Due to recent further Covid19 restrictions (Dublin raised to Level 3+) all club organized sailing is cancelled for the next three weeks. This decision will be reviewed at that time or once government advice is updated.
Sailing Secretary, SSC – dated Saturday September 19th, 2020
Monday, 7th September 2020 (this colour):
The Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club would like to thank all our members and friends for their support during the recent precautionary close down.
We are happy to announce the re-opening of the Club and its activities this week. Punt, Sailing and Refreshment services will re-commence this week as per our social media and newsletter notifications. Please continue to observe all social distancing and traceability guidelines when entering Skerries Sailing Club premises.
Thank you, The Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club
Update (this colour) – Thursday, 3rd September 2020:
On advice it is notified that Skerries Sailing Club will to be closed for activities through this weekend. We are hopeful of good news through the weekend and will review again on Monday with a view to opening during next week. Updates will be posted via Newsletter distribution and on our social media platforms
The Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club would like to reassure our members and friends that all policies, procedures and guidelines to safeguard against the spread of Covid 19 have been in place and are being rigidly adhered to by the Club.
The Club was advised prior to last weekend that two of our members had been deemed a “casual contact” of a confirmed case of Covid 19. Those members did not attend the clubhouse from that time.
We have been made aware of the possibility of a local cluster of Covid 19 in the Skerries area. As a precautionary measure all club activities will cease with immediate effect. We will review the situation later in the week, further updates will be posted on this website to keep members advised.
The Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club
The Commodore, Vice-Commodore and sailing secretary have decided, with consultation of our PRO, that due to the impending forecast coupled with the new Government restrictions it would be the safest option to cancel this years regatta. Many thanks to all volunteers who had put their name forward to help.
Normal club racing will now be taking place Sunday the 23rd instead. Under the new guidelines all sailors participating in racing are asked to be extra vigilant in maintaining social distancing at all times, especially before and after sailing. We would also ask as to avoid congregations/ crowding after sailing that if you are not using the bar-restaurant facility in the downstairs part of the sailing club to avoid the area as to ensure sufficient spacing between tables, pods and groups.
While this is an unfortunate bump in the road we have enjoyed excellent sailing to date, with 28 boats on the water on the Sunday just gone, one of our biggest numbers in recent seasons. The goal from now is to finish out our season in a safe and fun manner.
Registration for the 2020 ISA Courses is now open.
Please see 2020 ISA Courses link for application details.
Many thanks. Your Junior Committee
The following document has been prepared based on latest guidance from the Government of Ireland and Irish Sailing (ISA). With that in mind the Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club is committed to ensuring compliance with Government pandemic emergency regulations and with the subsequent recommendations of sailing’s governing body, Irish Sailing, but warns members that these provide no guarantee that they will not contract Covid-19 while attending Skerries Sailing Club or participating in racing or volunteering in rescue boats. However, it is the duty of every member while on the SSC premises or on the water participating in SSC organized sailing to uphold personal responsibility to mitigate the dangers of transmitting COVID-19. SSC takes no responsibility should
any person contract COVID-19 on SSC premises or partaking in organized sailing activity.
Please note sailing in SSC is not a zero-risk environment.
Members Responsibility
Below is an assessment that each member should take when considering going racing or self-observed sailing. Please do not attend the sailing club if you or anyone in your household/ close contacts are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Onshore
• Changing rooms will remain closed for Phase 3. All sailors should come dressed for sailing and have towels/ necessary material to use for journey home. This will be reviewed for phase 4.
• The Club will continue to remain closed including the bar for phase 3. This will be reviewed for phase 4.
• Bathroom facilities will be available, however, to reduce risk we would ask for members to make alternative arrangement where possible.
• Social distancing ashore in the yard/ on club premises should always be maintained.
On the Water
• The priority for SSC is to run sailing with minimum risk and promotes Social Distancing measures to be maintained and where possible same household crew for multi handers are encouraged.
• Sailing can take place with multi household crewed boats in “Pods” (see Irish Sailing document for definition). It is encouraged that boats are crewed by regular crews as much as possible. It is discouraged that last-minute crews/ swapping crews etc take place.
• Sailing will only take place if the winds are forecast for 15 knots or lower for the hours racing is expected to take place. This is to ensure no unnecessary rescues are forced to take place should the wind be too strong. This restriction will be reviewed for phase 4.
• Racing will be shorter than usual, 30- 40-minute races. It will be recommended to the Race Officers that they use simplified courses such as windward Leeward at least for the first phase. This is to allow minimal contact in rescue and mark laying boats. This restriction will be reviewed for phase 4.
• The Race Officer will have ultimate discretion as to run racing and can cancel at any time should they feel necessary.
