How membership works – All the details

If you like to understand the facts and figures, then this is the place to look. You can also call us on 02380 001234.

 

Availability and our Point System

When you sign up for membership we commit to making sure you have fair and flexible access to the boats and locations you want.

To make membership work for everyone we have a system that allocates you points, determined by your membership plan. Our points system ensures fair access and good availability of boats, training and events for all members.

You don’t need to get into ‘point counting’ if you don’t want to, but all the details are available below if you do. With years of experience making sure our members are happy, we’ll ensure you have a membership plan that works for you.

Which membership plan should I choose and how many points will I get?

Bigger boats use more points, as do Fridays, weekend days and bank holidays. These factors can influence which plan is right for you, but the majority of club members find that the ‘typical usage’ examples in the table below are a close representation of the number of boating days each points plan provides.

Typical annual usage Annual points Monthly  fee
12 days 360 £500
18 days 540 £700
27 days 810 £950

 

What is the daily point cost of boats, events and training?

Each boat has a standard daily point charge applicable for bookings Monday-Thursday. Fridays are x 1.2 the standard rate. Weekend days and bank holidays are x 1.5 the standard rate.

Boat Standard rate (pts) Friday rate (pts) Weekend day rate (pts)
Sailing Yachts
1x Dufour 34 17 20 26
2x Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 20 24 30
1x Jeanneau 349 22 26 33
1x Hanse 345 22 26 33
4x Hanse 348 25 30 38
1x Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 25 30 38
1x Dufour 375 25 30 38
1x Jeanneau 389 28 34 42
1x X-Yachts 37 28 34 42
1x Hanse 388 28 34 42
Motor Cruisers
1x Stevens 34 20 24 30
1x Jeanneau Merryfisher 895 30 36 45
1x Beneteau Antares 30 30 36 45
1x Jeanneau Prestige 36 35 42 53
Motor Dayboats (day/eve/day+eve)
1x Ballistic 6.5 Rib 10/6/12 12/7/14 15/9/18
2x Axopar 28C 25/15/30 30/18/36 38/23/45

For overnight boats (sailing yachts and motor cruisers), booking slots are full 24 hour periods (19.00 – 19.00).

For dayboats (Ballistic rib and Axopars), to better suit usage patterns, we operate a day slot (08.00 – 17.00) and an evening/night slot (17.00 – 8.00) in each 24hr period. If you combine day and evening slots you benefit from discounted rates.

 

Instructor and event point costs

Instructors and events are charged at the same rate on every day of the week. Events cost from 10-35 points per person and instructors cost 22 per day. Events and instructors can also be invoiced at an equivalent £ rate.

Product Rate (pts)
Skipper / Instructor (per day)
Skipper / Instructor 22
Events (per person) 
Sail event 10-25
Motor event 20-35
See our event calendar > for the full range of events and pricing.
How do you manage availability at peak times?

A key facet of any shared use scheme is the ability to get a boat at times that suit you – thus we carefully manage supply and demand to ensure excellent availability for all.

Our seasonal booking calendar is an important tool in achieving this. Annual membership points are allocated equally across three seasons (4 month blocks: High = May-August, Mid = Mar-Apr & Sep-Oct and Low = Nov-Feb) and are best used in the season to which they are allocated.

When I book a boat, how long is it available to me for?

For overnight boats (sailing yachts and motor cruisers), booking slots are full 24 hour periods (19.00 – 19.00). So if you book for a Saturday, it is available to you from 7pm Friday until 7pm Saturday.

For dayboats (Ballistic rib and Axopars), to better suit usage patterns, we operate a day slot (08.00 – 17.00) and an evening/night slot (17.00 – 8.00) in each 24hr period. If you combine day and evening slots you benefit from discounted rates.

You can book anything from 1-8 consecutive days in a single block, so overnight stays and multi day trips are a popular choice with our members.

If I renew my membership, what happens to any unused points from the previous year?

Points cannot be carried over between membership years. We commit to a high level of fixed cost based on the demand that members sign up to and this cost is largely unaffected by usage. Membership is like ownership in this sense - but substantially cheaper and with more flexibility.

Training, Competence and Events

Training and events are available with all membership plans.

