Q. Why do we need insurance?
A. As with cars, the one you must have is 3rd party liability ('comprehensive' is an optional extra). Your kit could work loose off the roofrack, causing a Rolls Royce behind to crash into a Bentley coming the other way - your fault! On the water, you can fall off your board, allowing your mast to hit someon on the head - you pay! Additional insurance can be obtained for extra boards, or for a comprehensive policy covering theft or damage while sailing.

Q. Can I let someone else use my board?
A. Yes, if you are satisfied that they are competent (to sail without colliding with another member). But 3rd party won't cover you if they damage your board or put a hand through your sail.

Q. I already have insurance with another company, due to renew in July, do I need to insure through the club?
A. How could we be sure you would renew in July? To guarantee that all members are properly insured, we require you to insure with our insurer, at the time of renewal, March 1st. Thus you can let your old insurance expire in good time.

Q. The club membership scheme requires a basic 3rd party insurance scheme, but I have an expensive board and travel a lot.
A. If you read the Insurance form, calculate and pay the extra, the insurance can be increased to a more comprehensive level.

Q. I used to be a member, but dont get on the water enough these days. Can I retain the gate key for the occasional sunny breezy day?
A. NO! The keys are the property of the club and MUST be returned promptly when you cease membership. The club is paying rent for the lake, but only for its paid up members! If you want to windsurf once a year, try Rutland or Carsington where you can pay a day fee.

Q. I am a recent member, but not on the committee. Is it OK to turn up to meetings?
A. It's more than OK, it's extremely beneficial to have new members turning up to meetings and sharing ideas, beer and advice with experienced members. Fresh blood is always welcome, but we assure you, you won't need to bring garlic - our reflections are visible in mirrors. Please come!

Q. Why should we display the plastic sticker?
A. The window sticker is the only real proof that you are a member. If members see cars without stickers displayed, they are requested to ask the owner (politely) if they are a member. If they are not, the owner should return the key they used to open the gate.

Q. What about the Sail Sticker?
A. The only guarantee of membership is the Car-window Sticker - the Sail Sticker is nice, and it's a sign of loyalty to your club. You can keep it there even if you are not a member - and thanks for the advertising!

Q. Why cant TWC just change the Gate lock once a year?
A. We can't do this because we share the lake with the anglers. The combined cost and complexity of changing the (welded on) padlock and all the keys is too much to do annually. We depend on the good eyesight of members to notice cars coming in without Trent Windsurfing stickers.

Q. Why is there a charge for late renewal?
A. Cheer up, its only £10 and until recently a full rejoining fee of £50 was requested. It's done as an incentive for members to renew in good time so the admin of membership and key-cutting is one large task annually and not trickling along throughout the year. It also ensures that the Insurance annum is consistently charged from March 1 to March 1.

Q. It's August, just discovered windsurfing on holiday, can I join now?
A. Yes you can, we have a joining point before the winter semester in which you can pay a half year membership and insurance. (see membership page). Once March comes round, you slot into the regular March-Feb cycle.

Q. Why do we always have to lock the gate?
A. If the gate is left open and day trippers drive in (unware of the rules) they could find themselves later locked in. We dont want them phoning their friends to let them out with bolt cutters or oxyacetylene cutters!!

Q. Why are we recommended to surf when other members are present?
A. If you are not sure in your ability or kit quality relative to wind conditions, it's always safer to go out when other members are about. But someone has to be first on a good day and it's down to your conscience - you are breaking a club rule if you go out. If it's strongly blowing or gusty, beginners should not even wrestle with their conscience - dont go out! On such a day, an experienced member is likely to turn up soon.

Q. Good suggestions on safety?
A. If there are dog-walkers or anglers in the vicinity you have access to help in case of 'nasty turn'. If you are on your own (but can see dog walkers) it's an idea to carry a whistle, and wear a buoyancy aid. Even if you have a major kit breakage (e.g. the mast foot), you will eventually be blown to a bank from which you can walk back to the car, whatever direction of wind. A mobile phone is helpful if you find the car will not start, or the key will not work in the gate. Store the number of a few TWC members in your phone memory in case you need help.

Q. Advice for Car users?
A. Don't park too close to the edge in case the bank collapses into the water (in all cases, make sure handbrake is on!). It has been known for rogue boards or rigs to fly up in the air and strike other cars (£250 damage to a car in a single incident in spring 2005), so PLEASE rig (or park your board while resting) well away from other members' cars - on the large grassy beach. Boards can fly off roofracks if not strapped down. Spare sails can be melted by hot catalytic converters if you store them under the car while sailing. Take your harness off before you stack up the roofrack before going home - or the hook can make a nasty scratch in the door.

