Can I just show up to an
event if I don't have a membership, I don't know anyone, have never tried that
activity before and I'm not sure if I even want to join? Yes, contact
our Social director, and we will arrange to have a friendly face greet you at
the activity.
How many men and women show up at your
activities?
There is no established male/female ratio requirement at events.
Activity attendance may be skewed one way or the other; some events draw equal
numbers. Attend an activity with the attitude that you are looking forward to
a day in the outdoors, to share with existing friends of both sexes; you will
not be disappointed.
Questions About Membership
My information has
changed since I became a member, how do I update it ?
< < < Click Here to update your membership information >
> >
How many members turn out for a typical
event?
The attendance at any single event is a function of many factors
including activity, location of the event , the weather, expertise level,
cost, day of the weekend and the whims of the membership. It is recommended
that you attend all events that interest you.
What are the benefits of joining, in lieu of paying the non-member fee
for each event I attend?
The convenience of receiving a list of club activities via e-mail or
in to your mailbox monthly. While our activities are listed on the web, the
information is available in the newsletter. The club strives to offer at least
one event each weekend; if you attend more than five club events in your
membership year (many do), there is of course a financial advantage. See the
next item for more info.
How do I join?
You may download a membership application at
http://www.saillavie.org/forms/member3.rtf
The membership application must
be completed, signed and returned with your check for $60 payable to Sail La
Vie Club of Texas . Membership chair and treasurer will process your
application.
Is membership expensive? What does membership include?
No. Our annual membership of $60 a real value when viewed as the
unique opportunity that we provide for singles and non-singles to interact
while appreciating the Sailings. Most events are free to members except joint
events with other organizations. Other organizations that cater to singles
often have much higher membership and event fees. We send club information
electronically (by e-mail) on a monthly and weekly basis. Future Postal
mailings (Monthly) are sent to Members without an email address unless you
notify us in writing. Dues provide you with a monthly newsletter / calendar
including information on Local, Regional and National events and Entrance to
the Sponsored Events. Additionally many of our activities may include
equipment or other fees and there will usually be a discount for members. Most
importantly they help with the administrative costs, such as mailings, legal,
web presence, telephone expenses and membership .
I'm a member, when does my membership expire?
Your membership expires in May of the following year.
Questions
About Activities
I want to go on
this sail, I don't know if it will be too easy or too hard. How can I find
out?
Call the leader who will describe the skill level necessary for the
event.
Can non-members come on sails or activities?
Yes. Non-members are welcome as we are always interested in expanding
our Club.
I've been calling a Skipper about a sail but he/she hasn't called me
back.
Please be considerate of our leaders who, like you are people with
personal and business commitments outside of the Club. Call early in the week
if leaving a message and call only during the hours designated by the leader.
Speak slowly and clearly, especially when leaving your phone number and don't
forget the area code! (Also if your phone does not accept caller ID blocked
phone calls, you may not receive return calls from leaders who use that
feature.)
Miscellaneous
Cost of
the Sails: The club always makes an effort to keep the cost for our
members to go sailing as low as possible. Over the last several years the cost
of charting boats has gone up several times. We have determined that we need
to have a minimum of 8 people per sail (skipper and crew) to cover most
of the cost for charter. The prices for sails will be as follow:
Members / Guests *1/2 Day Sails $35 / $50 Full Day Sails $45 / $65;
We will be using this as a guideline for determining if a sail will go. This
is not a lot of money for the opportunity to spend a day on a boat that is
worth up to quarter of a million dollars and experience friendship that is
priceless. These are great days for sailing. SLV has scheduled sails for
almost every weekend between now and the end of the year. So get on the list
and lets go sailing.
What to bring
on a sail:
White soled shoes no black soled shoes
Layers of clothes windbreaker, rain gear
Water
Beverages & Food to share check with your skipper
Sunscreen
Hat
Inclement weather call your skipper
Some Yearly
Activities
Listed below
are just a few of our yearly events in which our members participate.
Commodores Ball (semi formal)
Sail la Vie's dress up event each year. We reserve a restaurant in the Clear
Lake area for a night of food, wine and dancing. This one of our premier
events and the turnout is always great!
Mardi Gras (Galveston)
We take private and charter boats to Galveston for a weekend of Mardi Gras
Festivities. Everyone sleeps on the boats, and we arrange for several the
members to drive down and provide transportation to and from the Strand.
Always Fun.
Knotty Olympics and
Cardboard Boat Race
Our first annual Cardboard Boat Race and combined it with our
Knotty Olympics event. The cardboard boats are just what they sound like, they
are boats made entirely from cardboard, glued, nailed and stapled together and
painted with waterproof paint. We had an award prepared (the Titanic Award)
for the first boat to sink, but these boats were so well made, none of them
sank so the award was never presented. Maybe this year!
