Buccaneer Sailing Cooperative
OPERATING RULES
I. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION
The Buccaneer Sailing Cooperative is a not for profit recreational organization, open to the public. The purpose of the Club is to promote small boat sailing in all its many aspects. 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 five officers whose functions are:
1. Commodore: presiding officer of the Executive Committee and responsible for the coordination of all Club activities.
2. Vice Commodore: responsible for publicity, maintaining a membership roster and for representing the Commodore in his/her absence.
3. Maintenance Commodore: responsible for the maintenance of Club boats and equipment.
4. Secretary: responsible for minutes of meetings, correspondence, and the records of the Executive Committee.
5. Treasurer: responsible for financial transactions of the Club.
In addition to serving as officers for the buccaneer sailing club, the officers will be registered members of the Buccaneer Class Association and are the official “primary owner” of one of the club boats so the club has a voice in national class issues. In the event that additional boats are added to the club, additional offices will be created so the club can have a proportional representation in the Class Association.
Members may sail any or all of the Club-owned sailboats.
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
A. Every regular member of the Club is entitled:
1. To the use of all Clubs sailing equipment and property commensurate with the member's rating and with the Club's Constitution, By-Laws, and
these Operating Rules.
B. In return for the privileges of membership, every regular member of the club is:
1. Obligated to contribute, each quarter, at least four hours work toward the maintenance of club property or to the assistance with some activity
or office;
2. 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
3. Expected and encouraged to the extent of the member's ability and club rating, to further the training of fellow Club members.
C. No club member shall sign out or operate any club equipment if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
III. SUPERVISION, MANAGEMENT&ENFORCEMENT
A. Serious infractions, conduct unbecoming a member, or failure to comply with any reasonable request by the Club official pertinent to the Club's
operation shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Any elected Club Officer, or member so designated by the Executive Committee to have such authority,
may suspend the sailing privileges of any Club member violating Club rules. 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.
B. Incompetence or negligence in the use of boats or equipment by a skipper, 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 concerned. For further information about
disciplinary procedures, see the Buccaneer Sailing Club By-Laws, Article
IV. GENERAL REGULATIONS
A. U.S. Coast Guard Rules and Regulations must be observed by Club members.
B. Club-owned boats shall yield to other boats the right-of-way according to the Rules of the Road (Government Right-of-Way Rules). During races involving
Club-owned boats, the event and standard racing rules apply
C. Collision with other boats, sailboards, or other objects must at all times be avoided.
D. No Club-owned boat may be sailed without an appropriately rated or authorized Club member being on board.
E. 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.
F. Members shall be responsible for all actions of their guests in regard to rules.
G. 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.
H. The Club may not accept the donation of boats or trailers without the advance approval of the Executive Committee.
I. Any Executive Committee member or person authorized by the Executive Committee may call surprise workdays when exceptional maintenance efforts
are required. On these days, no sailing will be permitted except by the explicit permission of the person calling the workday. Work performed can count
towards quarterly work requirements, but members who have already completed required work are not exempt from the workday.
J. During Open Houses, Open House activities take priority over day sailing. Skippers may day sail during Open House periods only if they are not needed
to give rides or demonstrations or otherwise assist with the Open House, and they may day sail only with the permission of the club officers.
Club members may not sign up for Open House rides. Open House rides and the prohibition on day sailing will continue until all members of the public who
signed up have received rides.
V. SAILING REGULATIONS
A. The maximum number of people to be carried in a boat is 3.
B. Club-owned boats must carry at least one personal flotation device (PFD) for every person on board and a throw able PFD. These are to be correctly
worn at all times while on board.
C. There will be no sailing when the wind velocity exceeds 22 knots. Spinnakers shall not be used in winds greater than 15 knots.
D. At the dock, the jib will be furled immediately. In winds of 5 knots or greater, the mainsail must also be lowered immediately
E. Scheduled Club activities have precedence over the individual activities of Club members.
F. Sailors shall be responsible for seeing that all equipment they have used is properly put away before leaving the dock. This responsibility includes de-
rigging the boat, taking it out of the water, and stowing all of the gear (or assuring that this responsibility has been accepted by another skipper and crew).
G. All boats must have an operational bailing device or carry a bailing bucket attached to the boat.
H. All boats must carry an anchor and at least one paddle unless otherwise specified in these rules.
VI. SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES
A. Members may sail Club boats by signing out a specific boat on the sign-out sheets provided for that purpose. When the boat is returned to the dock,
the time shall be entered on the sign-out sheet.
B. A member who wishes to be next to sail a specific boat "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.
VII. DAMAGE AND REPAIRS
A. The skipper rigging or sailing a boat 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 may not sail a Club
boat or without the permission of the Club Officer.
B. All repair and maintenance of Club property by Club members shall be accomplished under the supervision of the appropriate vice Commodore.
C. Any Club member who notices a defect, breakage, or loss of equipment while sailing must bring this to the attention of the executive committee
immediately.
D. Damage to non-Club boats or property shall be reported immediately to the appropriate authority and directly, or through some other Club officer, to the
Commodore.
E. These rules shall apply whether or not the skipper 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 $____, 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 $____. (Prices to be set annually by executive committee)
VIII. CLUB RATINGS
Club members must earn a rating to establish their level of privileges based on their skill level. Club members entering the club with prior
sailing experience may challenge the requirements for each level.
Definitions:
Novice Crew: Club members who have logged fewer than 10 hours sailing club boats.
Advanced Crew: have greater than 10 hours of experience onboard club boats, and have demonstrated understanding of the basic principles of
sailing, components of the boat and basic procedures.
Skipper: demonstrate all previous skills and an ability to rig, and de-rig the boat, understand basic points of sail, and trim, have demonstrated the
ability to launch, sail and dock a boat successfully in winds up to 12mph (no whitecaps).
Advanced Skipper: demonstrate all previous skills plus high wind sailing (12-20 knots) spinnaker operations, and preparing a boat to be transported
off site.
Racing Skipper: all previous skills plus demonstrated an understanding of the racing rules of sailing.
1. Each of these boats requires a separate checkout test which includes: rigging, launching, and sailing checkout/test, administered by anyone
authorized to give tests. The administering Skipper must be previously checked out in the boat in question.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 checkout/test
IX. Privileges:
Novice crew
1. Crew for any Skipper in wind conditions under 8 knots
2. Crew for any Advanced Skipper in wind conditions under 15 knots
Advanced Crew
1. Crew for any skipper in conditions within the skipper’s level
Skipper
1. Check out a boat to sail with a novice crew in conditions up to 8 knots
2. Check out a boat to sail with an advanced crew in conditions up to 12 knots
3. Check out a boat to sail in any Club sponsored sail or race
Advanced Skippers may:
1. Check out and sail with novice crew in conditions under 15 knots
2. Check out and sail with advanced crew in conditions under 22 knots
3. Single handing is permitted in the company of another boat.
Racing Skipper
1. Check out a boat to sail in non-Club sponsored events (SMSA Thursday night and weekend events where fewer than 5 club boats are participating)
2. Check boats out to attend regional regattas off site.
X. SAILING AREA BOUNDARIES