GHYC Return to Sailing Update
Dear members,
A Covid-19 meeting of the Committee was convened on Wednesday, May 13th by teleconference to review GHYC measures and update members and course attendees accordingly.
The Committee is very mindful of our responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of our staff, members and general public. The Committee will follow the requirements and guidance of the Government, HSE and the Irish Sailing Authority of which we are a member.
Since our last update, the ISA have published their Return to Sailing road-map which covers a return to the water over the five phases of government restrictions. This has been sent out to all members and any updates are available on the ISA website. The Coastguard Advisory has been eased to facilitate Phase 1.
Clubhouse and Meetings
The Clubhouse is currently closed for meetings and activities. However, it has been painted internally and this will be followed by a thorough cleaning when restrictions on mobility are lifted.
The Clubhouse yard equipment move-out was scheduled for May 2nd. This will be rescheduled to a later date.
Crane-in
A crane is provisionally booked for June 6th to enable boats to be launched as per ISA RtS. Crane-in documentation and insurance requirements is currently being progressed. Currently, approximately six Dragons have indicated that they will crane in on that date.
The Sailing Secretary has a survey prepared in which he will gauge the interest of the Squib fleet (four Squibs are local and two are GHYC which local owners permitting, may enable 4 – 6 squibs to be launched, with potentially Club squibs available to members unable to launch, details to be finalised).
Mooring Checks
Aodh O’Donnell has received the necessary Marine Survey Office and Garda approvals to check moorings and he has commenced same. Members should contact Aodh directly at aodh@odonnellfurniture.com.
Subscriptions, Course and Sailing Fees
Course Fees: In the event that the Club has to cancel a course, a 100% refund will be made to the course applicant. If an applicant cancels a course, then the Club makes a 75% refund under the Club’s Terms and Conditions.
For those course attendees travelling from abroad that have to cancel as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the Club will refund 100% of the course fee in recognition of the special circumstances.
We would ask members who had intended to book courses to continue to do so in the normal way. This enables the Club to plan our course numbers and to staff them appropriately.
First Aid Course
This course is postponed until further notice and the requirement for this season’s instructors has been waived by the ISA.
Instructors Courses
The Safety Boat Course due to be held on the April 18th was postponed until further notice.
Instructor courses scheduled for June are now postponed and will be reviewed at the June Committee meeting (June 8th) with a view to arranging later in season if numbers are viable.
Sunday Leagues (Dinghies)
The Spring League that was planned originally for April 12th was cancelled. A review on the Summer League will be made at the June Committee meeting (June 8th) .
School Sailing (National Schools)
The 2020 Schools' Program that was planned for June 2-19th inclusive is cancelled on foot of discussions between the Vice Commodore and the schools. The schools have been notified.
Sailing Courses
The first sailing course was planned for June 29th. Please refer to list below for details on which courses are continuing, postponed or cancelled. This will be kept under review at the monthly main committee meetings, which are held on the second Monday of each month.
The main committee considered a number of principles when deciding to what extent a Return to Sailing was achievable in GHYC. Due consideration was given to the special circumstances GHYC has, for example, a small clubhouse, small yard space, confined pier with multiple users, as well as the profile of members and course attendees.
In addition, we are very conscious of the local community, many of whom are in the at-risk group.
Note: GHYC will not police Government Restrictions/protocols - that is a matter for the Gardai. However GHYC will be signing up to the ISA Return to Sailing and observing Coastguard Advisories.
- Level 1 and Level 2 courses are cancelled for July and a review will be held at the next committee meeting in June regarding the August Courses.
- Splash courses are cancelled for July and a review will be held at the next committee meeting in June regarding holding an August Course.
- Adventure courses are cancelled for July and a review will be held at the next committee meeting in June regarding holding an August Course.
- Kites and Wires is cancelled for July and a review will be held at the next committee meeting in June regarding holding an August Course.
- Level 3 courses – a check will be carried out on numbers and viability established, for review at the June meeting.
- Level 4 courses – a check will be carried out on numbers and viability established, for review at the June meeting.
The committee will examine alternatives to ISA courses to facilitate our youth getting back on the water in a safe and supervised way. For keelboats without an independent means of returning to moorings, the committee propose to make support boats available which would be crewed in accordance with social distancing protocols.
Racing
The Sailing sub committee held their meeting on Thursday 14th May and a decision was made not to commence racing until mid July. This will be kept under review.
Ladies Lunch
This event due to take place on July 16th is postponed. A new date will be kept under review.
Club Dinner
This event due to take place on August 2nd is postponed. A new date will be advised later.
GHYC Classic Regatta 2020
The JPF 2020 Glandore Classic Regatta is cancelled for 2020 and may rerun in either 2021 or 2022. The reason for cancelling is that the Return to Sailing protocols would mean that the event would have to be postponed to later in July/August 2020.
However that would also lead to an increase in social gatherings in the harbour with possible impacts on local community and when potentially training school courses may also be run. In addition, bars and restaurants would still be closed and there may not be a good uptake for the event as it was dovetailed into the RCYC 300 celebration (cancelled to 2022). Running the event in either 2021 or 2022 would give the sub-committee and main committee time to consider the type of and timing of the event.
The Classic Sub-committee thanks all those who worked on preparations to date, and who expressed readiness to support the Regatta.
Stay safe and well and if the committee can be of assistance to any member in these difficult times please contact myself or a committee member and we will try and assist if we can.
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