Joining Instructions for training
JOINING INSTRUCTIONS - MANOR PARK SC
Dear Student
Thank you for joining a course at Manor Park (www.mpsc.co.uk)
Here are a few pointers to help you get ready for the course
Our address is, Rugeley Road, Kings Bromley, Staffordshire. DE13 7JG.
You will see a finger post sign for our entrance on the north side of the A513 Kings Bromley to Armitage Rugeley Road
On site directions
Please proceed carefully through the entrance gate and follow the road round to the left. Go past the large Scouts / Guides car park on your right
After 200m you will pass through the inner gate at the edge of the lake
Please be careful as there may be Scouts and Guides on the road in this area or members launching power boats from the containers on the left
Parking
Continue past the club house and boat park, again watching for children at the back of the club house and park in the main car park at the back of the main boat park.
Come round to the patio on the water side of the clubhouse and enter by either of the two front doors or say hello to anyone on the patio and they will direct you to the right person
You will be asked to sign on and fill in a one time health and consent to risk declaration and pay any membership or session fee
Changing and toilets
We have male and female changing rooms and toilets and a family / disabled changing / toilet room. The changing rooms are not locked so be careful with valuables - leave them in your car - but everyone leaves changing clothes etc in there
Food and drink
Tea coffee and soft drinks are available.
There are snacks available to buy and occasional bacon sandwiches and other hot food.
Please use the galley, fridge and micro wave as you would your own kitchen please don't use the cooker.
Most courses are morning or afternoon and some people come down with a packed lunch to have before or after their course. We all tend to meet on the patio as soon as the weather is good enough
Phone
There is no public phone on site but mobiles will work. There is a mobile for 999 calls located in the club house
What to wear
We provide buoyancy aids for all students although we encourage you to buy your own after your first course
Initially wear what you don't mind getting wet and bring a change of clothes in case the inevitable dunking happens.
Lycra and sport type synthetic fibres and layers are the way to go. Avoid fleeces which hold a lot of water as do jeans cords and woolly jumpers.
Old trainers to get wet are Ok with a pair of woollen socks
A simple waterproof and over trousers are useful to fend off wind chill and showers so bring what you have just in case
Simple gloves and a hat are useful
I've found neoprene socks keep my feet warm in an old pair of trainers although wet suit boots are better in the long term
Sun screen and a water bottle are essential to have in the summer
Wet suits are good early and later in the season and are available at cost effective prices from outlets like Decathlon or other stores
In the winter we use thicker wet suits or dry suits, look on line for details. They are a bit cumbersome but warm and dry in all conditions
If it's a Power Boat Course then heavier anoraks and waterproofs can be used because you will not be at risk of being in the water although you can be sat in the rain or sun or wind for about an hour at a time so need to layer up
Safety Briefing
We will give a site safety briefing when you first attend the club and remind of safety hazards throughout your stay. Please pay attention to what the instructors say at all times to help prevent accidents and ensure smooth running of the courses. There is a first aid kit in the club house if needed. The Emergency Action plan is posted on the noticeboard and the Emergency Meeting point is in the main car part. All power boats have an Emergency check list on board
Health Conditions
Sailing needs some agility you will be swapping about from side to side, bending down, in a wobbly boat so if you have a stiff back, hips or knees or are not used to low movements then try a bit of stretching and bending before the course.
If you have any disabilities or illnesses and are worried then call us before booking or state the issue when you sign on there is a form to fill in and we can review the issues with you keeping your condition as confidential as you wish but maintaining the safety of all participants. We are not a disability sailing centre there are clubs that are but we try our best to accommodate everyone within the restrictions imposed by our standard equipment
Power boating, while more sedentary, needs you to be able to get in and out of a rib power boat at the jetty side so let us know of any issues you foresee and we will check them out with you
Teaching method
You will have seen we are an RYA approved training centre
This means the courses we follow and the way we deliver them and manage the centre and staff is all in accordance with laid down guidelines.
