Chipstead Sailing Club

CHIPSTEAD SAILING CLUB MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW

WELCOME

Chipstead Sailing Club is a friendly club and we would like you to join us whether you are a total newcomer to sailing, someone with a little experience, possibly a long time ago, or someone with great expertise who will immediately be challenging our best sailors. Our main membership is Full Family (which includes membership for an individual) and there is also a Junior Family membership. Group membership is available for schools, youth groups and other organizations, as well as Social membership for those who do not want to sail, or are no longer able to do so, but still want to enjoy the facilities of the club. There are other membership types available for Young Persons, Radio Sailing and Paddle Boarding.

The club offers class and handicap racing (sailing of single boat types and mixed boat types), social events, sailing training from complete beginners onwards, and a spacious clubhouse with catering and a bar.

How do I find out more?
Read this and visit our web site: www.chipsteadsc.org.uk . You will be welcome to visit the club and talk to someone, or you can email or telephone us using the contacts on our website. We are located in Chipstead, near to Sevenoaks, Kent and conveniently close to J5 of the M25. Our address for satnav or online mapping use is: Chevening Road, TN13 2SD.

When can I sail?
The main season runs from the start of April to the end of October, with racing taking place on Saturdays, Sundays - and on Wednesday evenings while daylight hours permit. There are handicap races as well as races for particular classes of boats so everyone can go out in each session. There is sailing for juniors on Saturday mornings (Chipmates), when there is also adults training and novice sailing. During the week in the main season, there are opportunities for members to sail when the lake is in use on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Winter Series runs through November and December on Sunday mornings, following which our Winter Working Parties take place during January and early February when maintenance and improvements to the clubhouse and boat parking areas are carried out by members. These are followed by the Chiller Series on Sunday mornings from the end of February until the end of March, to join up with the start of the main summer season again.

Members are able to sail at any time but are encouraged to ‘buddy sail’ with others outside the organized sessions for safety reasons. Members can get access to the changing rooms when the clubhouse is closed via combination locks, and club keys are available to members to allow them to open the access barriers and mast stores when needed.

New members should read the Club Rules which can be found on our website under the Information tab/ then Documents, or by clicking on the link: http://www.chipsteadsc.org.uk/index.php/documents-menu/csc-rules-and-bylaws

Can I get anything to eat or drink?
Yes, hot and cold lunches are served at a reasonable cost on weekends during the main season, with snack meals after Wednesday evening races, and on Sundays during the winter months when the club is in use. Teas and coffees are available from the kitchen, morning and afternoon on race days, with homemade cake and sweets also on sale. The bar is open at weekends after morning and afternoon sailing, also after the Wednesday evening series and on Sunday lunchtimes in the winter when the club is in use.

Is there Training available?
Chipstead SC is an affiliated RYA Training Centre for junior and adult dinghy sailing and powerboat courses and certificates. We offer a range of courses each year and details of the training programme and how to apply can be found on the club website, on the notice board by the main door of the club and in leaflets available in the clubhouse. You can make enquiries about training or book a course by contacting our Training Coordinator at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

We also have an Adults Saturday Club which is aimed at new sailors and those wanting more experience before going racing, also for those who are returning to sailing with a need to brush up on their skills. This meets on Saturday mornings during the main season and you can find out more by emailing to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

What is there for Juniors?
There is a thriving Junior Class for 7-18 year olds which parents can take an active in part if they wish. Experienced junior sailors can compete in the Club racing and there is a Chipmates Saturday Club that meets on Saturday mornings in the main season for beginners through to experienced junior sailors with RYA qualifications. You can contact the Juniors Class Captain at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

What about a Boat and can I keep this at the Club?
Club boats are available from the Training Centre during training, and from Class Captains to try out in return for a small donation towards upkeep. It may be possible to extend this to free sailing or racing in your early days. Most members own their own boat or crew regularly for a friend. There are opportunities to try out different boats and plenty of people are willing to give advice. Boats for sale are advertised on a notice board in the clubhouse, on the club website and on class association websites, as well as by word of mouth.

There is space for your boat - or boats - at Chipstead all year round. Boats are parked in fleets and spaces are allotted by Class Captains. Boats and equipment must be insured and secured, and are left at the Club at the owners’ risk. Contact details for Class Captains are on the website and on the back of the Race Programme issued to members when joining and renewing each year.