Q. Why cant the club have some club boards or beginner boards for visitors or family members?
A. There have been insurance questions on this, not only on the boards, but on the person who might take on the role of teacher/trainer. Club members who have insurance would be able to use club boards on their own insurance, so we are looking into the idea of getting some 2nd hand bargains for club use. We don't have the resources to apply to be an RYA training location. The existing old boards in the clubhouse are now so old that anybody who wants to take one can have one.

Q. When will the road be improved?
A. We are waiting for Butterley/RMC to get planning permission to use the adjacent field (expected end of this year) whereupon they will be using the road for their plant, and may then improve it. We are reluctant to spend funds on improving it if they are going to churn it up soon with their vehicles or re-lay or re-route it.

Q. Does the club have an official training scheme?
A. We are not big enough to provide this, but experienced members are generous with advice on setting up kit and windsurfing technique. RYA courses can be had at National Water Sports Centre, Rutland Water and Notts County Sailing Club.

Q. Is the TWC lake connected to the Trent?
A. The lake water is linked but not directly - At the north end, there are a number of channels and watery lanes that link to the Trent. Trent water is only known to come in directly at times of high flood, and you can recognise the change of colour. You can see an aerial view on this site, or on Earth Google.

Q. We can see the other nearby lake to the west (on Pasture lane), are we allowed to use it?
A. Our landlords have allowed us to use it during certain times whilst excavation work is being carried out in the vicinity (click here for information).

Q. Where is the best launching location?
A. Like most gravel pits, most of the edge of the lake has steeply shelving banks, but there is a short beach by the rigging area which is a lot more beginner friendly. Other landing sites are visible as gravelly edges - but avoid going into overhanging trees - you risk getting a branch through your sail or in your eye. You will find it difficult to re-launch if you get into part of the bank where there is a windshadow.

Q. Can we use the whole lake?
A. Yes, as long as you leave space around anglers. Beware of going into the narrow water at the north end - narrowness, launching difficulty and peculiar vegetation-affected wind conditions may make it difficult to get back - down there, the wind changes direction and force every 2-3 seconds, somehow.

Q. Are they allowed to park in our car park or fish from our beach?
A. No, they are only permitted to park and fish further round the perimeter of the lake, past the headland.

Q. What distance should we keep from them?
A. Providing they are fishing in the correct areas (ie not in our car park or beach), we normally give them a wide berth, equivalent to a moderate casting distance or line length. They can get quite irate if you get closer, and they are not tolerant of windsurfing beginners who get blown towards them.

Q. The trees in my back garden say one thing, its often different down at the lake. How can I be sure?
A. The www.Windguru.cz website gives by far the most accurate weather forecast for water sports users. See the Links page for details. For a windguru "custom spot", the lake is at 52.881N and 1.256 W. Wind in your garden is affected by houses and trees.

Q. Is there an unsafe wind on the lake?
A. If the wind is a strong south westerly, you may have a struggle to get back to the rigging beach and your car by a direct route unless you are very good at tacking upwind - but you can usually make it to the small headland that projects into the lake and pull the board through the water from there.

Q. What happens if things go wrong, eg with the board?
A. The lake is small enough that if you are really too overpowered to get back or you lose a skeg or break the UJ, you can walk the board back from anywhere on the circumference. Learn the signal for distress (arms in crucifixion mode, moving regularly up and down) and hope a member might surf over and tow your board back while you walk round. You cannot get a normal car round to the other side, the southern point is the furthest reach.

Q. Rigging when its windy...
A. When there is strong wind, avoid rigging sails near to cars, or leaving rigged sails near cars, they are apt to fly up and land violently somewhere else. Also, beware of boards on roofracks just after or before the straps are on firmly - they can also lift off and fly. All these things have happened in the last year. Get another member to hold the board down while you get the straps ready. If you are taking a restbreak, leave the rig attached to the board, and if not, release the downhaul so it's not aerodynamic.

Q. How long has the club been at Pasture Lane?
A. The club was based at Shipley Park until the mid eighties, after which it moved to the present site in Pasture Lane. The facilities include changing rooms (male and female), toilets and a well kept rigging area complete with B.B.Q. The club is indebted to Phil Frearson who was the moving spirit in the club and committee for many years, but who passed away in 2000: a plaque commemorating Phil is in the clubhouse.