Boat Hire Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my children or guests on club boats?

Yes, you are more than welcome to bring friends or family out with you. As long as the primary hirer is qualified to hire the boat, they are permitted to have non-qualified persons onboard. This does not apply to the high-performance or racing dinghies though, these will require all persons on board to be qualified to sail them.

I do not have HKSF dinghy sailing certificates, can I still apply to be put on the Approved Helms Lists?

Yes you can. We understand that many members will have learned to sail in a variety of places. Many will have qualifications from overseas sailing organisations or may not have any formal qualifications at all. Include any overseas qualifications when you apply for the Approved Helms List and we can help determine what HKSF qualification it would be equivalent to. If you do not have any dinghy sailing qualifications, include a brief summary of your dinghy sailing experience including roughly how long you have been sailing and what type of boats you have sailed.

Are there weather restrictions for boat hire?

All club sailing is suspended whenever there is a Typhoon 3 signal (or higher) or a Red Rainstorm Warning (or higher). Beyond that, boat hire may be suspended if the on-duty manager at Middle Island deems conditions to be unsuitable (high wind speeds or unstable sea states). If you have booked to hire a boat, we will try and contact you as soon as possible if we feel conditions are not suitable. If you are already sailing when conditions deteriorate, our safety RIB will assist in notifying you and bringing you back to Middle Island.

I am a very experienced sailor, do I still need to use a mast head float and buoyancy aid?

Yes, these are a condition of hire. When hiring dinghies for racing, we can allow you not to use a mast head float so long as there is a dedicated safety RIB accompanying the fleet. This needs to be confirmed by the on-duty manager prior to launching.

Can we hire club boats for racing?

Yes, club boats can be hired to be used for RHKYC or ABC club racing at Middle Island.

The club also owns 29er, can these be hired out?

The club racing 29ers are used exclusively by the Sharks on seasonlong loans. They are unavailable for hire. As an alternative, the RS Quest advanced and the Vago are similar high performance dinghies.

Are there any boats for hire at Shelter Cove?

No. All dinghies at Shelter Cove are privately owned. The club has looked in to keeping dinghies for hire at Shelter Cove before but it has proved not viable due to a lack of safety cover.

Does the club have any kayaks or stand up paddle boards available for hire?

Yes. These are managed by the Rowing and Paddlesports section. Please contact them for more details

Can the J80 or Beneteau 25s be sailed outside the sailing area?

The club keelboats may be sailed outside the sailing area with prior approval from the on-duty manager. The on-duty manager must be satisfied that the crew is suitably experienced, the weather does not pose a risk and that adequate communication channels are available.

Can I check what boats I am on the approved helms list for?

Yes, please email kelvin.lau@rhkyc.org.hk and we can let you know.

What is the best time of year to hire boats at Middle Island?

Boats can be hired throughout the whole year. We feel that winter time offers the most consistent breeze whilst summer is ideal for cruising with friends and family. Spring and autumn are also favorites of many as the weather is pleasant and the wind is often quite moderate.