Sussex Yacht Club

Members are encouraged to further participate in the running of the club by volunteering for roles within the various committees and sections. To help people understand the structure within SYC and what each role entails we have compiled this Volunteers Directory.

Updated 12 March 2020

FLAG OFFICERS Flag Officers are executive officers of the club and are also Directors of the Company. Nominations for these posts must be received by the Club Secretary between 1st and 31st of October before the AGM which is generally held in January or February.
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role Title	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in place	Progression/ Vacancies
Main Committee	Commodore	4-15 hours per week or more when required including sitting on sub-committees and attending various SYC and external functions.	The Commodore is the principal Flag Officer and is expected to invest the club with personal ideas and direction. Chairs the main committee and often attends sub section committees to observe and advise. Regular contacts with SYC staff and members, liaising over variety of matters.	Kevin Headon	Elected annually by members at AGM. Generally has previously chaired sub- committee and served as Vice Commodore. Usual length of term is 2 years.
Main Committee	Vice commodore	4-15 hours per week or more when required depending on sub-committee involvements	The Vice Commodore is second in command and is generally held by the person in line to become Commodore. Plays an important supporting role with wide ranging interests.	Terry Kinch	Elected annually by members at AGM. Generally has previously chaired sub-committee and served as Rear Commodore. Usual length of term is 2 years.
Main Committee	Rear Commodore	4-10 hours per week depending on sub-committee involvements.	SYC has 2 Rear Commodores	Mark Sharp Adam Thompson	Elected annually by members at AGM. Previously chaired sub committees. No set term of service.
Main Committee & Finance Committee	Honorary Treasurer Ranks as Rear Commodore	12 hours per month, plus 3 full days in preparation of the budgets, chairing the Finance Committee which is made up of budget holders from each section.	Responsible for the club finances, working with the Secretary and accountant to ensure that billing and reporting are accurate. Ensure that budget holders have control of their budgets. Provide the board with accurate and timely financial information. Presents the auditted accounts and the state of the clubs finances to the AGM. Other financial matters as directed by the board.	David Nunn	Elected annually at AGM by members. Generally has chaired other sub committees. No fixed term of office.

DIRECTORS

Nominations for these posts must be received by the Club Secretary between 1st and 31st of October before the AGM which is generally held in January or February.

Committee Reporting to

Volunteer Role Title

Commitment

Description of Role

Members in Place

Progression/Vacancies

Main Committee

Director

4 hours per week average throughout the year. Attendance required throughout the year at board meetings generally held on the 3rd Monday of each month (board does not sit in August).

SYC has up to 12 directors. Elected by members at the AGM.

Chair sub committees. Guide SYC club policy and direction, represent members and present/assist generally at club events and meetings.

Nicola Besang

David Carroll

Alan Fry

Zoe Fry

Kevin Knight

Sue Large

Ann Macey

Russell Morrice

Simon Oates

John Pryke

Des Silverson

Tim Stevenson

Any shareholding member can be proposed as a Director and although preferable, there is no need to have any previous experience as a club volunteer. The club tries to have a board that represents all the club sections.

If there are more candidates than positions available, the selection of Directors is subject to an election at the AGM.

At least one third of the Directors (i.e. four) must retire annually under rotation (based on length of service), but can if they so wish immediately re-stand for election.

SAILING SECTION
Committee Reporting to	Committee Reporting to	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
Sailing Section	Sailing Captain	2-3 hours per week and more when supporting events	In overall charge of keelboat sailing at SYC, including both cruising and racing. Chairs monthly sailing section meetings. As a budget holder it is preferred that the Sailing Captain is also a Director.		Appointed by the Commodorre, or at the Commodores discretion, by election at the sailing section annual meeting.
	Sailing Section Assistant	2-3 hours per week and more when supporting events	To support the chair and take on projects, managing volunteer team as required. Stands for sailing captain when absent.		Any member of SYC can become member of the sailing section committee.
	Pursuit Organiser	3 busy series per season approx. 4 hours per week during events.	Set dates, collate results, publish on noticeboard, adjust handicaps, set courses, publicise events. Tracks and manages trophies, retention trophies, engraving etc.	David Nunn
	Rally Secretary	Approx. 2 hours per week, more in run up to a rally or visit to SYC by other club	Organising moorings and club dinners whilst on rallies. Also in conjunction with the Club Steward/Office liasing with Rally Secretaries from clubs rallying to SYC.	Tim Worsfield Jenni Worsfield
	Trophy Secretary	Intensive in run up to prize giving in November	Tracks and manages trophies, retention trophies, engraving etc.	Kate Leigh
	Sailing Section Committee Member	2-3 hours per month or more when tasked with project/responsibility	To provide advice and support to the sailing section, taking on tasks and projects as required.	David Nunn

