Additional Coronavirus Rules

Containment
Coronavirus Racing
CCSC Risk Assessment
Ladies Sailing
Sail 4 All

Safety Statements

Bar and Galley
Club Racing
Boat Park
Ladies Sailing
Celtic Lady
Grafter
Changing Rooms and Toilets
Slip Cleaning
Gardening

Coronavirus Messages

23/5/20 CCSC Covid-19 - Return To Sailing Update

You may have noticed a few sails out on the water and there is a sense that we may have turned a corner in the Covid-19 crisis. Wessex Radio reported that it has been a month since the last Covid-19 death at Dorset County Hospital. Thank you to all those who have helped directly in the Covid-19 response and to everyone for their sensible and determined actions during lockdown to help prevent the spread of the disease.

The danger has not passed. There is still a risk of a second peak of infections however the government has published a three-phase plan to kick start society and the economy. We are now in Phase 1 and we have re-opened the boat park for individual members to sail under their own steam. An outline of the next two phases has been published:

Phase 2 - Smarter Controls - Earliest 1st June

  • Minimise the spread of the disease through continuing good hygiene practices.
  • Re-opening of schools for some pupils and non-essential retail.
  • Sporting and cultural events held behind closed doors
  • Expanded social contact allowed for households to interact in 'bubbles'

Phase 3 - Reliable Treatment - Earliest 4th July

  • Re-opening of pubs, cinemas, restaurants and accommodation.

The CCSC General Committee have been working hard to manage the club throughout the last 3 months. Despite there being no sailing, we have never been busier with planning, meetings, managing risk and producing documents as we manage Covid-19 security at the club whilst finding the path back to some form of sailing. Thank you to all of the General Committee members and the wider group of club officials that have kept the club running behind the scenes ready for the return to the water. I am proud to be part of a club where the volunteer ethos is so strong.

This week the slipways team led by Grace Martin, Phil Tysoe and Barry Grant have developed a safe system of work and organised a team of volunteers to get the slipways cleaned. They are looking much better now and are much safer for the dinghies to use. Well done to everyone involved.

The approach taken on the slipways will be replicated as we re-open other areas of the club. For each area we will take the following steps:

  • Identify a team leader
  • Prepare a safe system of work
  • Procure any required PPE
  • Communicate to the membership
  • Recruit and train volunteers
  • Complete and document the tasks

There is a lot to do and the timing of the re-opening of the club is dependent upon the progress of the pandemic and the regulations set by the government. We have developed an outline running order of re-opening to let you know what to expect. First Priority

  • Slipways
  • Garden and grounds
  • Dinghy storage on the boat park
  • Limited toilet facilities

Second Priority

  • Limited changing facilities
  • Grafter and moorings work
  • Pontoons
  • Club boats
  • Club racing
  • Ferry service

Third Priority

  • Club house
  • Bar & galley
  • Open events
  • Keelboat lift

Key to success will be the national response to the disease. It is very unlikely that a vaccine will be widely available in 2020 so there will be a strong reliance on containment through Test, Track and Trace (TTT) for the rest of the year. The government is implementing the national TTT which will be the mainstay of the containment policy. Additionally, we will be implementing a voluntary local trace system for those who want to participate. Members who have participated in an organised CCSC event who then go on to develop Covid-19 symptoms can choose to share this confidentially to allow others to be notified that they might be at risk. This is not part of the national TTT system but an additional voluntary approach to support the wider effort. Details will be circulated shortly.

We do hope to get back to some form of club racing at some point this summer and for that we will need volunteers to participate in duties. The exact nature of the duties will differ from last year as we implement our Covid-19 Secure practices. In the short term all duties are cancelled up to the middle of June. It is likely that we will extend the cancellation period as our plans develop however, towards the back end of the year we may be able to re-instate some duties. Organising duties is a massive job and I am very grateful to our Duties Coordinator Gareth Jones who does a fabulous job each year. To make his job a little easier we will not be cancelling all duties for the rest of the season as we may be able to re-use some of the work he has already put in. Further information on duties will be published in due course.

