Club Etiquette and Code of Conduct

As a volunteer club it is critcial that all members take responsibility to ensure an enjoyable and safe environment for all other members, visitors and our neighbours, so that we are all able to appreciate the benefits of membership of Avalon Sailing Club.

The Club relies on the volunteering effort of members to operate safely and successfully. All members are expected to volunteer at least twice each season. Under the 'Members & Registration' tab you will find the Volunteering Tab with the information required on how to register yourself in the volunteering application and nominate yourself for roles.

Members are encouraged to use the Club and enjoy its facilities, whilst always being mindful and respectful of other members, visitors and our neighbours. It is essential that all members have read and are familiar with the Club Etiquette and policies, and our Code of Conduct.

The key points being, to honour the purpose and spirit of our family oriented volunteer culture, by always behaving respectfully to other members and vistors. Ensuring that the Club is always left secured, clean and tidy with all boats and equipment in their allocated storage location.

1. If you are last out, it's your responsibility to ensure the Club is locked.
2. Leaving your boat, equipment, oars etc anywhere at the Club is generally NOT OK unless you have confirmation from the Rack Manager for a designated rack or deck location and paid a storage fee.
3. Leaving anything on the floor, especially downstairs, is NEVER OK (even for short periods), as it blocks access to other members’ equipment and is a safety issue.
4. Leaving some equipment out of the way on the deck for short periods is OK with reason (see below), and only on non-sailing days.
5. All questions and requests for storage and Club usage, including hire, should be emailed to secretary@avalonsailingclub.com.au
6. Racks and storage must be allocated by the Rack Manager and cannot be transferred between members.

Locking Up

It is the responsibility of each person to lock the side gates, top and bottom doors if they are last to leave the Club, or if there is nobody at the Club. This applies even if just going out to your yacht or twilight sailing. If you find the Club unlocked with nobody around, it is still your responsibility to lock it when leaving. If you opened the Club, but aren’t the last to leave - it is your responsibility to ensure a member who remains present has keys, and accepts responsibility to lock up when they leave. Being locked discourages unwelcome visitors and theft. It avoids the possibility of forgetting later. 

Deck

The primary purpose of the deck is to facilitate the rigging of centreboards on sailing days and to store Club training and response craft. The only other craft permitted are centreboards that have been allocated deck storage by the Rack Manager and paid the fee. 

Tenders may not be stored on the deck. Permanent storage of tenders is available at the rear of the Club. Members may leave their tender on the deck for short periods, but only on non-sailing days and providing they do not impede access for other members. Leaving a tender on the deck mid-week is ok for situations such as working on your vessel over multiple days to avoid putting it in the rack each night. Guidelines are a maximum of 4 days; stored out of the way and not on sailing days.  

Pontoon

The floating pontoon is primarily to facilitate the sailing activities of the Club, specifically the launch and retrieval of centreboard class boats, loading and docking of response boats. On sailing days, members may only use the pontoon briefly for embarking and disembarking, always giving priority to centreboard sailors, Club support and tender vessels.

At other times Boat Owner Members are entitled to use the pontoon for longer periods like taking on water and limited maintenance activities, providing they do not interfere with the sailing activities of the Club. A Boat Owner Member is a member who has paid the specific “Boat Owner Fee” and been issued with a date stamped Boat Owner Member sticker which must be fixed and visible on the stern of their vessel. No other vessels are permitted to use the pontoon.

If there is any doubt over the bona fides of any vessel using the pontoon, members are asked to politely and respectively enquire whether the vessel owner is a member, and if they are not, inform them that the pontoon is for members only, and encourage them to join the Club.

Cruising Moorings

The Club has seven clearly marked cruising moorings in Pittwater and the surrounds with locations listed on the website. These are maintained by the Club for the exclusive use of ASC Boat Owner Member vessels only. Any other class of membership does not entitle that person to use these moorings.

Should you find a vessel occupying a Club mooring without a current season ASC Boat Owner Member sticker on the stern, you have every right to politely ask the skipper to vacate. If a Club member is already on the mooring of your choice, please ask if you can raft up with them. Members are expected to share moorings provided it is safe to do so. 

External Racks

These are located at the rear of the building with numbered bays. More than one item may be stored in the allocated bay within reason. For example, oars and a SUP could be stored with a tender, if it is small. Attempting to fit two boats is not practical. Members are permitted to padlock their equipment. 

Members are required to fix the supplied sticker to their boat in a location visible when it is in the rack. Members may install a pulley system to facilitate lifting with permission from the Rack Manager. Some bays allow this, but others are not practical. 

Club Kayaks

We have four children’s kayaks with paddles available for Club members to use, with no charge or booking system. These are the “Weenie Waves” suited for kids up to 40Kg and stored on racks internally. If you use them, it is your responsibility to ensure they are looked after and put back in place. They are not to be removed from the Club and taken to other locations. When in high demand ensure fair and equitable use amongst members.

Club Tenders

The Club provides a tender service from about 9:30am to 4:30pm on all sailing Sundays. The Club has two plastic tenders / dinghies stored on the deck for Club member use. These are available to boat owners who need to access their vessel for short periods. They are not to leave the Club area nor are they to be used all day. If you are going out sailing for the day, you are expected to provide your own tender on days where there is no service. 

