Useful Info

Opening Hours

Scaling Dam is situated on the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors approximately half way between Guisborough and Whitby on the A171 road. As a minimum, the Clubhouse is open [every weekend from the beginning of March through to the end of November] between 10am and 5pm and every Wednesday and Friday [from the beginning of April through to the end of September] between 4pm and 8pm. Where a keyholder is present the club can remain open beyond these hours. Overnight camping is permitted within club grounds and when members are camping the changing rooms & toilets can be left accessible overnight.

Water Safety Policy

The Club has a 'Safety Policy' relating to on-water activity, detailing the levels of safety provision at different times. It also details the responsibilities members need to take for their own safety, an that of other members.

There is a link to the Safety Policy on the right hand side of this page.

Club Handbook

The Club Handbook provides a good reference for information for Club users. Paper copies are available in the clubhouse.

Summary of Club Bye Laws

Below is a summary of the key club byelaws. The full text of the byelaws and the constitution can be found 'Bye Laws' and SDSWC ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION pages and in the Clubhouse

Approved Water Sports

Approved water sports which can be practised at the club during normal sailing times are dinghy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing/rowing and paddle boarding. Open water swimming is permitted during scheduled swimming sessions, wild swimming is not permitted.

Water Safety Manager

The committee will nominate a Water Safety Manager (WSM) to be on site during published opening hours. [The WSM will normally be the Club Development Officer, but may be a member of the committee or a non-committee member as approved by the committee. The WSM has the authority to suspend activity on the lake if they consider it unsafe due to prevailing weather.

Safety Boat Facilities

Safety boat facilities are normally provided between 1000-1700 on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from March to November and between 1600 and 2000 on Wednesdays and Fridays between April and September. Safety Boat facilities may be available at other times for specific club activities as advertised through the website and club notice boards.

Where a manned Safety Boat is not available, sailing may take place under the Buddy Sailing conditions set out in Section 4 of this document.

Persons Under 16

When on club premises or afloat at SDSC, persons under 16 shall be directly supervised by a responsible adult member who may be a parent, guardian or adult nominated by them.

The responsible adult member shall ensure that all children in their care wear suitable and effective personal buoyancy at all times when in the vicinity of the water, and appropriate thermal protection.

Personal Buoyancy and Protection

Effective personal buoyancy shall be worn at all times when afloat in all craft, safety boats and on the club jetty, except as otherwise detailed in the Byelaws. Nappy harnesses, waist harnesses, wetsuits and drysuits in themselves are not considered adequate buoyancy.

Wetsuits or drysuits must be worn during March and November and are strongly recommended in April, May and October.

All craft shall be of a type suitable to the water at SDSC, and shall have adequate buoyancy to support the craft and normal crew in the event of a capsize or swamping.

Insurance and Responsibility

No craft shall be launched at Scaling Dam unless the owner confirms in writing that they hold a valid and current certificate of insurance including Third Party Liability of at least £5,000,000 which covers the craft while at Scaling Dam

Northumbrian Water Limited (NWL) and Scaling Dam Sailing Club are not responsible for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person, their property or any third party in consequence of his/her entering or remaining on NWL/SDSC property and engaging in watersports or any other activity.

Sailing

No craft shall enter the part of Scaling Dam defined as the Nature Reserve at the southwest corner of the resevoir which is marked by a row of orange mooring buoys.

No craft shall be used for fishing, and sailors shall avoid causing undue annoyance to bank fishermen.

All craft must leave the water when 4 white lights together with a red light are shown and repeated sound signals are made.

Guests

A member shall not introduce more than 2 guests or 1 family unit on one day, and the same guests shall not be introduced on more than 4 occasions in one year. All guests shall be signed in at the guest book kept in the club house.

Clubhouse & Grounds

Clubhouse facilities shall only be available when there is a nominated duty officer on duty. It is against the law to smoke in the clubhouse.

Dogs, other than disability assistance dogs, are not allowed in the clubhouse. Dogs kept on a lead and under control are permitted in club grounds. The owners must take responsibility for clearing up after their dog. If a dog is reported as being out of control twice in a year it shall be banned from the club grounds.

Kitchen facilities are available for members use, when not in use for club events. Members are expected to keep the kitchen area clean and tidy.

Boats are left in the boat park at the owners risk and must be securely tied down. Road trailers and trolleys are left at the club at the owners risk. Abandoned craft may be subject to removal and disposal in accordance with club procedures.

Vehicles must be kept in the carpark, except when loading/unloading. [Disabled parking??]

Camping in club grounds is permitted by general agreement with the committee.

The bar may be opened during normal club hours. No persons under the age of 18 may purchase or consume alcoholic drinks from the bar.