Ocean Springs Yacht Club

OCEAN SPRINGS YACHT CLUB

　HOUSE RULES

MAY 2002

The following rules apply to all Club property, including but not limited to: clubhouse, swimming pool, cabana, pier, and waterfront area. The ules are not intended to restrain or inhibit the membership in their enjoyment of OSYC facilities. They are rather intended to provide an equitable and reasonable basis for maximum utilization of these facilities for all members.

A. DEFINITIONS:

1. In-town guests: Guests of members who occupy a permanent residence in Harrison or Jackson County as much as one month out of every year.

2. Out-of town guests: Guests of members such as houseguests who are visiting in the area for a short period. They must not be residents of Harrison or Jackson County and the duration of their visit must be less than one month.　

3. Members: When the term member is used below, it should be taken to mean a member in good standing.

4. Member’s children: Children under the age of 21 and who are bonafide dependents of members; e.g., still attending school.

B. General:

1. Members and/or member spouses may bring in-town guests providing such visits are not on a recurring basis. Persons meeting the residency definition for in-town guests, who intend to use Club facilities on a regular basis, will be required to apply for membership. To ensure compliance, the Rear Commodore may, at his/her discretion, enforce guest sign-in procedures. The restriction on number of visits does not apply to persons who are in a dating relationship with a single member.

2. Members and/or member spouses may bring out-of-town guests without restriction, providing all other house rules are complied with.

3. With the exception of the swimming pool which is addressed under pool and cabana rules below, children under the age of twelve will not be permitted on premises without a member or member’s spouse present.

4. If members desire that their children (twelve years of age or older) visit the Club without the member or spouse present, the member must request an identification card for each child from the Club Manager.

5. Children of members may bring up to three guests, including in-town guests, providing said children have proper identification, and ensure guest compliance with all house rules. For swim parties, sailing events, etc., members may arrange for a larger number of guests by contacting the Club manager or Rear Commodore.

6. Children are not allowed in the bar area after 5:00 P.M. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted in the bar area after 9 P.M. and at no time will they be allowed to sit at the bar.

7. During hours of darkness when Club operations are closed, children are not permitted on premises unless accompanied by a member or member’s spouse.

8. Clubhouse facilities may be scheduled by members for personal use for private parties provided they are not for the purpose of obtaining profit and do not exclude any member access to the Clubhouse. Any "special interest group" that desires the use of OSYC facilities must give 30 days prior written notice to the Manager and the event must be approved by the Board of Governors.

9. Members desiring to schedule the Clubhouse for private parties should notify the Manager as far in advance as possible to avoid conflicts with other events and to allow processing of the Request for Reservation Form through the Board of Governors, if applicable. A $100.00 deposit is required from members to secure the facility and forfeited as liquidated damages if canceled within 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event. Member is responsible for clean up and must meet the club managers’ approval or a $50.00 fee will be deducted from the $100.00 deposit.

10. The Club will provide all food and beverages at private parties, the preparation and cost of which must be coordinated through the Manager or Rear Commodore.

11. State ABC rules prohibit the bringing of beer or alcoholic beverages on Club property.

12. Members who wish to register a complaint about facilities or services should do so by notifying the Manager and Rear Commodore.　 If no satisfaction is obtained, then the matter can be brought before the Board of Governors via the Commodore.

13. Members who wish to borrow furniture or equipment from the Club must obtain approval of the Rear Commodore.

14. No wet clothing will be allowed inside the Clubhouse and shoes are required.

15. Any member sponsoring guests is responsible for debts or damages incurred by his/her guest.

16. The Club will not be responsible for loss or damage to personal property left by members or their guests.　 The Club will also not be responsible for any supplies sent to the Club for private use.

17. Camping overnight is restricted to regatta or OSYC guests only on the grassy point west of the pool. All electrical tie-ups must have proper approval from the House Committee Chairman. A $5.00 fee will be paid for each electrical tie-up.

18. OSYC will extend privileges to a member of any recognized yacht club, as would be extended to an OSYC member if he/she were a guest of the visiting member's club.　 However, it should be remembered that reciprocity is a privilege that should not be abused.