Dinghy storage will be difficult this year as the keelboats are currently on the boat park and I ask everyone to be patient and understanding of each other as we work around the challenges to get as many dinghies accommodated as possible. Out of a total of 184 dinghy spaces we are currently 55 spaces short. Vice Commodore, Sailing Ian Green and Boat Park Coordinator Jo Young have come up with a revised plan for how we can find as many dinghy spaces as possible on the boat park and convert the lower level car park to dinghy storage. Unfortunately, we are still a few spaces short and there may not be room for everyone. Currently we cannot agree any new requests for P1 storage. Let Ian or Jo know if you want a space and we will keep a 'waiting list' so boats can be matched with spaces should they become available. If you no longer wish to take up a P1 space that you have already paid for please contact Jo Young or Ian. It will help greatly to know of any boats wishing to cancel as soon as possible.

A full refund will be given for P1 space cancellations made before the end of May. This will include the PHA boat fee provided the 2020 sticker is returned unused. A refund is not available to boats already at the club. Portland Harbour Authority have indicated they will allow a proportionate rebate on some Harbour Dues for the period we have been unable to use Portland Harbour. The rebate will end on the day we are allowed to use the water and the details of how the rebate will be applied will be made known when we know more.

A significant number of keelboat users have asked for the keelboats to stay on the boat park for the rest of 2020. It is likely that the next organised lift in for keelboats will be in Spring 2021. If you feel that some boats should go back into the water this year, then please contact me directly. The committee will be making a decision by the end of May regarding lifting in 2020.

The club finances remain challenging for the year. A number of open events have been cancelled and we are not taking any income in the clubhouse. Fortunately, the club was in a strong financial position at the start of the crisis and we have the reserves to weather the storm in 2020. Anne Midona has done an excellent job in applying for additional funding. We have taken advantage of the government's furlough scheme and Dorset County Council have very kindly awarded the club a £25k grant. The club always aims to offer excellent value for money and I am aware that we have not been able to sail as much as expected. Towards the end of the year we will look again at the charges made to members and the value offered to ensure that we fairly recognise the contributions asked for this year whilst keeping the club financially viable for future generations.

The club does remain open to new members and although facilities are limited in the short-term, there will still be much to enjoy at the club this summer and the future of the club is strong. Growing the membership will be essential for the future of the club so please think about how you can encourage people into sailing at CCSC over the next 12 months. For those who have not yet renewed their membership or paid their 2020 subscription, I encourage you to do so as you are all valued as part of a wider community and despite the difficulties this year there are plenty of good times to come.

In the meantime there is still Virtual Sailing to enjoy. Jon Emmett is running virtual e-sailing races using www.virtualregatta.com/en/inshore-game/ . There are Monday, Wednesday and Sunday races following the dates and approximate times as set out in the racing program for 2020 with details available on the CCSC members Facebook page. The races are around 10 minutes long with people socialising at the same time on Zoom. The video of the latest race is at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=547583979512467. The time table for the 2nd lock down series of races (3 on each day) will start on the week commencing May 25th and end with the Weymouth Dinghy on 11th and 12th July. For further details contact Jon via email (jon@jonemmettsailing.co.uk).

There is lots going on at the club and the plans are developing daily. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. In the first week of June the General Committee plans to hold a Zoom meeting to give an update on progress and allow members to ask questions directly. The details of the meeting will be circulated shortly.

Working together we will get through this but in the meantime, stay safe.

CCSC General Committee

12/5/20 CCSC Covid-19 - Permitted Club Activities from 13 May 2020

Following the government's relaxation of the rules on social distancing which the RYA understands to include all forms of boating, CCSC is relaxing the restrictions on the use of club facilities for the purpose of exercise, effective from 13 May 2020. The spirit of the restrictions is still to stay at home as much as possible and limit contact with other people to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. There will be opportunities for individual exercise using the club's facilities however, we are a long way from returning to business as normal. The changes in the rules are not intended to promote socialising at the club.

When visiting the club, all members must follow the government rules on social distancing and infection control including:

  • Stay at home if you or someone you live with has a new and continuous cough or high temperature.
  • Social distancing of 2m should be adhered to whenever feasible. When it is not possible to implement the 2m social distancing guidance, a risk assessment should be undertaken as to whether the task is essential and if so, the distance between people can be reduced.
  • Wash your hands more often and for 20 seconds.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue away straight away.
  • Frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products

A Risk Assessment of club activities is attached and all members must familiarise themselves with the details in it before visiting the club. All activities are conducted at the discretion of the individual member and nobody should feel obliged to participate in any activities at the club. All activities normally expected from individuals including employed work and duties continue to be suspended until further notice.

