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Club Keelboat

Sunderland Yacht Club

The club owns a Hunter 707 yacht in order to:

  • Give new members a taste of keelboat sailing
  • Allow members to add to their skills
  • Promote keelboat training

Members are able to hire the boat for general sailing and racing.

INTRODUCTION TO SAILING

For those new to sailing, these boats provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy a free "taster session" organised by the Training Team. Participants can then see if sailing is the sport for them before buying equipment. These sessions will be run as and when required.

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

The boats provide a stepping-stone from dinghy sailing to keelboats. Progression can be through the RYA levels 1, 2 & 3 keelboat courses OR through SYC Accredited Helms Scheme. Sign up and progress to becoming a skipper! Courses will be run on demand; registration is by email (training@sunderlandyachtclub.co.uk)). General sailing sessions can be arranged most weekends and these can be joined at any time. Our skippers have a wealth of experience between them and are there to make sure you feel safe and enjoy learning.

SYC ACCREDITED HELM

There are three types of accreditation detailed on the "707 Helms" page. In all cases the skipper must be able to demonstrate they have the experience necessary to skipper and/or race the boat in all weather conditions. The demonstration may be by practical test conducted by the 707 / training team or by evidence of previous sailing experience, or some combination thereof.

As a guide, we want our Accredited Helms to be competent in:

  • Boat handling under sail: Sail choice, all points of sailing, reefing, sail and boat trimming.
  • Boat handling under engine: Pre start check, using engine, manoeuvring on/off SYC mooring.
  • Safety: Safety briefing, life jackets, VHF radio, MOB procedure.
  • Navigation: Interpreting charts, knowing "rights of way" and small vessels responsibilities in confined waters.
  • Racing: Knowing racing rules, safely matching boat handling skills and crew levels to the racing conditions (wind, tide, sea state, fleet size etc.)

BOAT COSTS

Once you have skipper accreditation you can use the boats most days. The level of contributions expected for using the boats are detailed on the website.

COMPETING

Hunter 707s are an excellent boat for club racing, and afford an all-round training experience. The boat will be set up and ready to race. The 707 is perfect for those new to keelboats (or sailing) and carrying a spinnaker makes it a good all-round training boat.

707 Helms

We recognise that our members, in applying to become an Accredited Helm (skipper) will bring forward a variety of skills and experience. The 707 / training team will maintain a list of Accredited Helms & their level of accreditation. Accreditation will be decided by the 707 / training team & the opinions of existing, experienced 707 helms will be taken into account. For us to accredit each one (i.e. accept them as individuals to whom we will make available club boats), we must be satisfied that they are competent to take out a vessel and use it in a manner consistent with their experience and competence. It is expected that each helm will show due diligence and due caution in those areas where experience is still being built and where using club 707s is part of building that experience. As a guide, we want our Accredited Helms to be competent in:

SYC White Sail Helm:

Boat handling under sail:

  • Sail choice. All points of sailing. Reefing. Sail and boat trimming.
  • Boat handling under engine: Pre start checks. Using engine. Manoeuvring on/off mooring.
  • Safety: Safety briefing. Lifejackets. VHF radio. MOB procedure.
  • Navigation: Interpreting charts. Knowing 'rights of way' and small vessel's responsibilities in confined waters.

White Sail Helms should restrict themselves to sailing in maximum forecast wind speeds of 10kts. If the wind speed increases above this level while out sailing they may carry on sailing (appropriately reefed & dependant on sea state) but if the wind speed approaches 15kts they should head back to port. There should be at least 1 other crew aboard who is capable of returning the boat to port if the helm is incapacitated. If there is another Accredited Helm aboard as part of the crew, the boat can be sailed to that helms experience level.

White Sail Helms can take part in Club Racing & 707 Challenges (White Sail) where support is available. (As a guide a Level 2 RYA Keelboat qualification/equivalent sailing experience would be a starting point as a Level 1 Helm).

Spinnaker Helm:

As White Sail Helm but with additional competences in:

  • Flying a spinnaker.
  • Understand basic Racing Rules if taking part in Club Racing/707 Challenges.

Spinnaker Helms should restrict themselves to sailing in maximum forecast wind speeds of 15kts. If the wind speed increases above this level while out sailing they may carry on sailing (appropriately reefed & dependant on sea state). There should be at least 1 other crew aboard who is capable of returning the boat to port if the Helm is incapacitated. If there is another Accredited Helm aboard as part of the crew, the boat can be sailed to that helms experience level.
Spinnaker Helms can take part in Club Racing & 707 Challenges, including spinnakers, where support is available. (As a guide a Level 3/Spinnaker RYA Keelboat qualification/equivalent sailing experience would be a starting point as a Level 2 Helm).

Racing Helms:

As Spinnaker Helm with additional competences:

  • Secure knowledge of racing rules
  • Ability to safely match boat handling skills and crew skill levels to the racing conditions (wind, tide, sea state, fleet size etc).

707 Sailing Fees

The aim is to increase the availability of sailing in the local area. To enable us to continue do this on a long-term basis it is important that the club can continue to pay the ongoing maintenance, berthing & other costs associated with running the 707s. To this end each person sailing on the boats is expected to contribute to the running costs on the following scale:

  • Morning, afternoon or evening session: £25
  • Full day: £35

To help keep the hire fees down to the level above, those that have hired the boat during the season would be expected to help maintain the boat when asked.

Last updated 21:43 on 6 November 2023

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