There is huge flexibility in the options we provide, so it’s often helpful to chat through your specific ambitions so that we can advise suitable options based on our experience.

Please call us on 02380 001234 if you have any questions about training or events.

What qualifications or experience do I need?

We recognise that qualifications are only an indicator of proficiency and our members have a wide range of experience levels and hold a variety of formal qualifications. In short, we require you to demonstrate a basic competence in skippering the boats you wish to use.

For both our sailing yachts and motorboats, the guideline minimum is RYA day skipper theory and practical certificates plus 5 days skippering experience in UK tidal waters. For outboard driven powerboats the minimum requirement is RYA Powerboat Level 2, plus 2 days skippering experience in UK tidal waters.

Remember that, whatever your experience, we can provide the necessary training to get you to the required level of competence.

How do I become familiar with the operation of the boats?

When you first join, we want to get you on the water as quickly as possible. If you have relevant skippering skills and experience, we’ll arrange for you to join one of our club competence assessment days. If you need to undertake some training before you start skippering, we simply schedule the assessment day to run following completion of the training.

Whichever route you choose, we’ll also ask you to familiarise with club processes and procedures via a zoom call and our online member portal.When you are ready to expand your range of boats, you can self induct or we’ll conduct an assessment/ provide further training as appropriate.

Rest assured, we will always streamline your journey through our competence process to fit your previous experience.

I'm a qualified day skipper but want to improve certain skills with further training. Is this included?

Yes, and it’s a very popular service. Booking an instructor to help you improve specific key skills, complete an RYA training course, upskill on a new boat type, or get you and your crew working efficiently together can really help your boating become more enjoyable. Instructors are charged at 22 points or £295 per day.

Alternatively, you can join any of our training events – ideal for upping your game across a range of specific key skill areas. At the time of booking you can choose whether to pay for events in points or £’s. See our event calendar for more details.

I'm new to boating. Do you offer RYA training courses?

Yes, we are a recognised RYA training centre. To become a competent and confident skipper we offer a mentored training plan which includes experience building, your RYA day skipper qualification and a number of days skippering the boats. Get in touch for full details.

Can I invite friends and family to events?

Yes, you can book multiple event places to include family and friends.

Pricing

Our membership prices cover all the essentials: fully equipped and maintained boats, home berthing, insurance, access to our event programme, training options and much more.

However, to make membership fair to everyone some additional usage charges apply based on engine hours and accessories taken.

We want membership to be as simple as possible, but not at the expense of fairness and value.

Is there a club joining fee?

Yes, There is a one-off club joining fee of £995 which applies to all new members and anyone rejoining after a break in membership.

Our joining fee helps to promote continuous membership which allows our us to regularly update the fleet and keep membership prices to a minimum.

Are there any extra costs?

Your membership includes fully equipped and maintained boats, home berthing, insurance, access to our event programme and much more. Additional charges apply as follows:

Fuel is included on sailboats and riverboats but metered and charged at cost on motorboats.

We make a charge per engine hour run. Sailboats £6/hour, riverboat and smaller motorboats £12/hour and larger motorboats £18/hour/engine.

Accessories such as dinghies, outboards, spinnakers plus cleaning and catering options are available at extra cost.

Can I save money by paying annually?

Yes, annual payment in advance brings a 5% discount.

Am I insured?

Yes, all boats are insured for accidental damage. Members are liable for repair costs up to a maximum of £2500.

Can I share my membership with a friend?

Yes, we offer joint memberships at the extra cost of £50/month for each additional member that has independent booking access to the account. Get in touch to find out more and discuss whether this is applicable to your situation.

Do you offer corporate membership plans?

Yes, we offer corporate plans to fit the requirements of your business, including bespoke events, client entertainment, and team building/reward. Please contact our membership team to discuss your requirements.

Do you have ownership plans?

Yes, we offer bespoke arrangements for owners which can dramatically lower the cost of ownership and provide a more flexible boating experience. Get in touch for details.

Can I customise my plan to fit me?

Our standard plans cover the needs of most members but we also offer bespoke options for anyone who wants something just a bit different.

What is the length of the contract commitment?

Our standard contract duration is 12 months.

Have a question about membership?

Just ask us. Call the membership team on 02380 001234