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.

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 8^th 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 8^th of June, for those living in the county or up to 20km from home, whichever is the larger distance:

• Social distancing requirements still apply.
• The Commodore and Committee of Skerries Sailing Club is committed to complying 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. We are relying on members fully respecting the provisions implemented by Skerries Sailing Club but we cannot guarantee that all members will be in compliance. Neither are we in a position to ensure such compliance at all times.
• To facilitate traceability entrants to the boat yard are requested to log in and out.
•  Apart from the yard facilities, no other club facilities will be available.
• A restricted punting service, to facilitate a cruiser crane in and adhering to social distancing, can be provided on request.
• By contacting the Sailing Secretary, Doire Shiels, SSC can provide supervised activity for single handed or household multi handed sailing. As per ISA recommendations, members should follow the fundamental principles for deciding to go afloat.
• SSC boats will not be available for hire during phase two.

Provisionally Phase Three return to sailing commences on the 29^th 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.

All members are advised by the Hon Sailing Secretary that club sailing is postponed until further notice. As soon as we get a better understanding of the ongoing pandemic restrictions we will issue a revised schedule with appropriate advance notice. Stay Safe.

Please share with any friends who are thinking about starting to sail.

First and foremost, I hope all members and their families are keeping safe and well during these distinctive times.  I want to send a quick update on the sailing season.  Clearly, we are in unchartered waters and with little or no timelines available it is hard to provide definite answers as to schedules and fixtures.

The Sailing Club will follow all guidelines from the HSE, Irish Government, and Irish Sailing as they get updated over the coming weeks. At this time, we will continue with the May schedule and I will circulate a soft copy of the fixture list to all members next week. However, the schedule will be driven by what the authorities say when a review of the current status will take place in the next week. I believe it is highly unlikely that the May series will go ahead, however for now we will wait and see.

In these tough times it is nice to look forward to getting on the water this summer, whether that is sooner or later.  I know many of the classes have WhatApps, Facebook, and email groups.  I encourage you all to keep in touch with your fellow sailors in the coming weeks and months ahead.  Or even try your hand with some online sailing through virtual regatta in the link below.

https://www.virtualregatta.com/en/

Stay safe,

Doire.

As previously advised by Newsletter, Skerries Sailing Club will remain closed until further notice. This website remains open. Please call 083 068 5666 or email info@skerriessailingclub.com for any urgent matters. Also please see above tab “Info/Club Officers – 2020” for more contact details. At this time we wish all our members and their families every safety during this current pandemic. Liam O’Callaghan , Commodore. (commodore@skerriessailingclub.com)