In a bold move to attract new blood to the ranks and volunteers interested in club life, Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club will offer a number of complimentary memberships to locals with skipper tickets interested in being part of its racing and training program.
The club is hoping to attract five men and women who, in return for full ordinary membership to DBYC (typically $300 per annum) would commit to volunteering on race days during the 2020/2021 sailing season.
DBYC commodore Peter Hales said the club took safety very seriously which meant putting support boats on the water when their juniors and seniors were competing or simply enjoying a club-sanctioned sail.
"Volunteering on the support boats is a great way to get involved with sailing, be on the water over the summer and be a valued part of our small community, but we occasionally struggle to fill the positions, " he said.
"It's a classic chicken and egg situation. Without support boat volunteers, there is no sailing, and vice versa."
Mr Hales said many of the club's current roster of volunteers were not sailors, but rather friends of the club who enjoyed the camaraderie, the sense of involvement with an organised water sport and simply being out on boats.
The Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club operates a number of RIB-style power boats as its support fleet and the club hopes to attract new volunteer members over winter, ready for the season beginning in November.
Volunteers will need current Western Australian skipper's tickets.
"A lot of people don't even know we're here," said Mr Hales.
"We're a small, highly inclusive club that draws from a very wide cross-section of the community.
"Our licensed premises offer the only water-frontage spot for a cold beer or a glass of Margaret River wine anywhere in Dunsborough."
Anyone interested in this special opportunity should contact DBYC commodore Peter Hales on 0428 389 370.