Like any club, the Little Ship Club can seem a bit intimidating at first. It can be difficult to come along on a Tuesday evening if you do not know anyone. If you've been attending RYA training classes on a Monday or Wednesday night for a year or two it can be difficult to make the transition to Tuesday Club nights where it can look like a room full of strangers.

So how do you get the best out of the Club if you're a new member or a member who has recently completed training?

When Rachel (my wife) and I joined the Little Ship Club four years ago for RYA training, and hopefully some crewing opportunities, we knew no one, knew very little about sailing and had about 15 days yachting experience between us. We visited the Club in the summer but did not come back until training started. We knew no one...

But on our first night of training at the Club we got lucky. We met a classmate who had been a member for a couple of years who was of a similar age and background. She asked if we were going on the Boat Handling Rally at the end of September and invited us to meet another Club member who needed crew. We arranged to meet on a Tuesday, met the skipper, and we were on a rally at the end of the month. This crew matching service is what Skippers & Crew does, so why is the Buddy Scheme different?

LSC Buddies are members of the Club who can help new members get involved in Club activities. It is an initiative from the Membership Committee that seeks to match new and existing members who share similar sailing interests. But why would you as a newer member want or need a buddy?

The LSC has a wide range of members of different ages, backgrounds and sailing interests but not all members attend every Tuesday. You need a bit of luck to pick the right day and the right group to talk to. The main aim of the Buddy Scheme is to remove the element of luck by matching new and existing members who share similar sailing interest so you can get that first break and get as much as you can from being a Member of the Club.

If you would like a buddy we will ask you to complete a short questionnaire covering your main sailing interests and will do our best to match you with someone suitable.

If you are interested in having a Buddy or would like to know more, please contact Michael Forbes Smith by email here or the Club Office who will pass on your details. We look forward to hearing from you.