Dear WSC Sailing and Life Members
COVID-19 situation
As you are aware, we are heading into the 2022 parts of our sailing season surrounded by COVID-19. The Sailing Committee has decided not to alter our Sailing Calendar or to cancel events, but obviously the situation is changing daily. The reality is that many Club members are in the older age bracket and many will not yet have received their booster vaccine dose. The Club is also running training programs for juniors, many of whom will not become eligible for vaccination until after the end of January. With this in mind, it is the responsibility of all Club members to do what they can to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the Club.
A number of changes will be made to help keep the Club as safe as possible whilst open, starting this coming Saturday:
(1) There will be no canteen or bar operational nor will there be a post-race BBQ; this will be reviewed on an on-going basis.
(2) The pre-race briefing will revert to being held outdoors.
(3) A one-off vaccination check will be held (bring your wristband, or if you don't have one, register for one at the Club by producing your vaccination certificate).
Beyond that, there are things that you can and must do to help:
- stay home and isolate if you have any COVID-19 like symptoms
- stay home and isolate if you have been a close contact of someone who has COVID-19
- stay away if you consider yourself to be in a high-risk category
- wear masks within the Clubhouse (State Government requirement)
- wear masks where social distancing cannot be maintained outdoors
- do not congregate inside the Clubhouse or boat storage area
- minimise your use of and avoid high numbers in the change rooms
(much better if you can change / shower at home, as the changerooms have very limited ventilation)
- respect posted density limits
- sanitise your hands for sign-on / sign-off processes
Please watch out for further communication in this regard either from the Sailing Committee, the Junior Sailing Committee and/or the Committee of Management, as further announcements may be made at any time.
Minnow Victorian State Championship
On a much more positive note: the Club will be hosting the 2022 Minnow Victorian State Championship on the weekend of 26/27 February. This is the first time that the event will be held at our Club and the fact that the Minnow Association has decided to hold it at our Club is an acknowledgement of strength of our Junior Sailing Program. The Championship will comprise both Open and Novice Fleet racing, on two separate race courses. The Sailing and Junior Sailing Committees are responsible for organising it and we will be needing as many Club members as possible to assist, whether it be helping get boats in and out of the water, providing first aid, assisting on the water, helping in the canteen, etc. So please put your hand up to help when calls are made over the next few weeks.
Close-off on race sign-on procedure
Finally, regarding signing on for races: can all skippers please sign on within 10 minutes of the end of the pre-race briefing, in order to ensure that the list of boats entered can be sent out to the Race Officer on the Jack Cox and to the Tower without delay. This requirement will shortly be posted as an Amendment to the Sailing Instructions, i.e., sign-on will formally close after the 10 minute period.
with best wishes for safe and successful sailing!
Mike Lawrence (Vice Commodore)
On behalf of the Sailing Committee