Small Boat Regatta
Held at the Texas City Dyke. Many of our members have small sailboats which
are trail-arable. We meet at the beach on the Texas City Dyke and everyone
takes turns sailing on these boats. This is a real treat as it is quite a
different experience from sailing on the larger boats that the club charters
for our sails.
Charter Trips
We periodically arrange trips for our membership to exotic and faraway places.
In the last couple of years, we have made trips to the Caribbean (French West
Indies, British Virgin Islands, Spanish Virgin Islands), and to Belize for a
scuba diving trip. While these are not usually club sanctioned events, they
are arranged by members and are open to the general membership.
Labor Day
On Labor Day it's off to Bridge Harbor Marina in Freeport for a regatta and
festivities. This is one our regularly scheduled events that allow us an
opportunity to sail off-shore in the "Blue Water".
Halloween
This is one of our biggest events of the year. We take both charter and
private boats across Galveston Bay to 'Double Bayou'. This bayou is about as
far from civilization as you can get in this area. Next to the Anahuac
Wildlife Preserve, it's like taking the Lost River Ride at Disneyworld. Many
sailboats make this trip. We turn the bows of the boats into the banks of the
bayou, off-load our cooking gear and supplies, build a bonfire and have a
party, costume contest, and sometimes a haunted woods. This in definitely one
of our premier events. Great Turnout.
These are but a few of our planned annual events but they give you an idea of
the fun that this club has. Join now and let
your
fun begin!
Sailboat Etiquette
is basically polite behavior and good conduct.
------------- And by all means have
a good attitude and have a good time! ---------
1. Follow skippers instructions for example:
---- a. Wear life vests
---- b. No smoking
---- c. Limit drinking
Remember: on the water the skipper is legally responsible and is the boss.
2. Pitch in whenever an extra hand is needed. Ask what you can do tohelp.
3. Food:
---- a. for over niters- keep meals simple. check with the skipper and others
to co-ordinate food.
----b. For Day sails-small coolers only! if everyone brings large (ones) there
will not be any room left for (the) crew.
4. Use ship board water sparingly. Ask how to use the head. (MEN: Do not sit
on the toilet seat)
5. Nothing is to be thrown overboard.
6. When using binoculars, cameras or handbearing compasses, use the neck strap
to prevent loss overboard!
7. Don't leave winch handles in the winch. Place them their storage area. They
cost upwards of $25 each. If you dump one, the skipper shouldn't be expected
to pay for you error.
8. Wear deck shoes on deck. DO NOT wear dark soled shoes! They leave dark
scuff marks that are a pain to clean. Try no to track dirt aboard, if you do
offer to clean up after yourself.
9. Draw only light pencil marks when using the charts.
10. Ask for instructions on the use of the head and the ship-to-
shore radio.
11. DO NOT. bring any illegal substances aboard. The skipper is responsible,
and if stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard or the Canadian Coast Guard, the boat
could be impounded and permanently surrendered!
12. No smoking aboard without permission, then only down wind for safety and
comfort of others.
13. If you become sick, please make every effort to lean over the Lee side
(the side away from the wind). When you have recovered, please clean up after
yourself.
14. Be on time. (Don't keep your skipper and crew waiting). Car pool if
possible. (Parking at marinas is limited).
15. Put sun screen on at home
16. Boats have narrow passage ways. It's easy to bump into people. Wait for
people who may be in your way. Excuse yourself, if you bump into some one.
17. If you are down in the cabin, before coming up, ask those top side if they
need any thing. Offer to bring it up for them. It will spare them a trip. Pass
only one beverage at a time up to the cockpit.
18. Most skippers are pretty informal about giving orders. Be prepared, but
don't do anything ahead of the skippers orders.
Example: When anchoring, be prepared to drop the anchor, but wait for your
skipper's order. Most skippers will assume that certain tasks be done at the
proper time.
19. If you see a line in the water, pull it in as it might get tangled in the
prop. Help with the lines when you can.
20. Don't block the view of the skipper.
21. Ask you skipper about hanging out towels, swimsuits etc. on the life
lines. Some yacht clubs consider that "tacky".
22. Bring small bills along so that you may be prepared to pay for your share
of the dockage, punpouts, fuel.
23. Help clean up the boat, take all you food, gear and belongings with you.
24. Don't bring animals unless the owner has specifically given their blessing
for this.
25. Don't bring red wine onto someones boat without permission, or glass
containers of any kind.
I want to
help lead an activity for the Club. Who should I contact?
Please contact, the Club
Commodore for further information.
Sail La Vie Club of Texas - 5090
Richmond Avenue #286 Houston, TX 77056