A summary of the voluntary activities that are considered acceptable at the club under the current government guidance is given below along with the relevant risk number in the Risk Assessment shown in brackets.

Areas open to members

  • Car park [1]
  • Boat park [8]
  • Slipways [9]
  • Garden [1]
  • Balcony [1]
  • Crane [24]
  • Pier [10, 11]
  • Sail store [7]

Areas closed to members

  • Club house [2,3]
  • Galley [4]
  • Bar [5]
  • Toilets [3]
  • Changing rooms [6]
  • Boat workshops [24]
  • Garden store [24]
  • Boat park storage container [24]

Permitted activities

  • Sailing alone [17]
  • Sailing with members of your household [16]
  • Boat maintenance [24]
  • Pontoon maintenance [24]
  • Outside club maintenance [24]
  • Gardening [24]
  • Winterising / de-winterising moorings [23]
  • Mark laying [23]

Prohibited activities

  • Social gatherings [2, 4, 5]
  • Events [2, 4, 5]
  • Organised racing [19,20]
  • Organised coaching or training [21]
  • Operation of committee boat [15]
  • Operation of rescue boats [14]
  • Operation of ferry [12, 13]
  • Lifting moorings with Grafter [23]
  • Lifting keelboats [22]
  • Indoor club maintenance [24]

Please do not use the clubhouse or changing room toilets as infection control measures are not yet in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in these areas.

Touching surfaces touched by other people is a major route of infection. Please bring your own tools and gardening equipment where possible for work on site. If it is necessary to use club equipment or to touch surfaces touched by others, then clean the surfaces and tools both before and after use.

Although sailing may be possible, PHA are currently waiting on specific guidance and the completion of risk assessments before easing their current restrictions. They ask for recreational marine leisure users remain patient and understanding as they continue to cooperate and work closely with Government. PHA will be in touch shortly once they have a further update.

No rescue boat cover is available at this time so there are increased risks during any on-water activity including sailing. It is recommended that you do not go onto the water without ensuring you have a safe method of being recovered safely to shore in the event of an incident. Note that an incident may cause undue stress on the RNLI, PHA or other emergency services.

Normal restrictions apply to the use of club facilities including club boats and the club crane.

The keelboats are currently remaining on site so the boat park is not configured for full P1 usage by dinghies. You may not be able to bring your dinghy to the club. An update on boat park configuration for the summer will be issued shortly.

There are a number of issues around the lifting of keelboats in 2020. A significant number of key lift team members and keelboat owners are either in the group of people at high risk from Covid-19 or are shielding so will be unable to attend the lift, train replacement volunteers or develop a Covid-19 Secure safe system of work. Should the infection rate rise again the lockdown will be reinstated and boats would be left unattended on the water. A significant number of keelboat users have asked for the keelboats to stay on the boat park for the rest of 2020. It is likely that the next organised lift in for keelboats will be in Spring 2021. If you feel that some boats should go back into the water this year, then please contact me directly. The committee will be making a decision by the end of May regarding lifting in 2020.

Where there is an urgent need for access to a closed area or a prohibited activity then authorisation must first be obtained from a member of the General Committee.

This information will be updated regularly in line with government guidance.

If we all work sensibly together, we can control this pandemic and also start to take steps back towards sailing. I look forward to seeing you on the water again when it is safe to do so.

CCSC General Committee


10/5/20 CCSC Covid-19 - The club remains closed

I hope that you are staying safe and coping with lockdown as best you can. At this difficult time our thoughts are with those affected by the pandemic and particularly those who have lost loved ones.

It does look as thought the measures that have been in place for the last two months have been effective in stemming the growth of cases of coronavirus and inevitably our thoughts will turn to when we can go sailing again. I am sure many of you will have seen the broadcast by the Prime Minister tonight and the steps being taken to return the country towards a more normal routine. The risk from coronavirus remains grave and we are all urged to stay alert. At the moment the club remains closed however, plans are being developed for how the club can re-open whilst maintaining the safety of our members and employees.

We have had to cancel the following open events:

  • Contenders Open 9-10 May
  • Dorset Triangle 31 May
  • Dinghy Regatta 11-12 July

A decision on the Osprey Nationals 25-28 July will be taken in June.