What can I sail?
There are a number of dinghy classes, most with their own class points race each week on Saturday or Sunday.

Comet - Enterprise - Firefly - Graduate - Heron - Laser – Solo - Topper sailing dinghies are organized in their own Classes, each headed up by a Class Captain. Optimists, Teras, Toppers, Mirrors and Lasers are also sailed in the Junior Class. Other types of boats are raced on a handicap basis and are organized in the Fast Handicap fleet. There are some limitations on the types of boats sailed at Chipstead: no multi-hulls or trapezes and boats generally should not exceed 15 feet in length.

What about Radio Sailing (Model Yachting) and Paddle Boarding?
Full Family members and junior members within Junior Family memberships can take part in all Club activities, including Radio Sailing and Paddle boarding. There are also separate non-sailing membership types for Radio Sailing and Paddle Boarding, allowing those members to take part in these activities only - plus use of the Club’s facilities onshore. To find out more, please contact the Class Captains: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Radio Sailing or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Paddle boarding.

I am Disabled - Can you help?
There is sailing each Tuesday and Thursday with Wealden Sailability throughout the main season with a group of helpers on hand to organise and assist. There are specially adapted boats and a hoist together with wheelchair accessible toilets and changing facilities. There is a separate website explaining more at: https://wealdensailability.org/

What about other activities like Swimming or Kayaking?
Swimming and kayaking/ canoeing are not CSC activities. However, kayaking/ canoeing is done at Chipstead Lake through Bromley Canoe Club, which is a Group member of CSC. You can contact Bromley Canoe Club at: https://www.bromleycanoeclub.org.uk/

Open water swimming on the lake is run separately by Triswim by arrangement with CSC. You can contact Triswim at: http://www.triswim.org.uk/ . Please note that Chipstead Lake is private property so you cannot use the lake or club property unless you are a member of CSC or an authorised organisation.

What about Safety?
Chipstead SC practices a strict code of safety. In particular:

  • BUOYANCY AIDS must be worn at all times afloat or on the pontoons.
  • WET OR DRY SUITS must be worn during the winter period - 25 December to 31 March.
  • PATROL BOATS are always on duty during races and organised sailing. Their priority is getting PEOPLE out of the water - capsized boats are retrieved later.
  • FIRST AID is available at the Clubhouse and if necessary at the Chipstead Cheshire Home behind the Clubhouse. There is a defibrillator for emergency use.
  • IF THE WEATHER WORSENS during a race, courses may be shortened or racing abandoned at the discretion of the race officer.
  • THE CLUB continually reviews safety and updates facilities accordingly.

Duties - What duties?
As a condition of membership, sailing members are required to perform four to five half-day duties per year. Non-sailing family members are also encouraged to take part. The duties are not in any way onerous and will be based on your preference, experience and ability. It is a good chance to get to know other people in your fleet and to learn more about racing. Duties are in the race hut, out in a patrol boat or serving tea/coffee.

It is also expected that members will help on at least 3 of the 6 winter working parties.

Is there a Social side?
There are social activities at the Club at various times of year. Classes hold barbecues, quizzes and games nights. We hold a Laying-Up supper-dance in November and there is a Christmas Lunch. A varied series of talks is held during the winter. A variety of events on the water have been held on Bank Holiday Mondays from fun family regattas to dragon boat racing. The Social Secretary will be pleased to tell you more and make use of any entertaining or organising talents you may possess.

How do I Join?
Go to the Club’s website at: www.chipsteadsc.org.uk . Click on the Membership button and this will take you to the welcome page for our WebCollect membership system. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the New members join here button. This will take you to a menu of membership products which are described with the relative costs. You make your selections and follow the instructions to collect your details, and then checkout at the end. You will be asked to register with your email address and a password. [Note this is an ordering system only, and payment is by cheque or by bank transfer (preferred) from your own bank account which is matched by a reference that will be emailed to you automatically.] Please make contact with the club if there are any difficulties or questions. You can contact us by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Current membership fees can be viewed here:

We look forward to seeing you at the Chipstead Sailing Club.