• All Rules of racing as published in the 2019 fixtures list are carried forward to 2020.
• Punting will be controlled with small numbers of people at a time, please allow extra time to get to your boat to allow for this. For the safety of the punt driver please maintain social distancing if
possible.
Contact Tracing
• All members, helm and all crews, who wish to go sailing must register with the sailing secretary via text on the morning/ evening of the race. Preferably by WhatsApp if possible at 0877150071
Boat Rentals
• Boat rentals are allowed; however we recommend they are only used on a Wednesday or a Sunday during racing, this is to allow for sufficient time in between uses to mitigate the virus staying on the surfaces in between uses. However we ask those who rent wash down the boat at the start and end of rental.
ISA Return to Sailing Scheme Phase 3 is available by clicking on link.
to return for the following boats –
a) Single Handers,
b) boats crewed by same household members, and
c) Cruisers where Social Distancing can be maintained.
Start date – weekend of 4th/5th July. A fixture list is being drafted and will be published next week.
All club racing will be subject to full Government and ISA regulations.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The Junior Committee are delighted to open registration for the SSC 2020 Junior Training Programme.
We have carefully reviewed government phased reopening guidelines, as well as Irish Sailing Association’s ‘Return to Sailing’. We will continue to review the plans as we receive further advice from the government and ISA.
In order to get the sailors on the water we have organised 3 parts as follows:
Please see 2020 Junior Summer Sailing Programme for full details.
If you have questions about the training content, please contact Junior Training Officer: Olive Parker at oliveparker69@yahoo.ie
If you have questions about registration, payment or Zoom links, please contact Junior Convenor Nora Pyne at juniors.skerriessailingclub@gmail.com or 0862296647
Happy sailing!
To the Members of Skerries Sailing Club
Irish Sailing have published their interpretation and recommendations for how sailing activities may be resumed for Phase 2 on the 8th of June. A Phase Two roadmap for return to sailing outlines activities and compliance. The SSC sailing committee has met to interpret the roadmap for Phase Two and makes the following recommendations. From the 8th of June, for those living in the county or up to 20km from home, whichever is the larger distance:
Provisionally Phase Three return to sailing commences on the 29th of June. The Sailing committee will meet again before this date to analyse the roadmap for phase three.
Brian Mc Nally/Doire Shiels
Sailing Committee.
Irish Sailing have published their interpretation and recommendations for how sailing activities may be resumed for Phase 1 on the 18th of May should the RNLI and Coastguard Advisory notice be amended before then. A Phase One (provisionally 18th May) roadmap for return to sailing outlines activities and compliance. The SSC sailing committee has met to interpret the roadmap for Phase One and makes the following recommendations.
From the 18th of May: for members living within the 5Km restriction zone:
> The boat yard and rear shed will be open to facilitate boat maintenance ensuring full compliance with social distancing; no more than 4 people should gather. Please be aware that no insurance cover is available for contracting COVID-19 while using the facilities or services of SSC. Everyone that enters SSC is responsible for their own actions and safety and must fully comply with COVID-19 procedure guidelines and protocols.
> To facilitate traceability entrants to the boat yard are requested to log in and out.
> No club facilities will be available.
> The punting service cannot operate in phase one.
> SSC will not be providing supervised activity for single handed or household multi handed sailing. Members should follow the fundamental principles for deciding to go afloat and do so at their own risk.
> SSC boats will not be available for hire during phase one.
> The Cruiser crane in may take place but SSC can not provide a punting service at this time.
Provisionally Phase two return to sailing commences on the 8th of June. The Sailing committee will meet again before this date to analyse the roadmap for phase 2.
Brian Mc Nally
Vice-Commodore/Sailing Committee.
In these challenging times I hope all our members, their families and friends are keeping safe.
As directed by Irish Sailing our Club and premises has been closed since mid March. We are keeping closely aligned with Government announcements and Irish Sailing guidance on the planned phases to “Return to Sailing . The SSC Sailing Secretary and team will be coordinating virtual meetings with key groups to implement this phased return as the directions are published.
Your committee also has been busy during this period in keeping on top of all the usual infrastructure and club management tasks. We have had two virtual committee meetings to date and continuous virtual planning and communications breakout sessions.
We have been able through observing the appropriate social distancing to carry out some internal work on the club house in preparation for the full return. The ever popular introduction to sailing talks never missed a beat and were made available live via ZOOM and also were recorded for later download.
It should be noted that after long canvassing Fingal County Council are now installing new safe ladders on the pier for safer access to boats.
We are hopeful of a clear phased approach to returning to sailing emerging in the next few weeks so please stay tuned.
Finally, I would like to say thank you for your continued support and membership of your club during these difficult times.
Liam O’Callaghan
Commodore, SSC.