Also we follow guidelines on pupil teaching ratios and safety boat cover when on the water
All the courses are broken down into logical simple steps that last about on hour.
We explain the subject, demonstrate it (on or off the water) then you have a go and we coach during the session and review afterwards then move on when you and your instructor are happy to do so
Course Content
The specific content will be reviewed at the start of the course
There are more details in a folder in the clubhouse and on the notice board
You are encouraged to buy log books to record you progress which include a handy checklist for you to review with your instructor during the sessions to identify what has been covered and what is yet to be done
A certificate will be issued on completion of the course.
A level L1 adult sailing course would take a minimum of 6 x 3hr afternoon sessions to complete, likewise for a Level 2.
Alternatively sometimes we will run intensive all weekend courses for L or L2 a weekend for each
There is also a text book that can be purchased which covers everything you will need to know from a theoretical point of view
We don't rely much on computers or lap tops for training. They don't go well with water and we think sailing is best learned by simple description and having a go.
Equipment
We have a range of dinghies to ensure you can sail typical boats you may want to buy or hire in the future. Both single hander's and double hander's. You instructor will talk about this to you
Rigging de rigging and stowing the boats is part of the course and you will participate in this activity with your instructor.
Power boats range in size from 3.4 metres to 4.5 metres with wheel of stick steer with forward and reverse gears and planning performance
Fear of Water
A few people start sailing with a big concern about what they do if the boat capsizes and this affects their learning. If this is the case just tell your instructor and we will go through a set of exercises to take this concern away. (We do not mean push you in and hope!) We can slowly get you used to being in the water and what to do.
Feed back and complaints
We want the training to be safe, fun and a great learning experience. If you have any concerns at all then please bring them up straight away with your instructor or the Senior Instructor or Committee member. Each session is maximum 1 hour long so there is no need to let any issues get to a point that may up set you or anyone else.
We also have a Feedback form which can be used or feel free to e-mail to; Committee@mpsc.co.uk
Child Protection
We have a comprehensive child protection policy
The name of our CP officer is displayed on the notice board
Parents or Guardians have to stay on site during child training at a ratio of 4 children to on P/G. So you can share the responsibility with other parents.
Please do not ask the instructors to be the Guardian - they have sessions to run
If your child qualifies as an Instructor (16) or Assistant Instructor (14) then the Training team will act as guardian if you wish.
Behaviour of Students
We expect children to be well behaved and engage in the training they have signed up for. Any unacceptable behaviour will result in them being returned to their Parent / Guardian for the balance of the session. Unlike school, attendance is not compulsory nor is there an obligation on the Instructor to teach or manage unruly students. We are all volunteers who enjoy sailing. We help overcome barriers to learning such as confidence or fear issues but cannot allocate excessive time to one misbehaving child at the expense of the other members of the group.
Please be aware and abide by the Code of Conduct displayed on the notice board
Cancellation
We have a policy of always turning up whatever the weather unless flooding blocks the site or there is some other major catastrophe
Since the all the courses except the Power Boat Course are 'pay as you go' we do not phone individual members to advise them of the rare event of cancellation. We do however post on the members Face book site so encourage you to join that group and check it in severe weather conditions
If you have booked specifically on a fixed duration course (such as PB2 or intensive Level1 or 2) then we will phone you or e-mail you.
If you have to cancel a pre booked intensive course we will accommodate re-scheduling and in the face of real problems refund any payments
made
Useful contacts
If there is anything you wish to discuss about training when we are not at the club then please call, Gary Robertson, Training Principal on 07985314295 and I will endeavour to help
Our web site is www.mpsc.co.uk and it contains plenty of information and the RYA have a very detailed web site found through any search engine
Thank you
Thank you for reading this information. I hope you found it useful. Let me know if there is anything else I should include. We are very much a friendly social club who prefer to sail then have a brew and talk through how we are getting on with the course. We want to retain you as long term members of the club and keep sailing
Enjoy your time at MPSC!
Gary Robertson
Training Principal
