Club Rules

KANATA SAILING CLUB RULES

Updated March 29th, 2025

Purpose of the Rules

These rules describe the privileges and obligations of club members. The rules are subservient to the By Laws, Safe Sport Policies and Code of Conduct of the Kanata Sailing Club (KSC).

Membership Categories

  1. Family Membership: Children of any age living at the parental home are considered as part of the Family membership. A Family is defined as two adults in a spousal or cohabiting relationship living at the same address, or a single parent with dependants of any age living at the parental home.
  2. Single Membership: A single adult 18 years of age or older.
  3. Student Membership: A student is a person registered full time as a student at a learning institution who is 18 years of age or older. Proof of full time registration at an educational institution is required.
  4. Social Membership: Social members are entitled to use all facilities such as upper and lower decks and BBQ and club-owned water sports equipment such as canoe and kayak. The only restriction is that social members have no sailing privileges.
  5. Honorary Membership: A single adult, 18 years of age or older, awarded by Board of Directors for lifetime membership based upon extraordinary contributions by that individual to the club. Honorary Members are exempted from the annual membership fee.

All KSC members must complete and sign a current application form that has the required liability release clause.

Qualification and Tags

Only qualified skippers may take charge of (skipper) club-owned boats. Qualified Skippers are divided into four classes: Yellow, Blue, Green, and Red. All those wishing to skipper a boat must pass the checkout process.

sail tag process

Yellow Tag

A Yellow Tag skipper must be:

  1. Above 12 years of age
  2. A dependant of a Family Member who has a Blue, Green, or Red Tag

Yellow Tags are designed with junior sailors in mind. A Yellow Tag skipper must be checked out by a qualified KSC instructor. Yellow Tag skippers can take out a monohull boat under supervision of a parent with a Blue, Green or Red Tag.

Blue Tag

In order to qualify for a Blue Tag, a sailor must be:

  1. An adult with a current Family, Single, or Student Membership
  2. Checked out by a club training instructor in a monohull boat

A Blue Tag skipper is entitled to use all club-owned monohull boats with the exception of catamarans. Please note that the Blue Tag expertise can be gained via enrolling in a KSC Training program, or from previous experience or by sailing with a Member.

Green Tag

A Green Tag skipper must be:

  1. Previously a Blue Tag skipper, or have previous catamaran sailing experience
  2. Checked out by a KSC evaluator in a RS Cat 16 catamaran

A Green Tag skipper is entitled to use the RS Cat 16, but not the Hobie 18 catamarans. The Hobies are considered “performance” boats that require a higher level of skill to safely skipper.

Red Tag

A Red Tag skipper must be:

  1. Previously a Blue or Green Tag skipper, or have previous H-18 sailing experience
  2. Checked out by a KSC evaluator in an H-18 catamaran

A Red Tag skipper is entitled to use all the boats in the fleet including the H-18 catamarans.

The tag system is designed to protect both the Members and Club boat assets. Members fun and safety while sailing is our primary objective, followed by protecting and preserving the assets that Member fees have paid for.

Use of Club Boats

Qualified skippers may use a club-owned boat once they achieve the appropriate tags, and display their tag on the tag board in the clubhouse. When using a boat the qualified skipper acknowledges their responsibility for the boat and its safe operation. The responsibility remains with that skipper until the boat is returned to shore, de-rigged, and secured with all equipment stowed and tags removed from the board. Responsibility may also be relinquished when another qualified skipper takes over the boat by posting the appropriate tags on the tag board. The skipper who has signed out the boat shall be on board the boat when it is being sailed.

In the case of guest sailors, the guest may skipper the boat providing they remain under the on-board supervision of the qualified skipper.

For one person boats, the qualified skipper may permit another member or guest to sail the boat under the supervision and responsibility of the qualified skipper.

Other than during designated training, club catamarans may only be used by the appropriate Green or Red tag skippers.

Upon return of a club boat the skipper must note any necessary repairs in the boat maintenance log book. If in their opinion the deficiency renders the boat dangerous to sail or risks the further integrity of the boat, the skipper must indicate the boat as being out of service on the tag board AND log book. The skipper shall also report the issue via email to the Harbourmaster, so the repairs can be quickly addressed.

In the event of an easily repairable problem, the skipper should make the repair. Many tools and parts are available in the KSC tool shed. Please only undertake repairs if you are skilled and knowledgeable in the repair process.

From time to time, the club shall take certain boats out of service for maintenance reasons. These boats shall be indicated on the tag board in the clubhouse. These boats must not be sailed until returned to service by the Harbourmaster.

Use of Privately Owned Boats and Trailers

Family, Single and Student members are welcome to sail their own insured boats from KSC.

As a safety precaution, members are advised to use the tag board and log book in the same manner as for club boats.

Privately owned boats kept on the club’s premises must be registered with the club and fees paid. KSC reserves the right to dispose of any non-registered boats and/or trailers. The storage of privately owned boats or equipment inside the club house is not permitted. Any such boats or equipment will be taken outside without notice.

Cooperative Obligations

Members are expected to contribute a reasonable amount of time and effort to assist the operation of KSC. In becoming a member, an individual accepts that they will be called upon to contribute to tasks such as a duty day, boat maintenance, work parties, etc.

Duty Officer

The Duty Officer or Duty Crew’s prime responsibility is to assist with the safety and security of club members and property. Other duties are set out in the Duty Manual. ALL Members are expected to sign up for at least one Duty Day (or 2 half days) during the sailing season.

