Why do I have to do duties?
Lilliput Sailing Club is a small, friendly sailing club run by members for members. As a self-help club, all members are expected to undertake duties to contribute to the smooth running of the club. When you help with tasks needed for the club to function, it enables us to keep our club fees low and gives you the opportunity to meet other members and make new friends. Some duties are obligatory, others voluntary.
What duties am I obliged to do?
All LSC members are required to do one Weekend Yard duty per annum.
How many obligatory Dinghy Race duties am I required to do per annum? In 2026 each person required to undertake Dinghy Race Duties will be obliged to undertake 5 duties. The number of duties may vary from year to year as it depends on the number of eligible members we have. It is calculated by the number of duties required, divided by the number of eligible members
Winter Storage
In addition, all dinghy sailors with winter storage will be required to complete one extra duty per boat stored, during the following year, regardless of whether they take part in racing.
I have a single-handed dinghy which I race; I do not have a cruiser. Do I have to do Dinghy Race duties?
Yes, you are required to undertake obligatory Dinghy Race Duties.
I have a single-handed dinghy which I do not race; I do not have a cruiser. Do I have to do Dinghy Race duties?
Yes, you are required to undertake obligatory Dinghy Race Duties.
We race a double handed dinghy, are we both required to undertake duties?
Yes, you are both required to undertake the obligatory Dinghy Race Duties. So in 2026 you will be required to do 5 race duties each. Plus an additional duty if you has winter storage
I share a double handed dinghy, neither of us race, are we both required to undertake duties?
No. The obligatory Dinghy Race Duties can be shared by the Helm and Crew. It does not matter who does the duties as long as they are covered.
I have a Cruiser. I also have a Dinghy which I race – am I obliged to do Dinghy Race duties?
Yes, you are required to undertake obligatory Dinghy Race Duties as well as Cruiser duties.
I have a cruiser. I also have a dinghy which I do not race – am I obliged to do Dinghy Race Duties?
No. As a Cruiser owner, you will be required to undertake Cruiser Duties, so you will not be obliged to undertake Dinghy Race Duties, unless you race your dinghy. However, you can always volunteer. If you have PB2, it’s an effective way to keep your driving skills up-to-date and we offer refresher training. It’s also a great way to meet other dinghy sailors
I am the parent/guardian of a Cadet Sailor who has a dinghy at LSC – what happens with duties?
Cadet sailors (Junior 8-11 and Senior 14-17) are not expected to undertake duties themselves. Parents/guardians are expected to undertake the duties on behalf of the Cadet’s, unless the Parents/guardians also own a cruiser or dinghy for their own use, which means they will already be committed to duties.
Why do we do Race Duties on Friday nights for East Dorset Sailing Club (EDSC)?
LSC and EDSC have an agreement that for each EDSC Friday race EDSC will provide a Race Officer and Assistant Race officer to run the Cruiser and Dinghy races, plus one SB Driver and one SB Crew. LSC will provide one SB, Driver and SB Crew.
During 2026, there will be 12 EDSC Friday evening races, therefore LSC need to provide 12 SB Drivers and 12 SB Crew. These will be divided equally between Cruisers and Dinghy members. As long as there is a commitment from the Cruisers to cover half the total driver and crew duties, they can volunteer to do these for Wednesday or Sunday dinghy races, so that they do not miss the opportunity to Cruiser race on a Friday.
If I turn up for a Friday Night Duty and there are no LSC Dinghy sailors racing, do I have to do my duty?
Yes, you must do your duty, as EDSC rely on our Support Boat.
What type of Dinghy Race Duties can I undertake?
- Support Boat Driver (SB) Duty
You will need an RYA PB2 Powerboat Driving qualification and have completed our Support Boat Familiarisation Training – see Lilliput Sailing Club - SB2 Familiarisation / Refresher - SB Crew
You’ll be supporting the driver and helping to get the SB ready, launched, and brought back in. We provide training for this — see Lilliput Sailing Club - SB1 Preparation and Recovery. There’s also a link on that page to some helpful videos, which I recommend you watch. As SB Crew you’ll also help with laying race marks and supporting our dinghy sailors during racing, which can include helping the driver tow or recover capsized dinghies. You should only enter the water to help recover a dinghy if you are completely confident you know how to do this safely and you are physically capable.
In extreme circumstances you may need to enter the water; for example, if someone has a head injury you may need to support their head, so you should be able to swim and wear the right kit. Typically this means a wetsuit, buoyancy aid (not a lifejacket), waterproof footwear and sailing gloves.
- Race Officer (RO)
If you are an experienced Dinghy Racer, we can train you to be a Race Officer - Assistant Race Officer (ARO)
No previous experience is required for this role as we can easily train you to assist the RO eg recording a list of racers, timekeeping of starts and finishes, hoisting and lowering flags. You will be driven to and from our Committee Boat, which is moored just outside the Lagoon. You will need to wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions including waterproof footwear as your legs will get wet up to your knees when getting in and out of the Support Boat.
A Quick Note on Physical Requirements
Support Boat Driver and Crew duties can be physically active, including dinghy recovery or water entry. If that’s not suitable, ARO is a great alternative. If you have a short or long term medical condition, or any other reason which may affect your ability to carry out duties, please contact the Dinghy Captain for a confidential conversation.
Who should I contact if I have any queries about Dinghy Race Duties?
- DutyMan Co-ordinator
What other duties can I volunteer for?
- Bar Duty
- Weekend Yard Duty
- Catering Duty