CADET MEMBERS
Children between the ages of six and seventeen inclusive who have a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt or guardian who is a Member of the Club or who is applying for membership (a "Related Member") may be elected to the club as Cadet Members. The application must be made by a Related Member and does not require the support of a proposer or seconder or any supporters. Candidates for Cadet Membership may be elected at the Management Committee Meeting in the year before their sixth birthday to be effective on their sixth birthday. The Related Member who makes the application shall be responsible for the conduct of the Cadet Member when he/she is at the Club or engaged in Club activities at all times.
Cadet Members are not 'Members' for the purposes of the Rules, and shall not be entitled to vote, either at elections or meetings.
Cadet Members may not introduce Guests or Temporary Members to the Club.
Cadet Members on reaching the age of 18 cease to be Cadet Members and become Members. This progression shall be confirmed by the Management Committee at the first meeting of the calendar year following the Cadet Member's 18th birthday. No entrance fee is payable when a Cadet Member becomes a Member. For the avoidance of doubt, years of Cadet Membership are not included when calculating qualification for long-term concessionary subscription rates.
SAFETY AFLOAT
MEMBERS SAFETY
The sea is a potentially hostile environment; by the very act of going afloat, members must accept that the safety of a boat and its entire management, including insurance and buoyancy, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/helmsman who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise whilst afloat. For more detail, see Paragraph 2 of the Club's Sailing Instructions & pages 149-150 of the 2013 Yearbook.
LIFEJACKETS/PERSONAL BUOYANCY AIDS & KILL CORDS
All members of the crew of a dinghy and all members under the age of 18 shall wear CE approved buoyancy aids when afloat (this includes when using the Club pontoons). Additionally, all those supporting training or racing shall wear an approved buoyancy aid when afloat. Other than in exceptional circumstances, kill cords shall always be worn by Club Safety/Patrol Boat helms when under way. Members should always ensure that a kill cord (where fitted) is worn by the helm of their boat when under way.
PARENTAL OR GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITY
The Club is only able to provide rescue cover for those participating in Club racing or a formally organised sailing course or period. Outside these hours parents and guardians have sole responsibility for their children and wards and should therefore make necessary provision for their safety afloat. The Club Sailing Instructions make it clear that the responsibility for allowing a Cadet or any other child to race or participate in any sailing or water-borne event organised by the Club rests entirely with his or her parent or guardian, who must ensure that the boat being used is seaworthy, its buoyancy is intact, that the Cadet or Junior Cadet can swim at least 50 metres, can row or paddle it, can right it after a capsize, and is wearing an approved buoyancy aid.