19. No member of OSYC or his/her guest shall engage in any illegal activity while on OSYC premises.

20. Animals are not permitted in the pool area, on the deck or inside the clubhouse. Members’ animals are welcome on the club grounds but each member is expected to clean up after their animals.

21. All members, under their obligation of membership shall report any violations to the manager or Rear Commodore

C. POOL AND CABANA RULES　

1. Members and their families may use pool facilities when lifeguards are not on duty however, members will assume full responsibility for safety of their entire group. To obtain a pool key and to use the pool under these circumstances, the member must sign a club liability release. This is to be obtained from the Manager or bartender and can be signed effective for the year.　

2. When there is no lifeguard on duty, no person under the age of sixteen shall be allowed in the pool area unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

3. Members may schedule the pool and cabana for private parties. However, the party cannot be private as to exclude other members and their guests from using the pool when the event is in progress.　

4. If private pool parties are scheduled during hours when lifeguards are not on duty, the　 member sponsoring the party will assume full responsibility for providing a qualified lifeguard.　

5. In-town guests of members may use the pool and cabana during regular pool hours when accompanied by a member and by paying $1.00 per person admission fee. The club reserves the right to limit pool use by in-town　 guests when, by the discretion of the Board of Governors, any in-town guest uses the pool excessively.　

6. Out-of-town guests of club members will have the same privileges as their sponsoring member, provided they are accompanied by that member and pay $1.00, as well as register.　

7. Children under the age of twelve may use the swimming pool during regular pool hours but must be accompanied by an adult and this adult must remain in the pool area. The lifeguard however, will make decisions as to the swimming ability of all swimmers using the pool and may require children twelve or older to be accompanied by an adult.　

8. All swimmers must register upon entering the pool area.　

9. Decisions regarding pool use by members and guests will be left to the discretion of the lifeguard, Rear Commodore, and/or Manager. Repeated disregard for pool rules by individuals may result in their being temporarily expelled from the pool.　

10. Members who wish to register a complaint about facilities or services in the pool or cabana area should do so by notifying the Manager and/or Rear Commodore. If satisfaction is not obtained, then the complaint can be registered with the Board of Directors, via the Commodore.　

11. All swimmers must wear proper swimwear.　 No cut-offs or street clothes will be permitted.　

12. All tubes, rafts and air-inflated devices must be approved and judged safe by the lifeguard on duty.　 No Styrofoam devices are permitted in the pool.　

13. No bead necklaces or bracelets are allowed in the pool.　

14. No running, shoving or pushing along the pool or cabana deck will be tolerated.　

15. No horseplay in the water will be permitted.　

16. No towel popping.　

17. No profanity will be tolerated.　

18. No eating or gum chewing in the pool.　

19. No glass containers will be allowed in the pool or cabana area.　 This includes private parties.　

20. All members and guests must pick up and dispose of paper and plastic containers brought into the pool and cabana area.

21. Suntan oil must be thoroughly washed off or removed before entering the pool.　

22. The Rear Commodore will notify parents or guardians of a child’s misconduct.　

23. Repeated failure to comply with established rules by any individual will result in suspension of pool privileges by the Board of Directors, via the Rear Commodore.

D. BOAT AND WATERFRONT RULES

1. To skipper an OSYC boat, you must be a member of OSYC and be a qualified sailor.

2. To be classified as a qualified sailor, your ability must be known to the Vice-Commodore, and you must pass a pre-test (see also Paragraphs 6 & 7 below).　 When qualified, your name will be posted on the Club bulletin board.

3. By the discretion of the Board, skippers using a Club boat will be held financially responsible for damage occurring to the vessel under their command.　 Damages estimates will be made by the Vice-Commodore and will be reported to the Club Treasurer and debited to the member's account.

4. To sail OSYC boats, you must sign a Club liability waiver.　 If the sailor is under 21 years of age, his parents or legal guardians must sign.

5. Sails and equipment for the Club boats may be obtained by approved members from the Vice-Commodore or his designee.　 The boats may be checked out, for daylight use only, on a first come-first serve basis, except:　

a) When a boat is needed for a Club-sanctioned race or preparation for a race;　

b) When a boat is needed for Club-approved instructional programs;　

c) When another member has reserved it. Reservations will be honored unless the boat is unexpectedly needed for racing. If more than one member wishes to use the boat on a given half-day, each member will be asked to limit his use to a reasonable interval. However, no more than two such requests can be honored in a given half-day period.　

d) When, in the opinion of the Vice-Commodore or a Club Flag Officer, wind or sea conditions appear too severe for the boat or the crew that proposed to use it.

