A vital part of sailboat racing activities on the Florida Suncoast, the Center is home for nearly 50 Club owned and maintained sailboats, which include fleets of Optimist Prams, 420s, Rhodes 19s, and 10 Sonars. These are available to qualified members and their families to use at no cost.
ST PETERSBURG SAILING CENTER
250 - 2nd Ave SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone/Fax: 727-822-3113
e-mail sailingcenter@spyc.org. Website: www.spyc.org
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Anyone may join if they live within the area of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Manatee or Sarasota counties at least three months out of the year. Business hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM seven days a week during the summer months. September through May the Center is closed all day Monday.
DUES
JUNIOR (UNDER 21) $150.00; ADULT $250.00 FAMILY $350.00 SAILING LESSONS
Learn-to-sail lessons for those from age five through eighteen and adults are conducted in the summer for the City of St. Petersburg. All students must be members of the Sailing Center. There is no fee for the lessons. Registration begins the first Saturday in May and is closed when all classes are filled.
RACING TEAM
Our youth racing team is well known internationally. A learn-to-race program is conducted for summer students who want to join the team after they learn how to sail. Full time coaches handle all matters relating to the Racing team.
FREE SAILING
Rhodes 19's and Prams are available for sailing by members at no charge on a first-come-first-sail basis. While expert sailing ability is not required, the ability to set up the boat, disembark, get home and dock the boat is essential. The member sets up the boat and puts the boat and equipment away. Before the first sail, please contact the Sailing Master so that a tour of the boat and equipment, a review of the boundaries and a check of skill can be arranged. ALL SAILING IS DONE AT THE MEMBER'S RISK. You are responsible for anything you run into! Non-members aboard are the guests of the member and the member's risk. There is no staff patrolling the sailing area. At least two people must be aboard the Rhodes 19 before leaving the dock. Prams are only allowed out two and two.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Many regattas are held at the Sailing Center, from large international events to local fun races. Marine-related groups may reserve the meeting rooms for regular or special classes or seminars. Members may arrange to keep their ACTIVE boats in the yard. There is a quarterly fee and a waiting list. The docks are for temporary docking only. Auto parking is for those using the Sailing Center's facilities.
RULES AND PROCEDURES
GENERAL
The Board of Directors of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club develops the rules and procedures. They may be amended or modified from time to time by the Board. All changes will be posted at the Sailing Center and filed with the Clerk of Council, City of St. Petersburg.
HOURS OF OPERATION
The Sailing Center's normal hours of operation will generally be from 0800 until 1700 Tuesday through Sunday. It will normally be closed Monday. The Facility may be open at other than the regular times to accommodate the summer learn-to-sail program, regattas and other events. (Open 7 days a week June through August.)
FACILITY ACCESS OUTSIDE NORMAL HOURS
Facility access outside normal operating hours may be arranged on an individual basis through the Sailing Center office.
SAFETY
Any activities, which in the judgment of Sailing Center personnel are deemed to be unsafe, will immediately be halted upon request from the Sailing Center personnel. Non-compliance may result in suspension of Sailing Center privileges
CONDUCT ON PREMISES
The Sailing Center personnel shall supervise conduct on the premises. Rough play, fighting, profanity, obscenity, destruction or careless use of Sailing Center property or any other inappropriate behavior may be cause for immediate suspension of membership privileges for up to two weeks by the Sailing Master or the Sailing Center Chairman. Suspension shall remain in effect until the Sailing Center Committee has reviewed the incident. Sailing Center membership privileges may be canceled, restricted, or suspended for a specific period of time or reinstated by the Committee after a fair hearing with prior notice to the member. The member will be given an opportunity to respond to the charges of misconduct either in writing or in person before the committee.
SAILING CENTER MEMBERSHIP
CATEGORIES
Junior membership: eight years of age through twenty years of age.
Adult membership: Twenty-one years of age and older.
Family membership: Married couples and adult parents or guardians along with their junior children, if any.
Members must reside within Pinellas, Hillsboro, Polk, Pasco, Manatee or Sarasota counties.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
A) The Board of Directors of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club will set membership fees. A fee schedule will be on file with the City of St. Petersburg, Clerk of Council and the Sailing Center Office
B) The membership year shall be one year from the month of joining.
C) Dues will be billed annually and must be paid prior to one month after the anniversary month. Dues not paid prior to that time will be subject to a 10% penalty.
D) New members may join in any month of the year.
E) Current members must renew for an entire year; there is no provision for part-year memberships.
SAILING ACTIVITIES
SAILING CLASSES
Sailing lessons for members will be offered during the summer. There will be no extra fee.
Members will only be allowed to sign up for one (1) Learn to Sail class per year of membership. Additional Learn to Race classes are available for junior members.
FREE SAILING, USING SAILING CENTER BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
(Prams and Rhodes 19's)
Use of boats and equipment will be restricted to members in good standing of the Sailing Center.
Free sailing may be suspended due to organized classes, regattas, maintenance or unsafe weather conditions.
The Sailing Master or his Assistants may impose geographical restrictions on a particular boat or skipper when, in their opinion, safety so dictates.
Members using Sailing Center boats and equipment will be held financially responsible for damage incurred through careless or improper use, and are responsible for proper mooring of the boat and stowage of sails and equipment following its use.
Members are responsible for insuring that each boat sailed is properly equipped with personal flotation devices and other equipment required by the Coast Guard regulations and the laws of the State of Florida.
Members are responsible for maintaining a seamanlike regard for the weather and for returning to the Sailing Center or another safe harbor of refuge with threatened by storms or squalls. Should refuge be sought away from the Sailing Center, the skipper shall notify the Sailing Center as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary search and rescue operations.
All free sailing is at the member's own risk. Non-members aboard are the responsibility of the member. At least two people must be on board before departure from the docks.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR FREE SAILING
Juniors over 15 years of age must have taken the appropriate class from the Sailing Center or the equivalent and have passed the class.
Adults must demonstrate proficiency at sailing the appropriate boat. The Sailing Master or Assistant will pay particular attention to disembarking and docking skills.
In the case of a member with known skills, the Sailing Master may waive the above requirements.
FACILITIES
BOAT STORAGE, EQUIPMENT
Inside storage: the provided racks are for small boats, notably Lasers and IODs. Primarily for junior members.
Outside storage: On a space-available basis, member's boats to be dry sailed may be stored in assigned spaces in the yard.
Boats so stored must be:
Actively used; i.e., twice a month.
Used primarily from the Sailing Center.
Weigh less than 5,000 pounds all up.
On serviceable trailers, ready to move, and unlocked.
Agree to move or be moved for regattas.
Maintained in a sail-ready condition except for temporary maintenance.
Current on storage and membership fees as set by the Sailing Center Committee.
The Sailing Center and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club assumes no responsibility for the safety or protection of boats or equipment stored on the premises.
