Sailing and other water activities are only possible at Grimwith because club members support each other by performing ‘duties’, which make all water activities safe, especially for less experienced water users and makes racing possible. We use the Dutyman system to allocate and schedule the duties that we need members to undertake. The Dutyman system is independent of the YDSC website. When members join the club their details are added to Dutyman which will send them a Dutyman login (there can be a bit of a lag, it’s a manual process). There is a link to help with logging in on the dutyman front page, and you can also email for help.
The duty system management is an annual process. Once the sailing calendar for the year is finalised (typically late in the preceding December), there is a ‘window’ in January/February (while the Icicle sailing series is underway); this is called the Duty Allocation process.
During duty allocation, members will receive an email with a link to their personal allocation area in which they can choose their own duty types and dates .
When the window for selecting duties closes, those who have not volunteered are allocated dates to meet their duty quota: If you have chosen your duties and you can no longer do the dates/duties allocated, you are responsible for finding a replacement. You will be notified of all this via emails during the allocation process.
If you have no experience then it would be sensible to pick Assistant duties in the first place. You will be given plenty of help and encouragement by the other officers on duty! There is really nothing particularly difficult about any of the duties, but it is relevant to note that the club requires those covering Safety Boat to hold (as a minimum) the RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification , or have provided evidence/had a discussion with relevant committee members regarding equivalent experience. No qualifications are required for Assistant Safety Boat.
Please note that ALL duty members should sign the Duty Book outside the office to show that they have attended to do their duty. No signature will mean we assume you did not turn up and may mean other duties will be allocated to you.
Simply not turning up is not an option – there are serious implications for your fellow club members!
YDSC nominally use a ‘points system’ designed to help members balance the timing, number and type of duties to be undertaken. Duties earn the following points:
- Wednesday evening 3 points
- Saturday 4 points
- Sunday 5 points
Windsurfers and other water users are asked to accrue a minimum of 7 points per year.
Beginner/improver/cruiser sailors are asked to accrue a minimum of 8 points per year.
Sailors who regularly race are asked to accrue a minimum of 9 points per year.
Youth/Youth family members are encouraged to accrue a minimum of 4 points per year by helping a member of their family to do a duty e.g. ARO.
Active family members should accrue points as above, rather than just one member of the family – e.g. 2 active windsurfing family members would be asked to accrue 14 points per year.
NOTE: If a dinghy sailor undertakes a duty that covers part of a race series that they have been taking part in, they will be allocated a points value equating to their average for that series for the day that they are on duty so that they are not unduly disadvantaged provided that they sign on that day.
What do the Abbreviations mean?
RO – Race Officer – RACE OFFICER GUIDELINES
ARO – Assistant Race Officer
Safety Boat Helm – In charge of the Safety boat – SAFETYBOAT DUTY CHECKLIST
Assistant Safety – Assistant in the Safety boat (aka SB Asst)
Wednesday evening
Race Officer
Organise and run the race – normally a “shore” start. Take note of finishing times on the “Race results” sheet. Take a photograph of the results sheet on your phone and send to .
We suggest you try to arrive at least 45 minutes before racing starts to accommodate any unexpected events/conditions/circumstances.
Assistant RO
Assist the RO as above; check that anyone preparing to go on the water is a member or has paid their day sailing fee. Help record finishing times for races.
Safety Boat Helm
Open up the club in time for the evening activities. Racing is usually scheduled to start at 7.30pm but people arrive as soon as they can after work so the earlier you can get there the better. (probably best aim for 18:00) This has often been done by others arriving earlier (or the Wednesday afternoon crew). Check RIB for fuel and safety gear. Get RIB onto water ready for use. Have the RIB out on the water to assist any craft having problems. RIB crew should be dressed appropriately and prepared to enter the water if need be. Check clubhouse and Equipment store are secure (or confirm that remaining members have keys and will lock up).
Assistant Safety
Assistant in the Safety Boat. Should also be appropriately dressed and prepared to enter the water if need be.
Saturday
Safety Boat Helm
Open up the club in time for the planned activities. On ‘normal’ Saturdays the club will be advertised as being open from 10am, so we suggest arrival about an hour before that. Check RIB for fuel and safety gear. Get RIB onto water ready for use. Man the RIB out on the water to assist any craft having problems and launch second RIB and leave ready moored on the pontoon in case of the need for extra assistance. RIB crew should be dressed appropriately and prepared to enter the water if need be. Before going off the water for a lunch break or at the end of the day, ensure you have checked on/ informed those craft on the water or about to launch that the safety boat is not going to be on the water and that they need to be ‘buddy sailing’. At the end of the day make sure Clubhouse and Equipment store are secure and lock up or arrange with remaining members to do this.
Assistant Safety
Assistant in the Safety Boat. Should also be appropriately dressed and prepared to enter the water if need be. Aim to arrive at the same time as the SB Helm.
Race Officer
A RO and ARO will only be rostered if there is race event programmed for that day. In which case they are responsible for organising the safe and efficient running of the racing programme (see Race Officer guidelines). At the end of the day take a photograph of the results sheet on your phone and send to
Sunday
Race Officer
Arrive in time for arranging racing to start at the right time (typically 11:00 in the summer, 11:30 in the winter). We suggest you try to arrive at least 45 minutes before racing starts to accommodate any unexpected events/conditions/circumstances. Organise and record times for races and generally be in charge of the day’s events. Liaise with the galley about times of races so they are prepared when sailors come in for lunch. At the end of the day take a photograph of the results sheet on your phone and send to
Assistant RO
Assist the RO as above; check that anyone preparing to go on the water is a member or has paid their day sailing fee. Help record finishing times for races.
Safety Boat Helm
There are 2 safety-boat teams rostered for each Sunday. One of the safety-boat helms will always a member of our ‘Specialist Safety-boat Team’, who has a high level of skill, knowledge and experience in manning and maintaining the safety-boats. Other safety-boat duty team members should report to them and but guided by them regarding the plan for the day. They will open up the club in good time for the planned activities but you still need to arrive in good time – 9am at the latest.
Check RIB for fuel and safety gear. Get RIB onto water ready for use. Man the RIB out on the water to assist any craft having problems. RIB crew should be dressed appropriately and prepared to enter the water if need be. Before going off the water for a lunch break liaise with the other safety-boat team and arrange separate timings so one safety-boat can remain on the water. At the end of the day, if sailors/craft wish remain on the water after 5pm (4pm in winter) ensure you have checked on/ informed those craft on the water that the safety boat is coming off the water and that they need to be ‘buddy sailing’. At the end of the day make sure Clubhouse and Equipment store are secure and lock up or arrange with remaining members to do this.
Assistant Safety
Assistant in the Safety Boat. Should also be appropriately dressed and prepared to enter the water if need be. Aim to arrive at the same time as the SB Helm.
REMINDER – ALL duty members should sign the Duty Book outside the office to show that they have attended to do their duty. No signature will mean we assume you did not turn up and may mean extra duties will be allocated to you.