1. GENERAL
1.1
These By-Laws have been prepared, periodically updated and approved by the
General Committee as a supplement to, or elaboration of, the Club's
Constitution. The foundation document is, of course, the Constitution
itself.
1.2
The Club facilities are available only to members (including absentee
members and reciprocal members on temporary visits), to their immediate
families, and to accompanied guests and to others in the discretion of the
Committee. A member's partner shall rank equal with husband or wife for
the purposes of article XVII of the constitution.
1.3
The General Committee may make the Club's facilities available to outside
organisations, other clubs and organisations at its discretion.
1.4
Members are at all times expected to behave themselves - individually and
in relation to each other - in a manner befitting a family club. Members
who infringe this basic principle may be reprimanded or, in extremis, have
their membership withdrawn.
1.5
Members shall be familiar with and abide by the By-Laws, which are upheld
by the Club Manager and any General Committee members. Any member may,
however, draw another member's or guest's attention to the By-Laws, if and
when such a member or guest infringes a By-Law.
1.6
The By-Laws are available at the Club office.
2. GUESTS
2.1
Members may bring accompanied guests to the Club so long as the number of
guests and the frequency of their visits are reasonable. One friend and
his immediate family would normally constitute a reasonable number of
guests.
2.2
Prior permission of the Manager or any member of the General Committee is
required for visits by any guests exceeding three occasions in any twelve
months period.
2.3 A
guest fee will be applicable to all guests using the Club facilities, at a
rate set by the General Committee from time to time. Rates are available
at the Club Office.
2.4
Dinner guests arriving after 1700 hours are exempt from any guest fee.
Actual competitors in scheduled RVYC events from recognized Yacht Clubs
and members of the Royal Thai Navy are also exempt.
2.5 At
the earliest convenient time, members shall register their guests
(including relatives other than spouse or children) by an entry in the
guest book indicating the duration of the visit, and shall introduce them
to the Manager or in his absence to any General Committee members who are
present.
2.6
Only after proper registration as in 2.5 may guests be issued with a
Visitor's Card. A deposit for the Visitor's Card will be required at a
rate set by the General Committee from time to time.
3. CHILDREN
3.1
The Club is a family club, intended to be enjoyed by all family members.
Children are therefore welcome. In order to maintain an environment
suitable for all, it is, however, assumed that children are at all times
under adult supervision, and that members bringing a child to the Club
accept full responsibility for the behaviour of the child at all times.
3.2
Members shall ensure that children under their care know about and observe
the following guidelines:
(a)
Children should not play on boats or cars located on Club property.
(b)
Children should be quiet in the areas around the accommodation units prior
to 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
(c)
The upper level of the Clubhouse is a quiet area. Children should
therefore refrain from playing games and running around. For safety
reasons young children should only go there if accompanied by a
responsible adult. No one should go there in wet or moist clothing.
(d)
The "Regatta Room" will be used for RVYC Committee meetings, Regatta
administration and judgment hearings, sailing instructions, etc. Otherwise
this room may be used as "working room". All users should refrain from
making noise which could disturb others.
(e)
The "Spinnaker Room" is generally to be used as a lounge and for
television viewing and for other purposes as determined by the General
Committee or the Manager.
(f)
The Verandah area of the lower level of the Clubhouse near the bar is for
adults and shall be exclusively for adults after 7 p.m. on Saturday
nights. Smoking is permitted only in this area of the Verandah.
(g)
The area of the clubhouse south of the Compass Rose is an area for
families. Here children can dine or play with toys and games while
directly supervised by adults.
3.3 If
at any time the Club Manager or any General Committee member feels it
necessary, they can ask a child to behave appropriately; where possible,
the parents or member responsible for the child will be consulted first.
If inappropriate behaviour continues, the matter may be referred to the
General Committee and the status of the member will be reviewed.
3.4 A
person is considered a child at least until the age of 16.
4. ABSENTEE AND RECIPROCAL MEMBERS
4.1
Pursuant to Article XV of the Constitution, the absentee member
subscription shall be at the rate set by the General Committee from time
to time and approved by the members at an Annual General Meeting. This fee
is payable once for the lifetime of the member.
4.2
Absentee Members returning temporarily will be treated as full members,
provided that the visit is temporary (i.e. not more than 14 days).
4.3
The Absentee Member concerned shall be eligible for restoration to full
membership without paying an entrance fee but shall be required to
recommence payment of regular subscriptions and may be required to pay any
special charges and levies payable by members during the period of absent
membership, to the extent not already paid by that member.
