New Member Guide
Welcome to Broadstairs Sailing Club!
We know from experience that joining a new club can be a little daunting, especially if you are new to the area or don't know anyone else in the club. We have produced an outline of how the club functions below, we hope this guide will help you settle in as quickly as possible.



Clubhouse Management and Facilities   Return to Top
The club is run entirely by the members. They appoint an Executive Committee at the Annual General Meeting to manage the club on their behalf. A full list of the Officers and Committee members are printed in the handbook and are displayed on The Club page. If you have questions about club management please talk to a Flag Officer or Committee Member. A suggestions book is also availble for ideas and comments.

The clubhouse incoporates a bar, lounge, changing facilities and fully equipped galley. The club is steadily being refurbished, the galley and changing rooms have been done and the bar is next (details here). The Club is open every Sunday lunchtime, and Thursday evenings. During the sailing season the club will be opened on Saturday evenings after sailing for a post race drink. The kitchen will offer a selection of hot and cold food after racing on Sundays and Thursdays.

The club doesn't employ any professional staff, therefore members are expected to take their turn by helping out with various duties from time to time. These will include serving behind the bar or in the galley, race management and manning the patrol boats. To ensure fairness, rotas are circulated to cover these tasks.
If you have any preferences or problems with the duties please let us know as soon as possible.

Members are welcome to bring friends and relatives into the clubhouse. Non-members will be asked to sign the visitors book. Non-members are limited to six visits per year and are not allowed to buy alcoholic drinks from the bar. (This rule applies to all licenced clubs).


Social Events   Return to Top
Throughout the year the club is open at other times for many different social events. These usually include: Quizzes, Race Nights, Burns Night Supper and sailing event socials for which Broadstairs has a great reputation! A formal Dinner and Dance is held annually in the Pavilion.
Barbecues are often organised to coincide with special sailing events such as Long Distance Races. Details of upcoming events are available on the Social page

Social events get booked up very quickly so it is always advisable to book early if you would like to take part. Details of many of the social events are printed in the hand book, but for special events posters are displayed on notice boards. They are also published in The Burgee, the clubs periodic newsletter which is distributed to all members.

Summer Playing

Sailing  Return to Top
The clubs sailing season extends from mid March to the end of October. The club organises series of races on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Between May and August there is racing on Thursday evenings. Special races are held during bank holidays.

As with most club activities it takes a number of people to organise and supervise the racing. Every race requires a Race Officer, an Assistant Race Officer and a Timekeeper, as well as crew for the patrol boat. Members who are qualified or are willing to be trained will be expeceted to take their turn. Rotas are published in advance and, as with the bar rota, should you have any preferences as to when you can or can't help out please let us know.


BSC Boat Park

Boat Park  Return to Top
The club can provide parking spaces for boats on a first come, first served basis. The boat park has been completely full for the last few years so it's important to get your payment in early! The current rates are here and published in the handbook.

  • Please do not put a boat in the boat park unless you have been allocated a space by the Boat Park Officer. See the handbook for details.
  • Boats must display the sticker provided.
  • Boats must only be parked in their designated spaces.
  • Boats must be securely tied to the chain.
  • Cars should not be parked in the boat park.
  • Please avoid parking cars immediately outside the boat park where they will obstruct the barrier.


Broadstairs Harbour


Harbour/Foreshore Etiquette  Return to Top
The harbour and beach are public places and so care must be taken to make sure that we respect their access and safety.
  • Sails flapping on the harbour can be a hazard to everyone. Only hoist your sails when your boat is on the beach. Sails should be lowered before returning to the Harbour.
  • Take care when hosing down your boat and gear after sailing.
  • Boats should not obstruct pedestrian access on the harbour.
  • After launching, boat trolleys should be left above the high water line and near to the moored boats in the harbour. Do not leave them scattered around the beach as they can be a hazard to other beach users.
  • When sailing away from and returning to the harbour keep a careful eye out for swimmers.
  • Try to sail out keeping the yellows buoys to starboard (on your right)


Safety  Return to Top
The Club has an excellent safety record.

  • Club sailing events won't start or continue without adequate safety cover.

    The safety boats also lay buoys to mark the racing course. When fully loaded the boats are heavy and it takes the combined efforts of all members to launch and recover them.

  • The safety boats have to be launched before sailing boats can go afloat for racing.
  • After sailing please do not leave the harbour area until they have been recovered. (At times the soft sand can make their recovery especially difficult)
  • When the weather looks unfavourable the Race Officer may recommend that less experienced sailors stay ashore.
  • During racing the club will try to supervise all sailors but parents are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for the safety of their children.
  • When taking a boat on the water during normal club racing you must 'sign out' even if you are not racing.
  • Don't forget to sign back in again when you return ashore.
  • All boats crew must wear buoyancy aids at all times.

Changing Facilities   Return to Top
Changing and shower facilities are provided in the clubhouse, some sailors prefer to use the "P" Store on the harbour instead. On racing days, entry to the clubhouse may be gained by using the electronic keypad near the front door. This allows access to the changing rooms but not to any other part of the clubhouse. A four digit code will be advised to members on request should they wish to take advantage of the facilities. In the interest of security the code will be changed periodically.

We hope you find this information helpful but if there is anything you are concerned about please contact a member of the committee.