Gourock Yacht Club Cadets

The cadets section is open to people of age between 12 and 18 who are keen to learn to sail. The section meets every thursday night during the summer and there is expert tuition on the piper keelboats.

As well as six Pipers and one Folk boat, the Club acquired a small fleet of Topper Dinghies. These boats will be used to train our Cadet Members to sail and race. RGYC Cadet Membership is open to all young people between the ages of 12 and 18. Details of how to join are available by contacting the Club. The acquisition of these dinghies is part of RGYC's Youth Developement Policy through which we hope to have a stream of young Members joining the Club to ensure a healthy future. The Topper dinghy is 11 feet long and was designed for single-handed sailing by people aged 12 to 18 years of age. For training purposes it will easily accommodate two persons.

In addition to boat handling activities on the water, there are also learning activities onshore, such as sail trimming, knot tying and rights of way. Cadets have fun learning to become part of a team with fellow cadets.

Cadet Rules

The objective of the cadets section is the encouragement and training of cadets in yacht sailing and racing, and preparing them to accept their responsibilities as future club members. With these aims in view, the following notes are guidance for cadets and their parents or guardians on the privileges and limitations of cadets in accordance with the rules and regulations of the club.

1. Cadets shall be over the age of twelve and under the age of eighteen on the dates of submission.
2. Cadets are admitted for one year only and may be re-admitted annually. After attaining the age of eighteen, cadets require to be proposed and seconded for admission as Members or Lady Members of the Club, and are subject to the usual admission procedure.
3. Cadets shall pay such annual subscription as may be fixed from time to time by the committee, which shall entitle them to sail in the club boats without further payment.

4. Cadets are not permitted to smoke of drink alcohol on the club premises, and no tobacco, cigarettes or alcoholic drink will be sold or supplied to any cadet. Cadets shall not take drugs of any kind.
5. Cadets may not introduce visitors to the clubhouse.
6. Except on occasions specified by the committee, Cadets will have the privilege of using the cadets room during such hours as may be stipulated by the committee, and will have access to the main clubroom only as necessary to purchase requirements from the bar. On the evenings of club racing and regattas, cadets may use the main clubroom and the smoke room when accompanied by an adult.
7. Cadets shall not conduct themselves in the club premises as to cause annoyance to the members or the staff, and they must obey the instructions of the clubhouse staff when on the club premises.
8. Cadets are responsible for the tidiness of the cadets' room, and for the returning to the bar empty bottles and glasses, and for putting into baskets provided, waste paper and other rubbish arising from their use of the club.
9. Cadets training afloat and ashore will be arranged on Thursday Evenings from 18:45 and at other times at the discretion of the committee.
10. Cadets will accept the Instructor's / Club Boatman's advice on sailing at all times, and will assist the boatman when requested.
11. Each cadet will be allocated to one of the four pisions, each of which will be responsible for the general care of one club boat under the direction of the Club Boat sub committee. A cadet captain will be appointed for each pision, who will arrange for the sharing of the duties by members of their pision. Cadets Captains also have authority to maintain order and good behaviour by cadets on the club premises and boats. Each Cadets must provide a suitable life jacket / Buoyancy Aid and adequate waterproof clothing.
12. LIFE JACKETS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN AFLOAT