Club sailing remains on hold. Once the restrictions are lifted enough for activities to begin again there will be a lead time while we get the club racing running again. The pontoons will need to be completed, the moorings checked, boats lifted in, boat park re-arranged, races scheduled and duties checked. It is likely to take a couple of weeks to get everything arranged and longer for activities dependent upon spring tides. At the moment there is uncertainty about how the lockdown rules will be relaxed and when, but as soon as we have the required clarity I will let you know the details and timing for the return to sailing. We also need to be mindful that a resurgence in infection rates may cause subsequent lockdowns and we should be prepared for continued intermitted disruption until a vaccine for coronavirus is available. The disruption is likely to continue throughout 2020.

In the meantime there are some sailing related activities to keep you going. Bob Footer has created a Tall Ships quiz circulated in a previous email. Jon Emmett is running virtual e-sailing races using www.virtualregatta.com/en/inshore-game/ . There are Monday, Wednesday and Sunday races following the dates and approximate times as set out in the racing program for 2020 with details available on the CCSC members Facebook page. The races are around 10 minutes long with people socialising at the same time on Zoom. The video of the latest race is at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=547583979512467. The time table for the 2nd lock down series of races (3 on each day) will start on the week commencing May 25th and end with the Weymouth Dinghy on 11th and 12th July. For further details contact Jon via email (jon@jonemmettsailing.co.uk).

Stay alert and I hope to see you back on the water as soon as possible.

CCSC General Committee


29/3/20 CCSC Covid-19 - Club Security

Thank you to everyone who is staying at home or who is out and about working to help the nation through the Covid-19 crisis. This is a great help to our hard-pressed NHS and key workers and is essential for reducing the peak number of Covid-19 cases which in turn will save lives.

The figures today from Public Health England show that the crisis is worsening as predicted and now is the moment we all need to focus on what we can do to help.

CCSC premises are closed and there is no reason to travel to the club. As of 26 March the new Regulations extending the travel restrictions are now enforceable by law. Members should not be at the club for any of our usual activities including; sailing, facilities maintenance or preparation of boats and we all must follow the Government's advice on staying at home which is currently:

"You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:

  • shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
  • one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
  • any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
  • travelling to and from work, but only where you cannot work from home.

These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household."

Weymouth & Portland Police have advised that your one form of exercise a day should start and finish at your home address. You should not be driving anywhere to take exercise or walk your dog.

Although the priority must be the safety of the people, members may also have concerns about the security of the club and their boats. There are a number of measures in place ensuring security at the club:

  • The site is alarmed with detectors for both intrusion and fire.
  • Dorset Police are aware of our situation and CCSC is covered by normal policing activities.
  • The club's comprehensive CCTV system is being monitored by club officials.
  • Members can monitor boats on the boat park CCTV camera online by going to the members side of the CCSC website. The login is ccsc and the password is sailing.
  • Some local members are using the Rodwell Trail as part of their permitted one form of exercise a day and may be in a position to notice anything untoward at the club.

Should anyone notice an issue at the club please could they contact a member of the committee or contact me directly by email at commodore@ccsc.org.uk or by phone on 07901917704.

In this way we will be able to notify members if there is an issue at the club. Currently our ability to respond to issues is limited but there are things we can do in the case of an urgent incident. I have been in contact with Dorset Police and they are exercising discretion about what constitutes essential work requiring travel to the club should an urgent incident arise. The committee has also completed a risk assessment which addresses access to the premises by club officials during an urgent incident. Any request to enter the club to attend to an urgent issue should be directed to a committee member.

The current lock down will be in place for at least 3 weeks from 23 March and there are difficult times ahead. Stay safe, follow the spirit of the rules and look out for one another.

CCSC General Committee


23/3/20 CCSC Covid-19 - Stay At Home

I am sure that many of you will have seen the Prime Minister's announcement tonight and the message is clear - stay at home.

It is clear that we are at a pivotal moment of the coronavirus outbreak and now is the time for households to stop mixing so that we can all do our part to reduce the stress on the NHS at the peak of the crisis. In this way we will protect out NHS staff, key workers and the sickest of the patients in our hospitals. This means there is no reason to visit Castle Cove Sailing Club. All work around the club and all preparation of boats at the club must cease immediately. Please follow the Government's guidance on restrictions of movement.

This will be a tough time for all of us however, by staying in touch with one another by phone and through social media we can ensure that everyone is protected yet not completely isolated.

CCSC General Committee


We will not be putting the pontoons in or running the ferry for the foreseeable future.


