How it works – all the details.

If you like to understand the facts and figures, then this is the place to look.

Please also feel free to call us with any questions on 02380 001234.

 

Boat availability and our points system.

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

To make membership work for everyone we have a system that allocates you points. Our points system ensures fair access and good availability of boats for all members.

If you would like to understand exactly how our system works, all the details are available below.

How much boating does a membership provide?

Our £7950 annual membership provides 500 points which typically equates to 15-20 days boating.

The exact number of days depends on the boats you sail and when. Larger boats at peak times mean less boating days a year, whilst smaller boats off peak mean significantly more days.

What do the boats cost in points?

The points cost of a booking depends on the type of boat and when you sail.

Our online portal manages everything and displays the rate at the time of booking, but please see below to understand the detail.

Type of boat

The table shows the rates for different boats, based on a Friday day sail in mid season, which is representative of an average rate for each boat.

Type of boat Friday / Day slot / Mid season (pts)
Sailing Yachts
1x Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 20
1x Jeanneau 349 22
3x Hanse 348 25
1x Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 25
1x Dufour 375 25
1x X-Yachts 37 28
1x Hanse 388 28
1x Jeanneau 389 28
1x Fontaine Pajot 36 28
2x Hanse 360 35
Motorboats
1x Island Rib 7.5 20
1x Cap Camarat 7.5 WA 20
1x Stevens 34 20
1x Axopar 28C 30
1x Jeanneau Merryfisher 895 30
1x Jeanneau Merryfisher 1095 40

 

When you sail

As the key tool for providing our excellent boat availability, we have outlined the relative boat point rates for different times of day, days of week and seasons below.

Time of day

We operate a day slot (08.00 – 18.00) and an evening/night slot (18.00 – 08.00). If you add an evening to a day slot, it costs 20% more, and you can book the evening before or after. If you only book an evening slot it costs 60% of the day rate.

Day of week

Fridays are 20% more than Monday-Thursday. Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are 25% more than the Friday rate.

Seasons

The calendar year is divided into 3 seasons. Bookings in high season (July-August) cost 33% more points than the mid season (Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct) and the low season (November-March) is 33% less than mid season.

 

How do you manage availability at peak times?

A key feature of any shared use scheme is the ability to get a boat at times that suit you.

Most of the year our model provides excellent natural availability but, as you might expect, July and August benefit from extra management. Meanwhile, boating in the off season months benefits from a little encouragement.

From experience, we know the simplest and fairest way to manage seasonal demand is to apply seasonal pricing as described in the boat points FAQ above. We also operate a “fair use” policy that limits each member to spending no more than half of their annual points in July and August.

This leaves a huge amount of flexibility for our members to go boating when they want over the year, with no requirement to go boating in certain periods.

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

We operate a day slot (08.00 – 18.00) and an evening/night slot (18.00 – 08.00). You can book any number of consecutive slots (max 15) so overnight stays and multi day trips are a popular choice with our members.

How long do I have to use my points?

Points expire 12 months after the date of purchase – which gives members plenty of time to get out on the water and enjoy their Pure Latitude membership.

What happens when I have used up my membership?

You are welcome to purchase a new membership at any time so that you can keep sailing as much as you wish.

If I renew my membership, what happens to any unused points?

Points cannot be carried over between memberships.

The reason for this is that the costs for us to purchase and manage a high quality fleet of boats are largely fixed.  We have significant annual commitments based on the number of boats for the size of membership, and most of our costs are unaffected by usage.

Membership is like ownership in this sense – but substantially better value 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 available?

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 £310 per day.

Alternatively, you can join any of our training events – ideal for upping your game across a range of specific key skill areas. See the event calendar on our website for more details and pricing.

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.

Membership covers 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 for everyone, some additional usage charges apply based on engine hours and accessories taken.

Is there a club joining fee?

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 us to regularly update the fleet and keep membership prices to a minimum.

Can I pay monthly?

Membership allows you to flexibly enjoy boats whenever suits you and therefore needs to be paid in advance. As an alternative to paying in advance in full, we offer a monthly plan requiring £2500 advance payment and 12 monthly payments of £495/m.

Can I customise my membership?

Our standard membership covers the needs of most members but talk to us about custom options if you want something just a bit different.

Are there any extra costs?

Your membership includes fully equipped and maintained boats, home berthing, insurance 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 £7.50/hour; riverboat £13.50/hour; smaller motorboats £15.00/hour and larger motorboats £20.00/hour/engine.

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

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 £500/year 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.

What is the length of the contract commitment?

12 months.

Have a question about membership?

Just ask us. Call the membership team on 02380 001234