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46 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com JANUARY 2016

Can a club offering affordable shares in an Oyster 55 be as good as it sounds? Sue Pelling joined its members for a leg of their less-than-sunny summer cruise to Ireland to find outA shared adventure

W

hen something sounds too good to be true, it

to joining a group of sailing enthusiasts on the first stage of usually is. My initial reaction

their summer cruise to Ireland to learn about their unusual ownership scheme of an Oyster 55 was, I confess, tarnished with

a little scepticism. moored up alongside the east hammerhead pontoon I spotted Brighton Belle

at Brighton Marina during a bright and breezy Saturday at the end of May. She looked impressive with her sumptuous,

wide teak decks and stainless hardware glistening in the dewy morning sun. The prospect of spending a couple of days on board suddenly filled me with excitement

and, slowly as the story of Brighton Belle Sailing Club began to unfold, I warmed to the idea that the fantasy of owning an Oyster 55 and being able to sail her at will

was a real, affordable possibility.and Philip Ford graciously welcomed me Owners and co-skippers Stewart Henton

aboard, along with club vice commodore Liz Ingram and a couple of German guests, Werner and Andrea Junker. It wasn’t long before we slipped our lines and made our

way from the peace and tranquility of the marina, through the breakwater entrance and out into the pot-black, forbidding sea.To run a project of this scale and deal

with a constant flow of mixed-ability crew, people-management skills and patience are prime qualities. I was delighted to

The club is run by members and a committee of eight flag officers elected at the annual general meeting. The club's constitution is checked professionally

on a regular basis. Stewart said, ‘We are fortunate to have several members who are used to managing constitutions, from whom who we can seek advice.’

How does membership work?Anyone over 18 can join, regardless of sailing ability. Prospective members

should sign up for a free daysail. Once the initial £4,000 share is paid for, the only costs are cruising fees (£35 for members or £55 for guests per day) and expenses

such as food, fuel and mooring fees.costs including insurance, mooring and maintenance and these are adjusted ‘The cruising fees cover all running

depending on her outgoings,’ said Stewart. ‘Generally, it would cost between £100-£120 in expenses, plus sailing fees for a week's cruising.’

nwww.brightonbelle.org For more information, go to:

Who runs it?

Photo: Julio Graham

Brighton Belleheads out to face the impending

weather

The club means you always have crew to help hoist the main

PhotoS: CourteSy Sue PellinG unleSS otherWiSe StateD