WAVELENGTH MAGAZINE
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role Title	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
Commodore and Main Committee	Editor	10 hours per month focused on deadlines for up to three magazines each year	Maintain correct tone and content for the club magazine, encouraging members to submit articles and images for publication. Edit all content and write articles as required, liaising with external professional graphic designer and printers.	Spencer Neal	Volunteer with suitable skills/experience apppointed by the Commodore.
	Proof Reader	5 hours for each of the three issues	Proof read magazine before publication.		Any member may volunteer
	Advertising Manager	5 hours for each of three issues	Liaise with existing and seek additional advertisers in club magazine	Spencer Neal	Any member may volunteer
	Contributors	No time attached	Submit articles and images to editor	Everyone!	All club members are encouraged to send the editor articles and images for consideration for publication in the club magazine ‘Wavelength’

MOORINGS and MAINTENANCE (M&M)
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role Title	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
Commodore and Main Committee	Chair	12 hours per month throughout the year	Chair projects, visit SYC sites, drive project sub-committees. Assist in organisation of Boatwains work, yard organisation, boat lifting and policy of such including member enquiries over yard and mooring facilities/charges. As a major budget holder it is important that the M&M Chair is also a Club Director.	Mark Sharp	Club members can join the M&M Committee.
	Committee Member	6 hours per month	To provide advice and support to M&M taking on tasks and projects as required. Attend M&M meetings

SAILABILITY
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role title	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
Sailability	Shore Based Helper	No min but up to 20 times a year at weekends 3-6hr sessions (Training given)	Able bodied crew with powerboat experience are also required to assist in the safety boat. Volunteers are required to meet and greet disabled sailors, make tea, ensure they are received and registered, help them get kitted out with life-jackets and other equipment, escorting disabled sailors on the pontoon and helping them get in and out of the boats. Assistance with fund raising and other administrative tasks is also required at times other than on sailing sessions. Volunteers required with sailing or other boating experience to help rig and de-rig sailing boats, assist with launching and recovering boats, maintain and repair our boats. You may also be asked to assist a skipper as able-bodied crew on the water with disabled sailors. Each of our larger sailing boats experienced skipper to be in overall control and help train and develop the sailing skills of our disabled sailors. We would particularly welcome experiences small keel boat or dinghy sailors, ideally with qualifications of at least RYA Assistant instructor We require at least 2 RYA Safety Boat qualified volunteers for each sessions to provide safety boat cover for dinghies on the Adur River and at sea. Able bodied crew with powerboat experience are also required to assist in the safety boat.	Contact Sussex Sailability	If you have an RYA Safety Boat qualification or a PB2 licence we would like to hear from you. More volunteers are required on the safety boats
	Competent Crew	No min up to 20 times a year at weekends 3-6 hour sessions (training Given)
	Skippers	No min but up to 20 times a year. 3-6 hour sessions (training available)
	Safety Boat	No min but up to 20 times a year. 3-6 hour sessions (training available)

