Not a member?

If you are interested in any aspect of the Royal Thames, you are welcome to contact the Club Secretary or other members of the secretariat - see the contact pages on the website.  Alternatively talk to a Flag Officer, one of the sailing Captains, or a member of the General Committee.  For potential members the best starting point is to contact the Membership Secretary or email memsec@royalthames.com.

We are glad to welcome new members.  The 'Thames' may look traditional - and we are proud of our heritage - but behind the facade it is lively and friendly.   New members bring new ideas, new skills and new contacts on both the sailing and social sides. 

You may have heard that the Club is exclusive, and to a degree it is.  Members are expected to be experienced yachtsmen and women with an interest in the sea and nautical affairs and anyone joining should have this background, and be recommended on a personal basis.  However, if you meet these criteria, and are thinking about becoming a member, the secretariat and Membership Committee will do all they can to facilitate the process.

This website gives a flavour of all the Club's activities, and may suggest some reasons why membership of the Royal Thames can be so satisfying.  So far as possible the wide interests of all the diffrerent types of member are kept in mind when developing Club programmes, or considering the facilities of the Clubhouse.

Joining the Club 

In principle, potential members are invited to join the Club by their proposer - who should be a current member of over two years' standing.  They should then be introduced as widely as possible, perhaps by taking part in a Club event or two.  Otherwise it is a good idea to come to the Club and meet several members.  Evenings when there are committee meetings are useful for this - ask the secretariat about suitable dates. 

There are special arrangements for potential members who are keen to join but do not know any other member well enough, or who are members of reciprocal clubs. Such candidates should discuss the position with the the Club Secretary or the Rear Commodore (Membership & Finance).  There are also shorter procedures for Cadets and Associate Members (spouses/partners of members) joining the Club.

With a proposer ready to invite you to join, the procedure is...

1. Start by downloading a copy of the membership nomination form here. You can also download the Membership categories and subscription rates leaflet and Direct Debit Form that will be needed later.
2. The candidate should fill in personal details and prepare a Yachting CV (guidelines are available from the membership secretary if required).
3. Identify a member to second the application, possibly after discussing this with the proposer.
4. Identify 2 more members to support the application. It is not necessary to have known them as long as the proposer, who will often help at this stage.  Supporters should sign the form before it is sent to the membership secretary, but if this is logistically difficult they can confirm their support by email to the membership secretary.
5. Note that at least one of the 4 members now listed on the form should be a current or past Flag Officer, or a member of one of the following committees: General Committee, Membership Committee, Sailing Committee.
6. The proposer should write/email a letter to the Chairman of the Membership Committee at the Club stating how long the candidate has been known and the reasons why he or she would be a suitable member of RTYC. The seconder should do the same, either sending the letter/email to the membership secretary at the Club, or to the proposer for onward transmission.
7. The proposer should then either send by post, or scan and email (preferred these days), all the material to the Membership Secretary, although the candidate may send the Yachting CV separately.  A signed Direct Debit form can also be sent at this time, or later when the election is confirmed  All items must be received 1 week prior to the meeting of the membership committee when the application is to be considered..

The committee will not normally consider applications unless the following 4 documents are available in time. 

Application form with 2 supporting signatures.
Proposal Letter
Seconder Letter
Yachting CV

If the Membership Committee approves the application, which maybe after a personal interview, the candidate will be nominated for election to the Club. The names of all nominees are displayed in the Clubhouse foyer for one month to give all the members the opportunity to comment on the applications.

Subsequently, through the secretariat, the Membership Committee either confirms that the candidate is elected, makes further enquiries, or refers the election to the General Committee.

Most candidates are elected within a two to three month period. They are then sent a letter confirming this and welcoming them to the Club.

It's really not difficult!