6. "Credentials" of Skippers and Crews:　

a) The Scot is a three-four man boat. It can be sailed in light airs by two adults or three children and will accommodate up to five. The Vice-Commodore may ask you to limit or expand your proposed crew according to your experience and the sailing conditions. When raced in GYA events, the crew must number three or more and must weigh a minimum of 425 pounds. Requirements for other boats will be established by the Vice-Commodore.　

b) All crew and passengers must be able to swim. Children under 12 must wear life preservers at all times.　 A wearable, USCG-approved life preserver must be carried for every passenger. At the discretion of the Vice-Commodore, a Club Flag Officer, or the skipper of the boat, wearing life preservers may be required of all occupants. To be a qualified swimmer, you must be able to swim the length of the Club pool four times and remain afloat 15 minutes.　

c) Adult skippers (age 16 and over) must have in their crew at least one other experienced sailor capable of handling the vessel in the event of illness or injury to the skipper.　

d) Junior skippers (age 12-15) must have another authorized ("checked out") crewmember with them, and a total crew, including skipper, of at least three.　

e) At the discretion of the Vice-Commodore or other Club Flag Officer, additional crew may be required, and any guest member who demonstrates irresponsible behavior may be declared ineligible to sail as skipper, crew or passenger.　

f) No child under 12 may be on a Scot unless an adult authorized skipper or crew is aboard, except for those children 10-12 who qualify as "Junior Crew".　 (See Item "d" under "Categories of Approved Crew", below.)

7. Categories of Approved Crew:　

a) "Passengers"--Club members or guests may sail in the Scott with permission of the skipper, provided the skipper and one other crew are authorized, subject to 6(c), 6(d) and 6(e).　

b) "Crew"--Club member (or spouse or child of member).　

c) "Senior Crew"--16 or older, must qualify by exam as an "experienced" sailor and be able to handle the boat in an emergency.　

d) "Junior Crew"--10-15 years old, must qualify by examination or have completed and passed a Club-approved sailing course. They must also be able to handle the boat in an emergency.　

e) "Skipper"--Club member (or spouse or child of member) who has been checked out and has demonstrated ability to sail under a variety of conditions, shown himself knowledgeable in regard to general knowledge of sailing and safe boating, and had at least one "season" of experience actively sailing in Scots or comparable craft.　

f) "Junior Skipper"--Must be 12 years of age, meet all standards for Skipper and Junior Crew and qualify by exam or by having passed a Club-approved intermediate or advanced sailing course in which Club boats were sailed.　

g) "Spinnaker-Approved"--Crew and/or skippers must meet the above standards as applicable and have demonstrated ability to handle spinnakers to Club examiner. In general, use of spinnaker will be reserved for racing and race training.　

h) Racing skippers and crew will be selected from eligible, interested skippers and crew by the Vice-Commodore or his designee. When appropriate, eliminations and trials may be held to determine Club representation for major regattas, but all interested sailors will be encouraged to race in as many races as possible, and crew and race schedules will be adapted to permit as many Club members as possible to race. For details, contact the Vice-Commodore.

8. All storage facilities and moorings will be assigned by the Board on a first come- first served basis. All boats must be registered when stored on OSYC property or controlled area.　

9. Assignments will be made for boats and equipment to members only. A non-member desiring storage facilities or a mooring must obtain approval of a majority of quorum of the Board of Governors.

10. Assignments must not be exchanged between members without approval of the Vice Commodore.

11. Storage fees will be set by a majority of a quorum of the Board of Governors and will be debited in advance to the assignee's account on a monthly basis by the Vice-Commodore notifying the Club Treasurer.

12. Members shall safeguard their boats and equipment necessary to discourage pilferage and vandalism. Storage is at the owner's risk.

13. Members are responsible for protection of their boats and equipment in the event of storms and extreme tides. If during such conditions, a member’s boat or equipment causes damage to Club property, that member shall be responsible for those damages.　