TRAINING
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role Title	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
	Assistant Instructors	Min 4 times a year up to 30 times a year. This would be evenings would be evenings of 2-3 hour sessions or days 7 hours each.	This role involves working with one of the club qualified club instructors and would require a RYR qualification. This is a 2 day course and would be funded and run by the club.		This would suit those happy working with youth and some of our disabled sailors. More volunteers are needed as instructors and trainee instructors
	Instructors	Min 4 times a year up to 30. This would be evenings of 2-3 hour sessions or days 7 hours each	This role requires working as part of the training team in a discipline you are qualified in either powerboat or dinghy sailing	8 members
	Senior Instructor	Min 4 times a year up to 30. This would be evenings of 2-3 hour sessions or days 7 hours each	This role requires an RYA S1 certificate. You will be responsible for all those on the water and ensure the team deliver a safe and fun RYA course.	5 members
	Rigger	4 max 6 Tuesday evenings May to Aug	This role involves helping rig and launch dinghies for the family and cadets activity at Southwick	To be updated May 2020
	Dinghy Bosun	Approx 30 hours per year April-October	You would be responsible for the fleet of the club dinghies reporting to the training principal. Activities would be managing repair of dinghy fleet. It is envisaged that different bosuns will managed different fleets

HOUSE COMMITTEE
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
House and Main	Chair of Committee	One meeting per month, approx. 1 hour extra work per fortnight, attendance at various functions. Assist with preparing room for big events and occasional project work	Chair of house meetings, liaise with flag officers, steward, office about matters affecting the interior of the premises, the bar and catering. Costing, advertising and running functions. Dealing with compliments and complaints. Forward planning and budgeting	Sue Large	As budget holder is preferable that post holder is also director.
House and Main	Committee member	One meeting per month, appox 1 hour extra work a week, attendance at various functions. Assist with preparing room for big events and occasional project work	General committee work relating to the running of the functions and indoor activities at the club. May be asked to take on specific assignments eg source furniture, source music etc.		SYC members are welcome to join the house committee.

ROYAL ESCAPE RACE COMMITTEE
Committee Reporting to	Volunteer Role	Commitment	Description of Role	Members in Place	Progression/Vacancies
Commodore and Main Committee	Chair of Committee	Irregular meetings before and after annual event and attendance at event each May. Annually circa 7-14 days work.	Organise all aspects of the event including liasion with SRF and other organisations/suppliers/supporters in both UK and Fécamp (Chair is a budget holder). Presents race briefing in UK and prize-gving in France. Maintain and update race website/documents including risk assessment and safety procedures.	C Warriner	Commodores appointment without a fixed term.
	Race Director	Irregular meetings and attendance at event.	In overall charge of racing and safety inspections.	Steve Thomas	Members are welcome to volunteer for any role.
	Race Secretary	Irregular meetings and attendance at event.	Organisation of race entries and results preparations pre-race and then results and event organisation in Fécamp during event.	Tracey Thomas
	Race Safety Officer (UK)	Irregular meetings and on call during event.	Person who in the event of bad weather or other adverse situation would be called in to assist from the Sussex Yacht Club premises.	tba
	Gate Controller	Irregular meetings and duty on Brighton Pier at race start	In charge of the pier head gate team registering competitors before the start.	Neil Prescott with up to 2 volunteers.
	Race Officer (OOD)	Irregular meetings and aboard FPV Watchful at the start.	Official on the water in charge of race start.	Ian O’Dell
	Start Team (Watchful)	Irregular meetings and aboard FPV Watchful at the start.	Assists Race Officer during the start including flags, observation and guns aboard FPV Watchful
	Start Team (Support Boats)	Irregular meetings and aboard support/safety boats during start	On water support including mark laying and safety afloat. Powerboat qualifications essential.	Kevin Knight
	Race Controller France	Irregular meetings and attendance at event.	Leads finishing team in Fécamp.	Gary Gathergood
	Finishing Team France	Irregular meetings and attendance at event.	Variety of duties in France including finishing/sign-off through the night and prize-giving setup/clear down.	Kevin Headon Dave Terry

Posted: October 19th 2017

Volunteers Directory

FLAG OFFICERS

DIRECTORS

SAILING SECTION

WAVELENGTH MAGAZINE

MOORINGS and MAINTENANCE (M&M)

SAILABILITY

TRAINING

HOUSE COMMITTEE

ROYAL ESCAPE RACE COMMITTEE