4.4
Absentee members who wish to use the facilities and services of the Club
will be required to pay the normal monthly subscription dues for the
calendar month(s) during which they use those facilities, if their visit
is for more than two weeks.
4.5
Reciprocal Members, i.e. Members of Yacht Clubs with which RVYC has a
reciprocal arrangement, will be treated in the same manner as temporarily
returning Absentee Members, that is, they will be treated as full members
for up to 14 days, after which they will be expected to pay a
monthly contribution. If their stay exceeds one month, they will be
expected to apply for temporary membership.
5. CLUB AND PERSONAL STAFF
5.1
Nannies are welcome at the club, if they look after children while parents
engage in sailing activities. Such nannies are considered part of a family
group and should remain, with the children they look after, in the area
designated for children. Parents are, however, ultimately responsible for
the behaviour of their own children.
5.2 No
sleeping or eating facilities are provided for members' own staff, except
for nannies who share the same room as the members' children and who will
eat with the children they are looking after.
5.3
Members shall not hire Club staff for crewing, or other personal services,
unless a member of the General Committee has given prior authorisation.
5.4
Members are encouraged to contribute to the Staff New Year Fund.
6. ACCESS
6.1
Members are entitled to all information relating to the conduct of the
Club. However, access to such information must be managed in such a way as
to ensure its accuracy and that ad hoc requests do not disrupt daily Club
operations. Requests for information should be in writing and will be met
at the earliest opportunity.
6.2
However, Members and their Guests are not permitted access to the Club
Office, unless authorised by the Manager or a member of the General
Committee.
6.3
Dogs and other pets are not permitted on the Club premises.
6.4
Cars shall be parked only in parking areas as designated by the General
Committee.
7. CLUB HOUSE
7.1
Members must use their Membership Card for any purchases made at the Club.
7.2
Restaurant service hours will be set by the Manager and the General
Committee. A schedule of hours current from time to time is available
from the Club Office.
7.3
Members and their guests are expected to be properly attired in the
Clubhouse after 1900 Hours on Saturdays.
7.4
Members shall not use the Clubhouse for storage of sailing gear. Gear may
be left to dry only on the racks provided, and not on the railing of the
terrace.
7.5
Members are not allowed in the Club kitchen except with permission of the
Manager or a Committee Member.
8. ACCOMMODATION
8.1
Reservations for accommodation shall be made online or through the Club
Office.
8.2
Members with outstanding balances owed to the Club are not eligible to
rent accommodation.
8.3
Subject to 8.4 below, reservations may be made as follows:
(a) Up
to two days preceding the weekend
(usually Wednesday),
within the week preceding the weekend being booked:
-
For a minimum of two nights only, regardless of actual occupancy;
-
For up to two rooms for use of the member and/or his spouse or children or
guests;
(b)
Any rooms unbooked by 1800 hours, two days preceding the weekend (or long
holiday as per 8.8) being booked:
-
For one night;
-
For additional rooms for the use of a full member and/or his/her spouse or
children or guests.
8.4
Reservations may be made by any member (including absentee members or
reciprocal members) for up to two rooms on any one night. If members wish
to book more than two rooms, they should contact the General Manager.
8.5
Unless a room is subsequently re-let under 8.6 below, members will be
responsible for payment of the room charge for any rooms booked under
their name.
8.6
Cancellation of a reservation must be advised online or to the Club Office
five days prior
to the date booked.
Failing to cancel within the above period will result in the member being
charged the full room rent, unless the room or bed is subsequently re-let.
8.7 A
room that becomes available due to cancellation will be given to another
member by the Club Office, in accordance with a waiting list kept by the
Club Manager (i.e. not by private sub-letting).
8.8
For the period around Christmas and other long holiday periods, as decided
by the Committee, advance reservations will be subject to the following
rules:
(a) A
member (including absentee members or reciprocal members) can make advance
room bookings for a minimum of five nights (or such other minimum period
specified by the Committee);
(b) A
member will be responsible for payment for the full reservation period
unless the room is subsequently re-let under 8.8(c) below;
(c)
Cancellation of a reservation must be advised to the Office not later than
fourteen days prior to the date of the first night booked. A room that
becomes available due to cancellation will be given to another member by
the Club Office, in accordance with a waiting list kept by the Club
Manager (i.e. not by private sub-letting).
