much encouragement to talk about their past nautical adventures, and this can also be a useful way for you to gauge everyone’s level of sailing experience and their expectations for the trip ahead. Most of our members’ trips begin with people joining the boat the evening before departure so everyone can share a meal and get to know each other. Novice sailors will also tend to feel more comfortable and confident heading out to sea on a yacht if they’ve already spent a night on it in the marina.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe sleeping arrangements\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe reality (and cost) of sailing means that it’s likely people will need to share cabins, possibly with someone they haven’t met before. This can understandably be a source of concern or nervousness among those who are new to yachting and who perhaps haven’t appreciated how small the inside of a boat can feel. Do your best to prepare people for this reality, and be sensitive to their needs. Try to avoid having too many people aboard simply to keep the per-person cost to a bare minimum. Boats are like tents in that, if a tent or a yacht is marketed and coded as being suitable for 8 people then, in reality, it will be comfortable for 5-6 people at most. Don’t be surprised if one or two of your crew opt to sleep in the saloon rather than sharing a cabin with a stranger. And it should go without saying that, when co-ordinating sleeping arrangements, your planning should always be mindful of each individual’s specific personal circumstances.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e3. What types of information should I include in my event description?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eProviding clear and accurate information from the outset will help to encourage people to sign up for your trip, and it will also help to allay some of the concerns a person may feel if they’ve not done much sailing before. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing an appealing description, but most will contain at least the following types of factual information:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e• An overview of the vague plan, dates and timings\u003cbr\u003e• Some details about the boat and the skipper’s experience\u003cbr\u003e• How much the trip will cost, and what’s included/excluded\u003cbr\u003e• What kit people should bring\u003cbr\u003e• Terms and conditions\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eBe succinct. And don’t forget to mention who your trip is suitable for. If absolute beginners are welcome, then it does wonders for their confidence to see this written in the trip’s description. Equally, if you plan to cross the English Channel and need your crew to be able to stand a night watch, then it’s definitely helpful to mention those kinds of expectations in advance!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","ContentConfig":{"Caption":null,"Icon":null,"IconColour":null,"CaptionColour":null,"UnderlineColour":null,"TextColour":null,"FontSize":null,"LineHeight":null,"RequiresLoggedInUser":false,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"ComponentCode":null,"ComponentError":null,"BottomMargin":"0px","PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","CssClass":null,"ResponsiveClasses":"","PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null,"Background":{"Colour":null,"ImageURL":null,"Filter":null,"IsParallax":false,"Image":"","Tint":""},"ImageConfig":{"ImageURL":null,"ObjectFit":"contain","ImageHeight":null,"FrameStyle":null,"BorderRadius":null,"Caption":{"IsActive":false,"Text":null,"SubText":null,"Font":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"SubFont":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"Alignment":null,"Position":null,"Margin":null,"BackgroundColour":null,"Blur":false,"Hover":false},"AltText":null,"LinkURL":null,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"10px","PaddingTop":"10px","PaddingRight":"10px","PaddingBottom":"10px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"IgnoreCache":false}]}],"ColumnSpacing":"0px","BottomMargin":"0px","TopPadding":"0px","IsFullWidth":false,"IsBackgroundFullWidth":true,"Background":{"Colour":"rgb(232, 235, 239)","ImageURL":null,"Filter":null,"IsParallax":false,"Image":"","Tint":"linear-gradient(rgb(232, 235, 239), rgb(232, 235, 239))"}}],"PageURL":"https://www.londonsailing.club/Cms/Spaces/DEFAULT/Tips+for+Skippers+and+Organisers?version=8","AllVersions":[],"Comments":[],"UpdatedComments":[],"Spaces":[],"IsWatching":false,"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanCopy":false,"CanCreateTemplate":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":false,"CanModerateComments":false,"CanLike":false,"CanWatch":false}
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