22/3/20 CCSC Covid-19 - Cancellation of Activities

The huge changes to our way of life and work may appear overwhelming but the CCSC General Committee are working hard to deliver what the Government and health experts say will help protect our communities. Currently we are looking to minimise the spread of coronavirus which is best achieved through social distancing, particularly for those at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Balanced against that is the community, financial and mental health value in keeping some sailing going, so the General Committee are balancing the risks to keep everyone safe whilst also maintaining whatever sailing may be sensible this year. I would like to thank all of the committee, club officers and volunteers who have worked so hard over the last few weeks and continue to work selflessly to ensure that the club is prepared for the coronavirus outbreak.

Due to a the risks of Covid-19 to our members, the shortage of volunteers because of self-isolation and the current public health advice to avoid social contact it is, with regret, necessary to cancel many activities at the club.

Effective immediately the following apply:

  • All social events are cancelled until further notice.
  • All organised sailing events including racing and open events are cancelled until at least 31st May.
  • An assessment of subsequent events will be made in April and monthly thereafter.
  • Lift in on 8/9 April is cancelled:
  • The keelboats will remain on the boat park. It is not known when it will next be possible to launch the keelboats.
  • Keelboat owners will not be charged for summer storage ashore but they will not receive a rebate for their unused swinging moorings.
  • The club will investigate the possibility of a refund for PHA dues for any boat that is not launched this summer.
  • Space for P1 dinghy storage will be affected. We hope to find space for most dinghies already booked into P1 however we may have to cancel some P1 storage reservations. The boat park coordinator will issue a revised boat park plan in due course. Spaces in the dinghy park may be restricted to one space per member. If possible, please consider storing your dinghy at home and bringing it down by trailer each time you sail. Please contact Jo Young by email at joyoungccsc@outlook.com if you have any changes or cancellations to your P1 dinghy storage requirements. Anybody who has the pre-paid P1 storage for their dinghy cancelled will get a rebate at the end of the season.
  • The club crane can be used for individual activities by contacting the Moorings Officer.

  • Swinging moorings remain open. Portland Harbour Authority (PHA) have not stopped the use of swinging moorings and it is for individual owners to decide if they wish to use their swinging mooring this year. The PHA Leisure team is running a reduced service with Harbour patrols on an ad hoc basis. Response times to any incident will be increased. If any boats do go adrift from their mooring any salvage operations may be delayed. Owners should check the terms of their insurance before deciding to use their swinging moorings.
  • The pontoons will be launched using the club crane to make as much space as possible for P1 dinghy storage. It is hoped that the pontoons will be launched in mid-April.
  • Once the pontoons are on the water, we aim to run a reduced ferry service depending upon government restriction at that time. The reduced service will cover weekends and bank holidays only. A revised timetable will be available in due course. The ferry boat will only take the crew from a single boat at any one time to avoid crews mixing. The maximum number of passengers on the ferry boat is reduced from 12 to 6.
  • All duties are cancelled up to the end of May. Further information about duties will be issued in April.
  • Club safety boats and race marks will stay ashore until racing is resumed.

  • The boat park and clubhouse will remain open for individuals who want to sail independently however be mindful of;
  • the increased risks of sailing without safety cover
  • the increased risk to emergency personnel if you have an accident
  • the government advice to avoid social gathering
  • the need for good hand hygiene
  • The bar and galley are closed until further notice.
  • All members are reminded that UK government guidance on social distancing is currently that you can go for a walk or exercise outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from other people.
  • People at increased risk from Covid-19 should be mindful of the government advice to self-isolate.
  • If you or anyone in your household has a continuous cough or fever then follow the government guidance on self-isolation.
  • All of these measures assume that people can maintain an appropriate distance between one another. Parents are reminded that they are responsible for social distancing by their children.

There are challenging times ahead and I am certain that every member will be taking cautious, sensible actions relevant to their own situations. The outbreak is developing rapidly and the guidance is constantly updating. The CCSC General Committee will continue to monitor the UK Government's guidance daily to ensure we take appropriate, timely action as the situation develops.

The Covid-19 outbreak is still in the early stages and there are difficult times ahead. Stay safe and look out for one another.

CCSC General Committee


RS 700/800 Nationals

9th - 12th September
Castle Cove Sailing Club
Old Castle Road
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 8QE

Tel: +44 (1305) 783708

Map for directions