News from UYC Re-Opening Sub Committee

The Directors appointed a group of people to work together on a sub committee to get the club open on June 13^th. To do this there is essential work that needs to be carried out. We must ensure that we have a safe site that complies with all mandatory legislation including all current government restrictions and sympathetically takes the views of local stakeholders. The first two weekends, therefore, will be primarily for people who need to work on or deliver their boats and we advise that anyone wishing to visit to socialise should refrain from doing so to reduce the numbers on site.

Essential works are being planned to be completed in first week. We will keep our membership updated weekly on a countdown type basis for the reopening of our club. We need your support in complying with government legislation, which you will be aware of requires social distancing, no use of club house or facilities and no overnight stay overs.

We will ensure that all members attending site have appropriate car parking facilities, launching facilities and access to all boats and cruisers that all comply with social distancing and we will supply portable toilet amenities.

You can find all the government directives on the following website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-providers-of-outdoor-facilities-on-the-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation

Some of these processes regarding launching and recovery of boats in the current environment will be strange to us. Your team have re-risk assessed all on shore and leisure sailing activities to ensure your safety as far as is practicable. A full set of risk assessments will be published on our web site within the next 7 days.

The key activities we will prioritise are:
Repair to the launching jetty
Reinstatement of the new area following the removal of the wall
Fire certification
Hoist certification
Inspecting and protecting our club boundaries

Our two managers will be released from furlough from June 1^st and will lead with the subcommittee on all actions including the full marking out of the site to facilitate re-opening on Saturday June 13^th.

We have taken cognisance of views expressed on a booking system and would rather obtain a view from our membership regarding who would likely to visit the club on the first few weekends. In that way we can then accommodate as many of our members as we possibly can - details to follow.

Initially leisure sailing will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from a date that will be announced later. UPDATE 17.5.20: The board confirm leisure sailing will be available from Saturday 13th June using safe procedures. Risk Assessments will be available on the website later this week.

The cruiser fleet captain has contacted all cruiser members to organise the best way of getting all cruisers on to moorings that want them. We are making arrangements available for club organised launching from week commencing June 15 and June 29 and will help any members who want to launch their own cruisers, by prior arrangement with the Facilities Manager.

We are constantly in touch with all local stakeholders to advise them of our intent and to gauge local views. You will be aware that we will be under constant surveillance by our neighbours and we are taking every opportunity to tell them what we are doing and how we are doing it. We have a detailed programme of activities that are needed to secure the opening of our club. We will post this on our website titled 'Countdown to UYC Opening' so you have transparency of our progress.

The Directors are mindful of the support we are getting from our membership and are looking forward to June 13^th to kick start our season and have the use of our facility whilst we enter Phases 2 and 3 and get the club back to full use.

16.5.20 Paul O'Hara, Commodore, Chair of Re-Opening Sub Committee