SECTIONS
1.0 Interpretation
2.0 Membership and Process
3.0 Young People and Vulnerable Persons
4.0 Attendance and Conduct at Mill Rythe
5.0 On the Water
6.0 Insurance and Finance
7.0 Breaches
1.0 INTERPRETATION
1.1 “Club” Hayling Island Model Boat Club.
1.2 “Chair” the person currently holding the post of club chair as voted in at the previous AGM.
1.3 “Secretary” the person currently holding the post of club secretary as voted in at the previous year‘s AGM.
1.4 “Treasurer” the person currently holding the post of club treasurer as voted in at the previous year’s AGM.
1.5 “Member” any person who has paid the set Membership Fee for the current year and (if a new member) has had their membership approved. This includes honorary life members, Vulnerable Persons and Young People.
1.6 “Annual Subscription” the fee for being a member of the Club set at the previous year’s AGM.
1.7 “Fast Boat” a boat capable of rising up on top of the water and skimming over the surface.
1.8 “High-Speed Racing Boats” are models of real racing boats capable of extremely high speeds on the water often producing rooster tails.
1.9 “Planing Speed” when a boat is not running at displacement speed with the hull entirely in the water as opposed to riding on top of the water.
1.10 “Blue Badge” a parking scheme for persons with reduced mobility.
1.11 “Rules” this document and any other guidance issued from time to time, such as the lake-side etiquette document.
1.12 “Committee” the Treasurer, Secretary, Chair and such other persons who are from time to time appointed onto the Committee.
2.0 MEMBERSHIP AND PROCESS
2.1 Applications for membership of the Club must be approved by any two of the Chair, Secretary or Treasurer of the Club.
2.2 Young person’s ‘under 18’ may join the club for free but they may only attend if accompanied by a fully paid-up Member (who is also a relative), parent or guardian.
2.3 See below and separate document “Policy regarding Vulnerable Persons (VP) and Young People (YP) (under 18)” for further information.
2.4 Annual Subscriptions are due on 1 January. Any member in arrears by 28 February will no longer be a member of the club.
2.5 A quorum for any Club meeting will consist of 10% of the Membership of the Club eligible to attend and at least two of the Chair, Secretary or Treasurer.
2.6 Any amendment to these rules must be approved by unanimous vote of the Club Committee. Where such unanimity is absent, any proposed change must be offered to the membership for a vote. In this case a simple majority of those voting will be sufficient to accept or reject the proposed change. In the event of a tie, the Chair has a casting vote.
3.0 YOUNG PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE PERSONS
3.1 This policy applies to a member’s own relatives.
3.2 If any YP or VP wishes to sail with HIMBC on four or more occasions per annum, they may do so, however, his or her relative, parent or legal guardian must be a fully paid-up member of HIMBC and be in attendance at all times.
3.3 Where family members are involved it will be assumed that those relatives are attending with full parental or guardian consent.
3.4 In the case of member’s friends, it will be necessary for the member to obtain written consent from the parent or guardian to the YP or VP’s attendance at Mill Rythe.
3.5 All occasional visits must be recorded.
3.6 Under no circumstances is the YP or VP to be unescorted anywhere on the Mill Rythe site.
3.7 The full policy document is posted on the website.
4.0 ATTENDANCE AND CONDUCT AT MILL RYTHE
4.1 In view of noise and wildlife considerations I/C powered boats are not permitted at Mill Rythe.
4.2 Fast Boats may be used on the lake in a way that does not present a danger to wildlife, this includes hovercraft, air-boats, sailing catamarans and trimarans, hydrofoils, High-Speed Racing Boats and fast-scale craft. Common sense should be exercised at all times. All exposed propellers must be covered by a guard.
4.3 Please show total respect for and give priority to all wildlife at all times. In the breeding season and when young birds are present on the water, the use of High-Speed Racing Boats should be avoided and Fast Boats must be used with care. Boats of any type must not be run at Planing Speeds near wildlife.
4.4 Vehicles may park, temporarily, at the side of the lake for the purpose of unloading larger boats. This must not be to the south-west of the footpath i.e. on the approach to the lake, before the path that crosses the road. People with Blue Badges may park at the roadside as long as they do not block the access for others unloading their boats, otherwise, all vehicles must use the designated car park.
4.5 Please foster a good relationship with staff of and visitors to Mill Rythe Holiday Village.
4.6 Please comply with any requests from the Mill Rythe staff.
4.7 Please remove all litter and equipment from the lakeside when leaving.
5.0 ON THE WATER
5.1 In the case of 27 and 40 MHZ, please do not turn on your transmitter until you have checked that your proposed frequency is not being used by somebody else.
5.2 Club members using steam-powered model boats must obtain and provide the club with a copy of a Boiler Certificate on an annual basis.
5.3 Respect for fellow “sailors” and their boats is implicit with membership of the Club.
5.4 All Club members are expected to follow the rules, especially concerning the avoidance of collisions and sportsmanlike behaviour.
5.5 Existing members must lead by example.
6.0 INSURANCE AND FINANCE
6.1 Membership of the Club automatically provides £5m Public Liability Insurance cover for each member i.e. cover for the general public and not club members who are responsible for their own safety and that of their equipment.
6.2 In the event of a claim being made under the policy and to the extent that the club has insufficient funds to cover the £250 excess, members agree to meet the shortfall in respect of that excess.
6.3 Members are responsible for damage caused by them to other member’s boats and/or equipment and such damage must be recompensed appropriately.
6.4 Should the club cease to exist, all monies after liabilities have been met will go to the RNLI.
7.0 BREACHES
7.1 It is important to recognise that the Club is under scrutiny when boats are on the water and thoughtless operation could lead to the loss of the facility.
7.2 Therefore, any Member transgressing parts 4.2 and 4.3 of the Rules may be referred to the Committee who may:
i) ban the use of the boat in question on the lake; or
ii) ban the Member from using specified boats or types of boats on the lake.
7.3 Any Member transgressing any of the Club rules may result in referral to the Committee who may ultimately expel the member from the Club.
7.4 No Member will be expelled from the Club unless they have received one warning about their conduct.
7.5 At all times the rules of natural justice will be followed, along with the Human Rights Act 1998 and any other pertinent legislation that covers such processes.
Revised July 2024
Greg Lamb, Secretary.
Garry Sherrington, treasurer.
Andy Turner, Committee Member.
Mike Mullard, Committee Member.
Kevin Hodgson, Committee Member.
Neil Stiller, Committee Member.
Rob Briggs, Chair.