Oars clearly marked “ASC” may be used with the tenders. All other oars are private and should never be used without the owner's permission.

Sky Racks

Sky Racks are available for members to suspend their tenders from the ceiling via a pulley system. Members must ensure they are high enough to allow easy access to the racks below.

Internal Storage of Oars and Outboards 

Storage of oars and outboards is only permissible to members who have been allocated and paid to store their tender in either a Sky or External rack. All members must store their oars and outboards in the dedicated areas for each. All oars and outboards should be clearly marked with the member or vessel name.

The Rack Manager will allocate a spot for your outboard, and members are asked to keep their outboards in the same allocated spot.

Internal Racks

Internal racks are primarily for the use of centreboard sailors, and allow storage for a boat with associated sails; dolly; rig and life jacket. Racks are assigned to specific classes of boats according to their size. Racks are always assigned by the Rack Manager and cannot be transferred between members.

The Rack Manager may allow members to store SUPs, Kayaks and other equipment in racks, whilst always giving priority to centreboard sailors. Storage of SUPs, Kayaks and other equipment will typically be in less accessible racks, and is only guaranteed for the season so they can be made available to a centreboard sailor if needed.

Internal racks may be reassigned, typically early in the season, in order to accommodate as many members as possible. Once allocated, a rack will not be reassigned without consultation. Members should expect to be allocated a less accessible rack on joining a class and gradually move towards more accessible racks the longer they are in a class. A family membership may keep an allocated rack and pass it from one sibling to another - with the exception of floor rack spaces. 

Note that when a boat is purchased from a member it does not include the rack allocation for the said boat.

Racks will be deemed available when:

• they are not used within the season, or

• they have not been paid for, or

• the membership leaves the class

When a rack becomes available it will be reallocated on the following criteria in the following order:

1. special needs

2. the next most committed sailor who requires access to sail without parental support (e.g days other than Sunday) and is not physically able to move the boat otherwise

3. tenure of the skipper within the class fleet

4. tenure of the skipper and crew in the class fleet

5. the membership’s contribution to Avalon Sailing Club

Rack holders are responsible for maintaining the rack in good order.

Casual Use of Clubhouse

This includes use of the kitchen, hall, veranda, deck, BBQ, tables, chairs etc. Members can use the clubhouse anytime within reason provided there is not a clash with any sailing event, social function or paid hire, which are typically posted as events on the website. 

Reasonable use includes families and friends of members in small groups, ensuring there is no disruption to other members or neighbours. For example on non-sailing day afternoons having a swim, using the BBQ, kitchen and bathrooms. 

Access and use of club equipment, including Club owned sailing boats and support craft is not permitted for safety and maintenance reasons.

Gatherings of more than 20 people are not considered casual use, and require formal approval through clubhouse Hire (below).

Members must ensure the Club is left clean and tidy. Specifically that the Kitchen, BBQ, crockery etc are cleaned and put away, rubbish disposed of, and noise kept reasonable.

Hiring of Clubhouse

The clubhouse is available for approved events provided the hirer is a current member. Minimising noise and impact to neighbours and other members is critical. As a guideline, low impact events such as dinners, ceremonies, team building, yoga, art classes, corporate, sporting, educational and other activities with low noise will be suitable. Parties, celebrations and events with amplified music and dancing are not suitable. Ensuring that access and parking is sufficient to accommodate the attendees is also critical.

There are costs and conditions associated with clubhouse hire, which are documented on the Hiring Agreement Form. Please email secretary@avalonsailingclub.com.au for details and approval.

Alcohol

Members are welcome to bring and consume aIcohol on the premises in a reasonable and responsible way in line with the  “Casual use of Clubhouse” guidelines.

The club has a limited licence and a bar that is restricted by various conditions such that alcohol is typically only served at events and functions. 

Electric Motors, Bikes & Batteries 

With Lithium ion batteries becoming more common, particularly in bicycles and outboards, we all need to be mindful of the fire risk they pose to our wooden Clubhouse. Some of the more common variants pose a rare but very serious fire hazard due to their chemical composition rendering them susceptible to 'thermal runaway' that makes containment and extinguishing fire extremely difficult.

There are two specific risks with these batteries. The first is charging. They should only ever be charged with the manufacturer's recommended charger and preferably outdoors or in a non combustible area. Care should be taken to disconnect them once charging is completed. The second risk is characterised by the battery swelling, leaking or showing signs of obvious damage. These batteries should not be used, placed in a safe environment and the manufacturer contacted for advice.

To properly manage this risk, the Committee has decided that Lithium batteries are not to be charged or stored on the premises. Lithium batteries used in outboards are not to be stored on the premises and should be removed to return home with the owner. Electric bicycles should be stored outside and not charged or otherwise left at the premises for extended periods. No battery showing signs of damage should ever enter the premises.

information is available via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission safety advisory.

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/consumers-urged-to-use-and-store-lithium-ion-batteries-safely-to-prevent-deadly-fires

Compliance with the Code of Conduct

Each member should understand the possible consequences of breaching ASC’s Code of Conduct, Articles of Association and By-Laws. Any member who is found to have breached this Code may have their membership temporarily suspended or permanently revoked at the absolute discretion of the General Committee under Clause 51 of the Articles of Association.