Revision 22, dated March 2023
RULES FOR LONGREACH LAKE WATER SPORTS CLUB
General Rules
1. The water ski circuit is shown on the map – Appendix 1.
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2. The Club will promote the membership to a maximum of 25 full time boats. The limit to be decided by the Committee.
3. All boat members must have valid insurance to a level of £2,000,000 third party.
4. All members and guests must be signed in online before using the facility.
5. Members with guests over the age of 18 using the lake must pay a £10 guest fee. Under 18s's pay a £5 guest fee. Payments should be either bank transfer, cheque or cash left with a Committee member or put in the secure box in the clubhouse using the envelopes provided.
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Note: Fees for guests apply the moment they enter the water. No fees for spectating guests.
6. Members, guests and pets are not allowed to swim in the lake unless:
a. For the purposes of rescue or recovery circumstances.
b. In emergencies.
c. In a designated swimming area only, provided the life jackets are worn at all times and the area is under strict supervision at all times by a responsible person.
The Club do not allow swimming while boats are operating in the water.
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7. Boat owners must display the membership validation sticker on their boat.
8. All boats will be scrutinised for safety before being allowed on the water. Annual safety checks will be carried out during the season
by a Committee Member. A checklist will be available for members
9. The minimum age to drive a boat on the lake is 16. All drivers must take the Club 'Boat Competency Check' before driving a boat
on the lake.
10. Guests are not allowed to drive boats (even if they hold a RYA or SBDA).
11. The boat owning club member, or syndicate club member, must always be present and is responsible for the conduct of their
guests and for the considerate use of the boat.
12. Membership is non-transferable. It I s the duty of the Club member to collect guest fees and ensure the online signing in book
has been completed for all members and guests.
13. Dogs must remain on a lead at all times and are not permitted in the clubhouse. Any fouling must be cleared up immediately.
Owners should respect other users and not bring dogs that are noisy or aggressive.
14. Note that your water sports club membership gives you no fishing rights.
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15. Jet Skis are not allowed at the club.
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16. LPG users must follow the specific rules for the safe operation of the LPG system.
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17. LPG is only to be used in vehicles not used on public Highways, in accordance with HMRC use.
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18. Any members seen to be causing disruption to the membership of the Club, on or off the water, may be asked to leave the premises
and have membership suspended or excluded at the discretion of the Committee following a three-strike process:
a. A verbal warning may be given by any Committee member.
b. A written warning is issued by the Committee.
c. Members must present themselves to the Committee for a decision on appropriate action - inclusion, suspension or exclusion from the premises and membership.
19. Comments that are or may be conceived as offensive, insulting, abusive, threatening, or bulling, whether verbal or written, will not be tolerated. Club members and their guests must not bring the Club into disrepute. This applies whether on the Club premises or within Social Media platforms. If reported the same action process, detailed in Section 18, will be applied.
No person who has had their membership suspended or expelled, in accordance with sections 18 and 19 above, shall under any circumstances be introduced as a visitor.
20. Wednesdays are bookable via email, for exclusive use, on payment of an additional fee set by the Committee. Only 1 booking per boat is allowed per ‘holiday’ and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Members will be notified by email that the lake is closed on these days.
21. Members allow the Committee of Longreach Lake Water Sports Club to use and hold personal data such as name, address and contact details to aid in the administration and communication with members. Data will be held in compliance with GDPR and further details are available on request.
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Boat, Skiing/Boarding Rules
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22. All people on the water (skiing or in the boat) must wear life jackets. There are no exceptions.
23. After launching your boat into the water members should clear the slipway as quickly as possible to allow other members to launch or recover their boats.
24. All boats must carry a competent observer in addition to the driver.
25. No standing in boats unless the boat is stationary, and you are rope handling, recovering a person, ski or water toy.
26. All boat drivers must fit the ‘kill switch lanyard’ to ensure that in the event of an incident the boat engine will be automatically cut. Older boats which do not have a kill switch fitted through design are exempt.
27. All boats must carry an “observation flag” of 1ft square material on a minimum 2ft pole to be hoisted when:
a. Coming to rest or stationary (e.g. picking up a fallen skier or pulling in a ski rope)
b. To show that you are ending your session on the water.
c. To make other boat drivers aware that there is a person or persons in the water.
The flag should be waved if assistance is required. In an emergency the Club address is LRLWSC, Harrison Way, St Ives, Cambs, PE27 4YA.