8.9
Guests using Club accommodation shall be charged the regular rental.
9. BOAT HANDLING AND STORAGE
9.1
The Club is not responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever to boats and
other property. Boats and other property moored on or off the Club's
premises are at the sole risk of the member/owner.
9.2
Boat racks are available only to members (including Absent Members) who
own a boat. Lockers may also be available to members who do not own their
own boat. Allocation of both is made by the Club and shall be personal to
the member.
(a) On
a change of ownership of a boat, the new owner is not automatically
entitled to the rack or any locker, and racks and lockers may not be
transferred between members.
(b)
The Manager shall maintain waiting lists for racks and lockers. As racks
and lockers become available, he shall offer them to members in the order
they appear on the list. Only members may be entered on the lists.
(c)
Notwithstanding the above, a member selling a boat to another member may
agree to transfer the rack the boat occupies to the purchasing member.
(d) A
boat shall be removed from the Club's premises if it becomes owned by a
non-member.
(e)
Boats may only be brought to and kept at the Club if stored in a boat rack
allocated and held in accordance with these By-Laws.
(f)
Absentee Members are required to pay one year's rack fee in advance.
9.3
Boat transfer forms are available from the Club Manager. Members are
obliged to complete one of these forms, and return it to the Manager, for
each new boat brought to the Club for storage, and for any change in
ownership of a boat already stored at the Club.
9.4
All boats shall be stored in the boatsheds or in outside storage areas
designated by the Bosun. Permission to store boats in any other area must
be obtained from the Club Manager.
9.5
Request for moving a boat from its place of storage shall be made by
entering the requests in the boat-down register kept in the Clubhouse.
9.6
Unless permission has been given in writing by the owner, only the owner
can request a boat to be removed from its place of storage. However, the
place of storage of a boat may be altered by the Bosun in order to
facilitate the storage and handling of that or other boats.
9.7 No
boat can be removed from the Club unless all outstanding charges have been
paid.
9.8
Boxes for sailing gear shall be stored underneath or together with the
owner's boat and within the confines of the allocated boat rack. Boxes for
sailing gear not stored in the above manner will be subject to a monthly
storage charge. Boxes for sailing gear may only be brought onto the Club
premises if they are stored in the manner described above.
9.9
Boat repairs by the Club's carpenter shall be arranged through the Club. A
description of the work and the agreed price shall be entered on a boat
repair order form.
9.10
For visiting boats moored off the Club's premises, the Club will provide
shore/boat facilities within reasonable limits and subject to the priority
of racing and/or rescue duties of the Club personnel and equipment.
9.11
Any boat or other property stored on the Club's premises for which rack
storage fees or other fees and/or repair charges payable to the Club have
not been paid for a period of two months shall be deemed abandoned. The
Treasurer shall notify the registered owner of the boat by registered mail
at the address shown in the Club's records that the boat is deemed
abandoned.
9.12
Boats for which the owner cannot be ascertained shall be deemed abandoned.
9.13
The Treasurer shall post details of abandoned boats on the notice board in
the Clubhouse and notify the Club Manager.
9.14
Abandoned boats shall after a period of 30 days from the date of
notification under 9.11 or advertisement under 9.13 be at the disposal of
the Treasurer, who may sell the boat at his own discretion. The proceeds
of the sale, less boat handling charges in arrears, plus a surcharge of
20% thereon together with any expenses incurred by the Club in connection
with repairs to and/or sale of the boat, shall be held by the Treasurer
for a period of one year counted from the said date of notification or
advertisement and may within such period be claimed by the abandoning
owner. If not claimed within such period, the net proceeds shall be
regarded as Club revenue.
9.15
Until such time as an abandoned boat is actually sold, the owner may
recover his/her rights and possession of the boat by paying all
accumulated rack storage fees or other fees plus a surcharge of 20%
thereon and reimburse the Club for any expenses incurred by the Club in
connection with repairs to and contemplated sale of the boat.
10. RENTAL OF CLUB BOATS
10.1
The Club owns a number of boats which are available for rent to members.
The price list for such rentals is available at the Club Office.
10.2.
The Club accepts no liability for the use of its boats and any member
renting such a boat does so at his/her own risk and must complete the
required form, which is available at the Club Office, waiving liability
and agreeing to pay the rental fee.