Safety

  1. At all times while boating (sailboat, motor boat, canoe or paddle board) all members shall wear properly sized life jackets or personal flotation devices which meet Ministry of Transportation standards and shall carry a sound signalling device (whistle)
  2. All club boats must carry a heaving line of not less than 15m length
  3. All club boats must carry at least one paddle
  4. All club boats, other than Lasers, the Byte, and catamarans, must carry one bailer
  5. The maximum number of persons allowed at one time in club boats is:
    • RS Quest: 2-5 person, larger dinghy for family outings and training
    • RS Feva: 1-3 persons, smaller and lighter dinghy for training and racing
    • Tasar: 2-3 persons, light leisure or racing dinghy
    • Laser: 1-2 persons, leisure or racing dinghy
    • Byte CII: 1-2 persons, leisure or racing dinghy
    • SailQube: 1 child, small, light dinghy for training
    • Hobie 18: 1-4 persons, performance catamaran
    • RS Cat 16: 1-4 persons, stable and easy-handling catamaran
    • Safety boat: 1-4 persons
  6. Members must wear soft soled, non-scuffing type shoes when sailing. Please note that open toed sandals are not recommended
  7. Night sailing is not permitted in club boats. Use of club boats is permitted only between sunrise and sunset

It is recommended that RS Quest, Tasers and catamarans be sailed with a minimum of two persons. However, under light conditions it is acceptable for experienced sailors to single hand these boats if proper preparations have been made for rescue. Under white cap conditions the two sailor minimum shall apply.

Provision for Rescue

Because sailing conditions vary widely during the season, it is not possible to set definitive rules regarding provision for rescue. Before sailing, particularly when alone at KSC, it is incumbent on members to be aware of their potential survival time in the prevailing conditions.

Information to help assess this, such as current water temperature, wind conditions, and a chart relating survival time to air water temperatures are found on several web sites. You should always know the weather, wind and water conditions before departing. Members shall make adequate provision for their own rescue as appropriate. Such measures can range from arranging for someone to come to the Club if a phone call is not received by a preset time, having someone available to take a phone call and organize a rescue, or simply calling 911 in a life-threatening emergency. While KSC has two boats that can be deployed for assistance, the Club cannot guarantee that they can be dispatched for your rescue.

Reporting of Safety Related Issues

Members involved in or witnessing an incident with safety implications should report the incident to any member of the Board. The Vice-Commodore will investigate the incident and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood of similar situations.

Care of Club Property

  1. All club boats must be properly rigged before use and properly de-rigged after use. New skippers who are unsure of proper rigging and de-rigging procedure should request assistance from an experienced skipper or see our fleet pages for instructions
  2. Skippers must not leave the site without de-rigging a club boat that they have signed out unless the boat is signed out by another qualified skipper. Failure to properly de-rig a club boat will result in a discussion about potential loss of privileges
  3. Switching equipment or rigging among club boats and private boats is not permitted under any circumstances
  4. A club sailboat is properly de-rigged and secured when:
    • The stern of the vessel is as far up the beach as is reasonably feasible for prevailing water levels
    • Tires support the bow and stern
    • The dolly is secure
    • The boat is drained and the inside bottom of the hull has been cleaned with water and the drain in the transom has been opened to permit drainage of rainwater
    • Buoyancy tank vents/drains are left open
    • The boom, bailer, and paddles are left on board; and for Lasers the boom, mast, and sail are stored in the proper location
    • The mainsail and jib are properly folded and stowed in the correct sail bag
    • The sail bag, rudder/tiller, dagger boards/centreboards, and life jackets/PFDs are put away in the clubhouse in their designated location. RS Quest centreboards hinge into their housing and are to be left in the boat
    • The tag board has been cleared of the appropriate tags, AND the boat sign out log has been properly filled in
    • Defects are reported in the maintenance logbook

Persistent abuse of club boats or other property may result in the member’s privileges being revoked..

Damage to or Loss of Club Property

  1. All damage to club boats or loss of equipment must be reported in the boat maintenance logbook
  2. Damage or equipment loss that is serious enough to prevent a club boat from being used must be reported to the Harbourmaster, via email, as soon as possible
  3. Members are not normally held financially responsible for accidental damage or equipment loss, however persistent or negligent abuse of boats or other equipment will be addressed with the Member, and may lead to a request for financial compensation

Guests

  1. Only adult members may bring guests to the Club. The maximum number of times a particular guest is permitted to sail in a club boat or make use of club facilities is four times per year, after which such visitors must take out a membership of their own.
  2. A member who plans to host a group of ten (10) or more guests at one time must notify the Vice Commodore so that the appropriate duty crew can be advised of such arrangements
  3. Members who plan to host a group of any size should consult the Club calendar to avoid conflicts with other large events such as regattas or work parties

Alcohol and Smoking

A liquor license/permit must be obtained for any event where the club provides alcoholic beverages. Club members may bring their own alcohol. KSC does not advise any Members to drink and drive, or drink and sail under any circumstances, as prescribed by provincial laws and legal drinking limits.

No smoking or vaping is permitted on the KSC property, boats or dock.

Pets

Pets are not permitted on the KSC property, boats or dock. Not even cute ones.

Swimming Safety

Swimming is allowed in the beach area on the KSC property. Both sailors and swimmers are reminded to be mindful of each other’s presence on the water at the KSC site and to always be on the lookout for each other. Any and all swimmers have the right of way over boats. Please avoid swimming in the area when the motor boats are under operation.

There are several underwater hazards, including deadheads, around the KSC dock that can pose serious risk when jumping off the dock. Before jumping, please assess the water conditions to ensure it’s safe. Jumping into the water when you don’t know what is below is highly dangerous.

Diving off the dock is strongly discouraged.

There is no lifeguard on duty, so swimming is at your own risk.