Dear Bowmoor Member,

This is a copy of the email sent last week, we're sending a second time to make sure all members receive.

Open fires and BBQ's are not permitted at the club until further notice.  Members are permitted to use the club BBQ pits on the hard standing, or gas BBQ’s that are off the ground only.

I’m writing to the entire membership individually as we have recently had two incidents where members have caused fires by disposing of BBQ coals or the contents of a wood burning fire pit.  You’ve received this email because your email address is registered as the point of contact.  Please notify your family members of this change, we are concerned that even though we notified the membership after the first fire, the problem has occurred again.

The first fire was caused on RIAT weekend when a member put BBQ coals next to a discarded boat causing the grass to ignite and start a large fire.  The fire started after the member responsible had left the club.  Fortunately other members spotted the fire, and while it was difficult to put out, they eventually managed by using multiple fire extinguishers and running buckets of water from the lake.

This week, on bank holiday Monday, we had to call the fire brigade.  A member had used an off ground fire pit until around 2am Monday morning, before they left they emptied the embers into the hedge to the north of the boat park and left the club.  The embers relit and started a fire in the hedgerow. 

Both these fires were potentially very serious, for Bowmoor and our neighbours and totally avoidable.  We are fortunate that members were still on hand to spot them.  Clearly the members who dumped the coals and embers did not understand the impact of what they were doing.

This means that we will now ban the use of fires at the club until further notice.  Even with the rain this week the ground is still very dry.  Members are permitted to use the club BBQ pits on the hard standing, or gas BBQ’s that are raised off the ground.  Nothing else may be used.

Termination of membership: Last week we confirmed that we were terminating an individual's membership.  Bowmoor is a family focussed sailing club and we will make sure that the club values are maintained.

Finally, please make sure you stick firmly to the club rules, they are in place for everyone’s safety, not just yours.  Our rules are the most flexible of any lake in the Cotswold water park for swimming or sailing, but we can’t support members who want to use the club simply as a beach venue while ignoring the rules.  The club has become so large that we can’t be flexible about enforcing the rules.  Please make sure you are familiar with these requirements so that you can stay a member of this amazing sailing club.  Review them here.

Our newsletter, Bowsprit, is the best way to stay current with the club. If you are not subscribed to Bowsprit, as a member you really should be, click here to sign up.

Many thanks,

Simon

Simon Hinnigan - Commodore, Bowmoor Sailing Club commodore@bowmoor.com