COVID-19 CLUB UPDATES

Due to the relaxing of Government restrictions Sailing for members can now resume under the revised operating procedures below

April 2021 Covid-19 sailing methods and confirmation of acceptance

Covid-19 measures.

These procedures and guidance aim to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV2 between people through direct transmission via aerosols/inhaled contaminated droplets, or through touching contaminated objects and surfaces.

In sailing, the risk of transmission can be controlled during the on-land activities involved in sailing. The main risk scenarios involve emergency situations in which rescue of sailors in difficulties might occur. In emergency situations, the need to rescue sailors in difficulties will over-ride COVID-19 precautions. During some emergency situations, particularly those requiring administration of first aid, or recovery of a sailor from the water or from their boat, it is inevitable that it will be impossible to maintain physical distancing. Despite measures to minimise the likelihood of such an occurrence (see below), all sailors must be aware of this risk, and agree to COVID-19 precautions being over-ridden.

A gap of 3 days or more between sailing sessions will be implemented. This will provide sufficient time for inactivation of virus that may be on surfaces in the OOD hut, the clubhouse, on the safety boat and on other items that may need to be handled by people from different households in different sessions.

The Executive and Sailing committees will continue to monitor government regulations and advice and that provided by the RYA. These restrictions will be kept under consistent review and will be tightened or relaxed as further regulations and advice is received.

 Accept of these conditions.

 By participating in sailing activities at Clevedon Sailing Club, either as a sailor or undertaking you will be deemed to have accepted these restrictions. Please do not turn up and expose your friends to Covid 19 if you have any of the symptoms.

Risk assessment of safety to return to sailing.

1.     All sailors must be physically fit and healthy in order to sail. This will minimise the likelihood of a sailor requiring safety boat help. Those considered vulnerable in terms of COVID-19 disease accept that although CSC has taken all reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of infection, the risk is not zero and by attending club sailing they are accepting that they do so at their own risk.

2.     All sailors must confirm that they have not displayed any symptoms of COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to sailing: fever, a new persistent cough, loss of taste or smell; or had contact with someone displaying symptoms in the previous 14 days prior to sailing.

 3.     Risk assessment of sailing conditions. Sailing will take place only in conditions under which emergency situations are less likely to arise. This is a forecast of a maximum average sustained wind speed of 15mph for the duration of sailing and established 24 hours beforehand from Met’ Office forecast. All sailors must be deemed competent to sail in the conditions without the likely need for rescue or help from the safety boat for reasons other than technical issues with their boat. 

 4.     Adherence to current regulations. Whilst the maximum number of people involved in the same activity according to the current government restrictions is 6, given the distance apart that sailors will be, we are happy to have more than 6 sail at a time. However, we will limit the number of boats on the slipway at any one time to 6 (excluding the safety boat) to manage the ability to socially distance between sailors and between sailors and members of the public. (Subject to regular review). Only sailors from the same household are permitted to sail a double hander, or to skipper and crew the safety boat.

 Procedures.

 5.     A sign-up system will be used for sailors to request participation in each sailing session. We may need to stagger launch times to manage the number of boats on the slipway. The sign up will include confirmation from sailors that they are symptom-free, that they are otherwise fit and able to sail, that they have not knowingly been in contact with anyone displaying symptoms of COVID-19 in the preceding 14 days, or has been in contact with someone who has received a positive COVID-19 test result in the preceding 14 days.

 6.     Club boats are available to use but double handers must only be used by members of the same household.  The sailing committee reserves the right to refuse a member to sail based on their ability and on the sea and wind conditions.

 7.     Disinfectant spray must be available for use in disinfecting surfaces and items that need to be touched, e.g. padlocks. A spray bottle of disinfectant must be available from just inside the club house for use. A separate spray bottle will be available for use by the OOD.

 8.     All sailors must bring hand sanitiser for use. Prior to touching boats other than their own, for example helping to launch the safety boat or another boat, hands must be sanitised. After handling other boats or items (trolleys) hands must be disinfected. An additional duty role of Beach Master is now in place (subject to regular review) to assist with public / boat distancing and manoeuvre of trolleys.

 9.     Sailors will arrive at the club already changed in order to avoid the need to enter the clubhouse. Kit bags can be left in the beach boat store but any changing needs to be on the beach.

 10.  At all times on land, physical distancing must be practised (at the time of writing, 2m). When rigging boats, boats must be placed a suitable distance apart so that 2m distance can be maintained by sailors. This will require greater than 2m distances between boats.

 11.  Care must be taken to allow sufficient space for members of the public to pass by boats without being closer than 2m to sailors. This may involve only limited points on the promenade be used, and sailors should be prepared to wait for suitable spaces to become available to rig. No rigging on the upper promenade except in the Water Board Bay. Wash down of boats can take place adjacent to the Topper store and with care to passers-by. 

 12.  Safety boat. Prior to touching the safety boat, hands must be disinfected. After finishing stowing the safety boat and locking the boat store, hands must be disinfected and the padlock and other boat-store door surfaces must be disinfected.

 13.  In some circumstances, people may come into closer than 2m contact. This may be to help launch and recover the safety boat, or to assist with launch of boats. On these occasions, the time in close contact should be kept to the absolute minimum. Face to face contacts must be avoided – sailors will ensure that they are in a side-to-side orientation and spaced as far apart as is reasonable to allow the activity to be performed safely. In situations where serious damage to the boats or injury to sailors or the public appears likely, then COVID-19 precautions are over-ridden to prevent damage or injury.                                                                                                  

Face coverings will not be used as they become ineffective when wet, and when wet could increase the inhalation of virus in some cases.

14.  OOD. The OOD must bring hand sanitiser. The OOD should access the OOD hut using the external stairs onto the balcony, not via the upstairs clubhouse. Other than people from the same household, only one person is permitted in the OOD hut. The period of at least 3 days between sailing sessions will ensure that OOD materials, and the OOD hut surfaces, are free from contamination at the beginning of each sailing session. However, the OOD should take precautions such as not touching their face when on duty, covering their mouth with their elbow if coughing and sneezing, and to disinfect materials and surfaces with disinfectant spray before leaving the hut, and disinfecting the OOD hut locks and hand rails on the roof as they exit the OOD area.

15.  Signing on. The OOD should complete all details of the sign on sheet. Before sailors head to the slip way, the OOD should obtain all of the necessary information. The OOD should complete the race and course details on the portable white-board, not the wall mounted board, and this should be displayed outside of the club, visible to the sailors without needing to enter the clubhouse.

16.  Toilets. Use of the toilets are permitted. Only one person at a time is permitted in the toilets. Hand sanitiser will be available outside of the toilets. Hands must be disinfected before entering and immediately on exiting the toilets. People must not queue for the toilets on the landing and must not enter the bar area of the clubhouse.