Further opening of Club Facilities

Following the information from the Welsh Assembly Government, I am happy to advise that there are further amendments to the use of the facilities at the club from 1st September 2021. The changes from the current situation are: 

• Increased access to the Club House but with the general requirement to wear a face covering.
• The removal of the forecast wind speed limit to cause racing to be cancelled.
• The use of the Safety boat by mixed household crews subject to additional precautions.

The full details of the requirements from 1st September 2021 are detailed below:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 

Attendance at the club is voluntary and all sailors, spectators, race officials/safety boat volunteers and visitors accept that being in closer proximity to more people increases the risk of contracting Covid 19. If in doubt do not attend. 

All persons should follow the current advice from the Welsh Government regarding social distancing. 

Anyone who is unwell with the symptoms of Covid-19 shall not attend the club and prior to coming to the club shall undertake a self-assessment that they are clear of symptoms. 

Anyone who has contact with a family or household member who is unwell with the symptoms of Covid-19, shall not attend the club for a minimum of 10 days. 

Anyone who is quarantined due to Government Requirements shall not attend the club.

If after visiting the club, you become ill with Covid 19 symptoms within a two-day period, please advise us immediately by email to training@shotwicksailing.org 

The facilities may need to close at short notice if it is suspected that a Covid 19 contact has visited the club. 

Everyone shall wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before and after touching common surfaces including the entry lock and keypad– and always after coughing, sneezing and before and after arriving and leaving the club. Members should cover their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and avoid touching their face, nose and eyes. 

All members should bring their own hand sanitiser in case none is available at the club. If you notice any of the cleaning products / hand sanitiser missing, please advise a committee member. 

Keep your distance and avoid being face to face with people outside your household.
Everyone must be conservative and considerate in their actions around the club.
Consider the current and forecast weather conditions and use the facilities within your limits. Be self-sufficient in terms of rescue, launching and recovery to avoid involving others. The use of mast head buoyancy is recommended to improve your ability to recover your boat from a capsize without outside assistance, thereby maintaining social distancing. 

The club house is available to members as follows:
Changing areas to be open for changing only (no showers) Numbers to be limited: Male changing max 6 people, Female Changing (and WC) 2 people.Male WC max 2 occupants.
The Club room will be open with limited drinks and wrapped snacks available.
Face coverings shall be worn in all areas of the building except for when food and drink is consumed seated at a table. 

Access will be available to the first aid kit, defibrillator, and telephone. 

Members must follow the requirements of the Club byelaws, General and Fire risk assessments and Covid 19 risk assessment. 

Do not share equipment, drinks bottles etc with others outside your household. 

The lawnmower only is available to members when the safety boat garage is open. A sanitising station with disinfectant spray and hand gel is located external to the garage. Members must use hand gel before and after lawn mower use. The sanitising spray shall be applied to all touch surfaces including fuel cans / fuel store if used and all components of the lawn mower that are touched. 

Other equipment such as gardening tools will not be available, and members should bring their own hand tools if required. 

FORMAL RACING 

All general requirements noted above shall apply to the racing activity, unless modified below. 

A ‘Supervising Person’ shall ensure as far as practical Covid 19 guidance is followed by those attending. The ‘Supervising Person’ shall have the power to stop the activity if the guidance is not being followed. 

Sailors who wish to take part in the racing should ‘sign on’ when arriving at the club. 

The racing shall be on Sunday only, the first race at 10.30 with two races back-to-back. Limited junior racing will also take place after normal racing on some occasions. 

Signing on for the race shall be done verbally, outdoors, at a social distance. Sailors and race officer / safety boat crew shall also confirm that they are not suffering from any of the Covid 19 symptoms and not quarantined before being recorded on the race sheet. 

The racecourse will be displayed outside the club house. 

Participants are reminded of the potential for social distancing requirements to be breached during launching and recovery, at the start line and at marks. Sailors need to allow more time for these to avoid congestion and be considerate to others taking part. Sailors need to think carefully where launching trolleys are located at the start of sailing to ensure access to the beach is not impeded and their trolley does not have to be moved by another household. When returning to the shore make sure other boats / persons are clear of the area before making your final approach. 

When recovering your boat from the water’s edge to the roadway, consider coming up at an angle to make it easier. If some assistance is needed ask a person to push at the stern to maintain social distance. The person assisting and sailor should wash / sanitise their hands as soon as possible. 

All boats taking part in racing shall be fitted with suitable mast head buoyancy, the buoyancy shall be enough to avoid the boat becoming inverted and shall also be a minimum of 5 litres. 

If sailors wish to sail in double handed boat they shall either be from the same household / bubble or carry out their own risk assessment. 

The safety boat will generally be manned by persons of the same household to avoid needing to comply with social distancing requirements. Where the safety boat is manned by different households’ persons shall maintain a min of one metre separation or where this is not possible wear a face covering. 

The safety boat will be provided with a Covid 19 safety pack in addition to its normal safety equipment for use when a person is likely to come within one metre. 

If a sailor is taken on board the safety boat or comes within one meter of the safety boat crew this shall be recorded on the race sheet.  

These arrangements will be reviewed as new information is issued and following any feedback received. 

I am glad we are now able to use the facilities to a greater extent. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the facilities.  

Kind Regards 
Tim Bowden
Commodore Shotwick Lake Sailing