The University of Iowa Sailing Club

Iowa Sailing Club Rules

Definitions

• Light-Weather conditions - steady winds under 15 mph (13 knots), with gusts up to 20 mph (17.4 knots).
• Heavy-Weather conditions - conditions more extreme than Light-Weather conditions, with steady winds under 30 mph (26 knots), with gusts up to 35 mph (30.4 knots). [As a guideline, if whitecaps are visible on the water, Heavy-Weather conditions or above are present.]
• Light-Weather boat - any boat which has been deemed by the ISC as fit for a Light-Weather Helmsman to sail, after being checked out on that boat. [As a guideline, a Light-Weather boat must be simple to rig/de-rig, simple to hand launch/recover, simple to sail and right from capsize.]
• Heavy-Weather boat - any boat which is not a Light-Weather boat.

Sailing Safety Rules

1. Each boat must have at least a Helmsman aboard who has the proper rating and has been checked out for that type of boat by a qualified member.
2. Light-Weather Helmsmen and Advanced Light-Weather Helmsmen are limited to sailing in Light-Weather conditions. Heavy-Weather Helmsman and above are limited to sailing in Light-Weather or Heavy-Weather conditions. No member shall take out a boat in more severe conditions.
3. Members shall provide a life jacket for each person in the boat. Each member or guest who has not taken the club's swim test shall wear their life jacket while sailing.
4. When the water temperature is below 65F (17C) all members and guests shall wear life jackets while sailing. The wearing of life jackets is also required when members and guests are sailing in Heavy-Weather conditions.
5. When the water temperature is below 55F (13C), for members to sail, there must be at least 2 boats on the water and each boat must be within hailing distance of another boat. All sailors must wear a wetsuit or drysuit unless one of the boats on the water is a crash-boat.
6. Light-Weather Helmsmen should restrict their sailing to the South Arm of the lake.
7. Members rated Advanced Light-Weather Helmsmen and above may purchase a key to the boathouse and sail at any time provided weather conditions are within the defined limits of their rating.
8. Light-Weather Helmsmen can sail only when supervised by other sailors of a higher rating.
9. No member shall sail after dark without proper boat lighting and authorization of the Executive Council.

Equipment Policies

1. There shall be no interchanging of parts between boats without authorization from a member of the Executive Council.
2. All lost and damaged equipment shall be reported to the Fleet Captain.
3. If a boat is "Red-Tagged" or tagged "Hands-Off," it is not to be sailed.
4. All Light-Weather boats shall be walked into and out of the lake during the launching process. The tug is not to be used to launch these boats.
5. No trailers are to be left below the top of the hill. The land below the gate is state property and access cannot be blocked.
6. Each member shall store equipment properly before leaving the boathouse area (which includes sailing).
7. Each member shall secure all locks before leaving the boathouse area.
8. Only Helmsmen who have been checked out on the outboard motors shall operate them.
9. Only Helmsmen who have been checked out on the tug shall operate it.

Procedures

1. To sail, a member must post their membership card on the boat check-out board and sign out the boat, registering each person in the boat.
2. There shall be no lending of keys or membership cards.
3. Guests are limited to sailing twice.
4. Regular instruction during Teaching Weekends and special racing days, as designated by the Executive Council, shall take precedence over all other sailing. No member shall sail a club boat for pleasure before 3:00 pm on Teaching Weekends.
5. During times of high boat demand members using the boats should check the dock periodically for other members who may wish to sail.
6. To administer a rating test, except for the Skipper rating, a member must have at least one higher rating than that for which the test is being given. The Vice Commodore shall administer the test for the Skipper rating.
7. Members shall report gross rule infractions to the Executive Council.
8. The Executive Council may suspend the sailing privileges or impose a fine or other restrictions upon a violator of these rules, or upon persons responsible for damage of club property.
9. Members rated Advanced Light-Weather Helmsmen and above may purchase a key to the boathouse and sail at any time provided weather conditions are within the defined limits of the rating.
10. Light-Weather Helmsmen can sail only when supervised by other sailors of a higher rating.

Last updated: Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:12 PM