28. All boats must carry a mobile phone.
29. One boat on the water at a time, unless by prior arrangement with other members.
However, a maximum of 3 boats are permitted on the water at any time. If towing a toy/ringo/inflatable, then this number is reduced to a maximum of 2 (see section 30). When 2 or more boats are towing at different speeds then the boat approaching the slower boat must make an early safe turn to minimise the risk of contact to skiers or boarders.
30. Toys are allowed on the water (rings, sausages etc), but their use restricts the maximum number of boats on the water to 2. Members who tow 2 or more toys simultaneously must ensure that ALL tow ropes are of equal length; this is to prevent one toy crossing the path of the other tow line and causing injury. The boat driver must not operate above the max speed limit for the toy being used.
Users should take the views of other lake users into account by minimising their use when attendance is high.
31. All drivers are to follow the clockwise rotation, unless only one boat is present. Boats must remain outside the slalom course buoys at all times and pass on the inside of the 2 small islands. No boats are allowed behind the two islands on the right-hand side of the lake.
32. No boat is to follow another at less than 50 yards distance.
33. Slalom Course
a. Under no circumstances is the slalom course to be used by more than one skier at a time.
b. When a skier falls, do not turn with your rope out in the course. Either stop, recover your rope, then recover your skier or proceed through the exit, turn right to recover your rope and go through the entrance to collect your skier.
c. Anti-clockwise (through and back down) use of the slalom course is only permissible if no other boat is using the lake.
d. The slalom course is for slalom skiing only. Other boats must pass either side of the course, not through it, but no closer than 3 metres to the bank.
34. Skiing/boarding must start at the end of the floating jetty or in deep water and must follow the course as stated above.
35. Skiers dropping a ski should drop it between the start and the first corner, as near to the bank as possible.
36. Each ‘turn’ is to be a maximum of a 10-minute session.
37. At the end of a ski/board tow, if the end of the jetty is occupied with a boat, then the driver must make another circuit or drop the skier/boarder in a safe area where they can be recovered.
38. After dropping a skier/boarder, at the end of a session, the boat must go immediately to the recovery area and pull in the rope ASAP.
39. Drivers should always use flag/hand signals to make their intentions clear.
40. The next lake user is to make his/her intentions clear that they wish to use the lake by sitting at the end of the floating jetty. If you are on the water and see the next user waiting at the starting point, then you must come in if you have completed your 10-minute session.
41. No changing of skiers in the water. Anyone wishing to change must return to the jetty and ensure no one else is waiting.
42. Boats starting off must give precedence to boats already out on the water.
43. All incoming skiers/boarders must land at the plastic floating pontoon.
44. No boats on the water before sunrise or after sunset.
45. No refuelling on the water.
46. The club expects all boat drivers not to consume alcohol to a limit beyond the legal requirement for driving a car. If anyone is suspected of contravening this rule, then further action may be taken and membership could be cancelled.
47. Boats must be operated in accordance with the British Water Ski & Wakeboard (BWSW) Ski Boat Driver Award (SBDA) manual.
The Environment
48. Parking of cars and trailers are permitted only in the Club car park. Cars are not to be parked on the grass, sloping bank or outside the gate.
49. Members should respect the property and leave the area tidy. The site has natural beauty; do not defile it by leaving litter.
50. Noise abatement is important. If in the opinion of any two Committee Members deem any boat is noisy, the noise level will need to. be measured from the car park to ensure that the level is not above 70dB. Boats which fail the dB test will not be allowed on the water until satisfactory modifications have been made to reduce the noise.
51. Barbecues are permitted but please be considerate and do not site them so that other members suffer from your smoke.
52. Fishermen contribute towards the existence of our skiing facilities. Respect their rights to fish and always give them ample clearance. If there is a problem and their line is snagged by a boat or skier, apologise to the fisherman and note the problem in the Club log.
53. The Club members are asked to volunteer to contribute their time for up to 2 days/evenings of community service to promote waterskiing/wakeboarding at the Club (i.e. training of Scouts, youth groups, rotary etc).
54. All Club members are asked to volunteer their time and contribute in the upkeep of the Club. The Committee will nominate. workdays for this.
55. Club members are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and their guests.
This includes, but is not limited to:
a. Any mess in the clubhouse on surfaces and floor.
b. Washing up.
c. Cleaning the toilets
d. Mopping the changing room and shower floor.
e. Taking any rubbish home.
Members are to check the clubhouse, toilets and changing rooms before they leave the premises. Adults should also check after these facilities have been used by children.
56. The last member leaving the Club at the end of the day is to check that:
a. No rubbish has been left.
b. All switches (except the fridge and freezer) are off.
c. Ensure all areas are clean and tidy.
d. Lock the clubhouse, changing rooms, and shed doors.
e. Close and lock the barrier gate.