AUGUST NEWSLETTER
Dear Member,
I do hope that you are well and managing to enjoy the summer. It is great to have seen an increase in the number of boats on the river and to have enjoyed some un-official social events at the dock.
The recent continued easing of restrictions by HM Government from the end of July has meant that the main committee has again reviewed the club’s response in terms of getting back to sailing.
The Government has assessed that outdoor activities can be further increased, and some indoor facilities have opened if they can be made sufficiently Covid-19 Secure. Additionally, the RYA has published more guidance stating that all forms of sailing are now possible providing that social distancing is maintained.
However, we are still only allowed to gather outdoors in a mixed group of up to six, with social distancing.
Whilst we can gather in small groups the preparation and launching of our dinghies and crewing of safety boats continues to provide a challenge requiring individuals to sometimes operate closer than 2m apart albeit for limited periods.
The Main Committee has reviewed the latest guidance and considers that it is now possible to move to a gradual increase in the number of club supported dinghy sailing events.
To this end the club is planning a number of dinghy sailing days on the estuary in August when a safety boat will be on the water.
The sailing days are initially for the benefit of members with their own dinghies, but a limited number of club boats will in the future be available for hire (booked and paid in advance) from John Gallagher. Numbers of people in the dinghy tanks are strictly limited (and thus the numbers on the water) in line with the government guidance noted above and therefore there will be a need for members to book onto these sailing days. Please do not just turn up and expect to sail, you may not even be allowed into the dinghy tank!
- The days will be as the ‘Club Sailing (TBC)’ days and times as in the handbook.
- The dock remains open for personal sailing (subject to government distancing regulations)
- The Clubhouse will remain closed
A Safe Operating Procedure has been produced by the Sailing Committee and it will be incumbent on every participant, for their own protection, to act in accordance with its requirements. A copy of this document will be posted on the website , on Facebook and will be sent to anyone booking onto a sailing day.
If you would like to sail, or help, on one of these days, please book in at Captainhoratiobarnacle@gmail.com. As part of the club’s self-help ethos participants will also be expected at some point to take a duty at OOD and on the Safety Boat for which a rota will be compiled.
Meanwhile the Main Committee continues to review HM Government’s advice as it is issued. There is a planned re-opening date for the clubhouse (yet to be published) and a number of clubhouse-based activities are planned for the Autumn, but much will depend to some extent on the relaxation of social distancing.
Many may know that Mike Briers is presently not well, many will also be aware of how Mike has worked tirelessly over many years (since 1978 in fact) in several club roles most recently as the Hon Secretary and as a Trustee. Mike’s illness has meant that unfortunately he has decided to resign his role as both Trustee and Hon Secretary. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike on behalf of all the club’s members for the time and enthusiasm which he has put into his various roles at the club. This of course leaves us with a huge hole to fill and we are therefore seeking an individual to fill the role of Hon Secretary. If you have an interest or know of someone (they need not necessarily even be a member) who may like to take on this primarily administrative role, please get in touch with a member of the Main Committee. We all wish Mike a speedy recovery.
In the meantime, please keep safe and socially distance.
Andy Walls
Commodore