11. SAILING
11.1
The decision whether or not to go sailing shall be the sole responsibility
of each member and visiting yachtsman, whether cruising or in an organised
sailing event, and the Club shall not accept any responsibility for the
safety of members, visiting yachtsmen and/or boats.
The
wearing of adequate personal buoyancy when sailing is mandatory at all
times.
11.2
When the wind is gusting or when adverse weather conditions may be
expected, as decided upon by a General Committee member, a red flag may be
flown. This is a warning to all helmsmen that conditions are considered
dangerous and that the Club may not be in a position to provide rescue.
Club rental boats will not be allowed at sea when a red flag is flying.
11.3
The Club's rescue facilities are primarily provided for life rescue and
shall only be used for rescue of boats and sailing gear when this can be
done without jeopardising their primary function. Members concerned about
their boats are, therefore, recommended to keep them insured.
11.4 A
boat shall be deemed to be cruising, unless it is engaged in an organized
racing event, when it sails outside the triangular area bounded by the
lines of sight (i.e. approximately North West and South) from the
Clubhouse and a North-South line through the location of the permanent
west mark buoy referred to in the Club's sailing instructions.
11.5
Members and visiting sailors proposing to go cruising shall make a full
entry on the cruising board in the Clubhouse.
11.6
The Club will endeavour to provide or arrange a rescue operation when a
cruising boat has not returned within a reasonable period after the return
time entered on the cruising board.
11.7
Any rescue operation organized for a cruising boat shall be at the expense
of the skipper or owner of the boat.
11.8
Club regular racing events are governed by the Sailing Instructions for
Club Races.
11.9
Special sailing events are governed by the Sailing Instructions for Major
Events or Special Instructions issued for a particular event.
11.10
Members and visiting sailors must make themselves familiar with the safety
at sea precautions and rescue advice contained in Appendix 1.
12. PAYMENT OF CLUB DUES AND PAYMENT FOR CLUB SERVICES
12.1 A
member shall only be considered elected when the appropriate entrance fee
has been paid and the application approved by the General Committee.
Persons who have paid the appropriate entrance fee and are awaiting election
will be permitted to use the Club's facilities.
12.2
Charges for accommodation, boat handling and storage, locker rental,
bar/restaurant items and other services will be fixed by the General
Committee.
12.3
Monthly subscriptions and charges for boat handling and storage, lockers and
storage of sailing gear box are payable in advance by direct debit. It is
the responsibility of each member to ensure that his/her direct debit is
at all times in the correct amount to cover all the monthly fees, charges
and rentals due the Club.
12.4
Room charges, bar and restaurant bills and other Club services including
repairs will be deducted immediately from the Membership Card.
12.5
When settling accounts by cheque, the cheque shall be issued in favour of
"Royal Varuna Yacht Club", be crossed, and with "or bearer" crossed out.
13. GENERAL MEETINGS
13.1
Proxies for use at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting must be in
writing; be signed by the member giving the proxy; state the name of the
proxy holder (who must be a Life Member, Ordinary Member, or, in the
absence of a member, his/her spouse) and the directions (if any) in
accordance with which the proxy holder is to vote; and specify the
meeting(s) for which the proxy is effective.
13.2
Proxies to be used at a meeting must be received and registered by the
Secretary prior to the commencement of that meeting.
13.3
If any member holds more than two proxies, the Secretary shall receive and
register only the first two proxies presented to him by such member;
accordingly, no member may vote under more than two proxies at any
meeting.
13.4
Nomination for election of officers at an Annual General Meeting under
Article IV of the Constitution must be in writing; be signed by at least
four members proposing the nominee; state the office for which the nominee
is nominated; and be received and registered by the Secretary with
evidence of the nominee's consent prior to the commencement of the
meeting; provided, that any nominee not elected to the office so stated
but who so consents shall be eligible for oral nomination for election at
the meeting to any remaining office.
13.5
Subject to these By-Laws, all Life Members and Ordinary Members present in
person or by proxy at the time any resolution is put to a vote at a
general meeting are eligible to vote on such resolution, provided that no
member may so vote if his or her account with the Club as of the end of
the month preceding the meeting has not been settled in full prior to
commencement of the meeting.
14. COMPLAINTS
14.1
Written complaints signed by a member and submitted to the General
Committee or sent by email to the Commodore (and copied to the Manager)
(see website) will receive attention by the Manager, the Committee member
concerned or the General Committee. The member will receive a reply. |
N12° 55.061' E100° 51.423'