All posts by : Ian Jay

Please fill out the form on https://www.suttonbinghamsc.net/w/training-youth/ (scroll to the bottom of the page) and I can then process your booking for you. I will confirm your booking by email. 

We will be running a small number of courses at Whitsun – Stages 1, 2 and 3. We don’t intend to run any double handed courses for this week.

Summer courses will be Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. We are running an older beginners course every other week for those aged 12+ on weeks YSS12/14/16. Start racing will run YSS13/15/17. We will also offer Sailing with Spinnakers and Intermediate racing courses, please enquire.

If you have any questions then please feel free to email Saffron at training@suttonbinghamsc.net and she will get back to you as soon as possible (please be aware she works full time so all contact is during the evenings or weekends).

We are really looking forward to welcoming all the youngsters back to the club for another year of fun on the water.

The Training Team

Dear Member,

With the February storms behind us and the encouragement of the wonderful weather of last weekend, many of us will have turned our thoughts to sailing this summer. Thanks to the success of the current lockdown, and the on-going vaccination program, it does look as though we will soon be able to return to sailing. However, the current advice is still to stay at home.

As we all know, last week the government has published its long-awaited roadmap out of lockdown. Based on that, the RYA has updated its advice to the boating community and compiled a new list of frequently asked questions as guidance to members and clubs. The advice and FAQs are accessible to non-members on the RYA’s website (www.rya.org.uk/).

For our Club, the current situation is unchanged, with the site being closed for all activities other than essential access and maintenance. Although it is possible for schools to go sailing at the reservoir, this would require self-contained infrastructure support and only one school is able to provide that. Regular checks are being made to ensure security and certain health and safety tasks are being undertaken.

The key date is 29th March, when outdoor sports facilities can re-open, and we are planning to start sailing again on the following weekend of 3/4 April, although it may not be on both days. Quite what facilities can be used and what restrictions will apply are yet to clarified; we expect further advice from the RYA soon. For the moment, we are working on the assumption that the basis of operations will be essentially the same as prior to the current lockdown, with organised racing on Sundays. We are hoping, however, that we may be able to make some use of our changing facilities, in addition to the toilets. However, currently the RYA advice is to keep changing rooms closed.

Step Two of the Government’s roadmap is 12 April, but this has little significance for sporting activities.

Assuming the Government’s test criteria are satisfied, Step Three will be implemented on 17 May, which may permit more use of the clubhouse and its facilities.

Again, if all goes to plan, Step Four will be on 21 June, when life is scheduled to return to near normal, although I suspect we may find social distancing and masks are still with us.

I will provide further updates as soon as further information specific to sailing is made available. The Club’s calendar of events is currently work-in-progress for the Sailing Committee and we expect to offer some great experiences, both on and off the water.

Dutyman will soon be open for bookings from 29 March and we really do need members to fill the slots so that we can get out on the water. We will start with a clean sheet, so those who – for whatever reason – did not do one or both duties last year will not be expected to do more this year.

As I mentioned earlier, I will provide more details once we are able to refine our plans, so keep an eye out for more messages.

Meanwhile, stay local, stay safe and – most important – check your sailing kit!

Merv Clark

Commodore

mailto:commodore@suttonbinghamsc.net

By now you should have received your invite to the 2020 AGM via email from the club Secretary. This is important because this AGM will be run virtually using Microsoft Teams. Don’t worry as there are full instructions in the email on how to access this facility. Please logon and join in the meeting.

Due to the revised Covid restrictions meaning the country is locked down we have no choice other than to cancel the 2021 Icicle Open. Hopefully it will return in 2022.

As you will know, from Wednesday, 2 December, our area will be in Tier 2 of the Government’s new virus control arrangements and I am pleased to say that we will therefore be open for sailing on Sundays from 6 December. You may be aware that we have for some years not opened on Saturdays from the first of December to the end of March, owing to the lack of interest and to conserve OOD duties.

For the time being, the basis of operating will be as before the lockdown, People wishing to attend will need to book via the Eventbrite system and the clubhouse will remain off-limits, with the exception of access to the toilets. Changing rooms and showers will not be available and the galley will remain closed.

The Government has said it will keep its system of tiers and associated restrictions under regular review. The Club will continue to monitor the changing situation and the advice provided by the RYA and revise its arrangements accordingly. Activities over the festive season will be advised closer to the time. Note that the Club’s AGM has been delayed until 24 February, 2021 and will be held on-line.

Dutyman will be open for bookings and I would ask you to register for duties – which will continue to include OOD C – so that we have the required safety cover.

Hopefully, the next news will be better and allow us to open more of our facilities.

Meanwhile, stay safe and remember: hands, face, space.

Merv Clark

Commodore