Coronavirus - Club Status - Updated 25/03/2021

Published 00:00 on 1 Mar 2021

Update 25/03/2021

From Monday 29^thMarch. Everyone will be able to work on their boats, go on the water and also race. And there will not be a need to book a time to sail!

Of course, there are a few things to remember and things that must be adhered to if we are to remain open.

Arrival· Please make sure that you have read the COVID brief on our website (if you did it last year it does not need to be redone) and signed the declaration, ticking online that you have done it (Please see details here) This is the list send to the Gatehouse for access each Thursday· Please do not wind your window down at the Gatehouse unless asked to do so and if you do or have to leave your car, please remember your mask.· Please logon to our website on arrival and check in and then check out when you go home.

Changing As last year, the changing rooms will not be open, so please come changed or change in the car park.

Mask· You must wear a mask if you need to go into the clubhouse to use the disabled toilet.· Anyone operating a safety boat with someone from a different household will also need to wear a mask.

Social Distance· Please maintain 2m from others at all times, remember the Rule of 6/two households if chatting with others and avoid gathering.

Racing· When racing, please avoid other people on the slipway and where possible, stagger launch and recovery. There is no race briefing and registering is online.· Racing will not take place if the wind is above 18 knots.

Sailing· You may sail with someone from another household but please sail within your ability to avoid involving the safety boat where possible.

Club Boats· These will be available as they were last summer and will need to be booked online.

I know we are all hoping that the restrictions will continue to be lifted as set out by the Government and that by mid-June, restrictions will be removed. Until then, we need to ensure we follow them as required.

Update 05/03/2021

Reopening the Water - Monday 8th March

I am very pleased to be able to let you know that we will be opening on Monday 8^th March for those of you who would like to take part in water activities from the island for your daily exercise.

Having written to you after the Prime Minister's announcement on the 22^nd February, Chichester Harbour Conservancy then amended their regulations on 2^nd March and have now said that recreational sailing is acceptable in the harbour. Stay at Home restrictions will continue but where able, your local exercise can be taken from Thorney Island.

This means that if you live locally, you are permitted to travel to TISC and sail, windsurf or kayak. However, in order to remain COVID secure, there are certain requirements that need to be followed.

Who can Sail/Kayak?

1. This is for local exercise only. Please use your judgement if you fall into that category, based on where you live.
2. You can sail with your own household, support or childcare bubble or with one person from another household.
3. All craft will need to have a booked time on our website for when you will launch from the slipway.
4. The link to book launch slot is Book a Launching Slot or you will find it on the website.
5. There will be four slots available every 30 minutes.
6. Please only register one person per boat/household if more than one of you will be sailing or you will book all the available slots!
7. Please arrive so that you have sufficient time to rig but not so much that you are hanging around! If you miss your time, you will not be able to launch unless there is no one else booked on.
8. Once booked, you will be on the Access List for the Gatehouse.
9. Please do not come down unless you have made a booking to sail, windsurf or kayak.

Sailing

1. You can sail for as long as your chose; there is no restriction on your time on the water.
2. However, when you come off the water, please do not come to the slipway until it is free.

Boat Park

1. Please maintain Social Distancing at all times and use sanitiser where necessary.
2. The changing rooms and clubhouse will not be open so do come changed or change in the car park.

Before Coming to the Island

1. Ensure that you have completed the COVID brief on our website and have signed the declaration to this effect. If you did it last year, it does not need to be redone.
2. If you have any symptoms of COVID, have been with anyone with symptoms or are isolating, you must not come to TISC.
3. Remember to book a launching time.

On Arrival

1. Please wear your mask at the Gatehouse and only wind the window down if the Guard require it.
2. Anyone who is booked to sail will be on the Access List.
3. Log your arrival on our website. Don't forget to log out when you leave!

To Note

1. No sailing should take place if the wind is greater than a F4, as last summer and sail within your capabilities.
2. The slipway has not been cleaned properly for a while and though there are plans to do this, it may be very slippery, particularly at the edges, so do take care.

Maintenance
The RYA has stated that maintenance is not a form of exercise and so for now, this is not permitted. From their website:

Can I access my boat for maintenance purposes? Whilst 'Stay at Home' restrictions are in place we do not feel general boat maintenance is an acceptable reason to leave home. Where maintenance is essential to prevent risk of harm or injury it may qualify as a reasonable excuse for leaving home.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

It is really good that we are now one step nearer to a full sailing programme and for those of you who live locally and chose to take your exercise on the water, enjoy!

Stay safe!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Sarah Cray
Commodore

Update 05/01/2021

Dear Members,

Following the Prime Minister's announcement last night of the new national lockdown restrictions to be introduced across England, I regrettably confirm that Thorney Island Sailing Club is now closed with immediate effect. The Government has stated that all outdoor sports venues are to close and we should stay at home as much as possible.

I know this is hugely disappointing, if not wholly unexpected.

A member of the committee or the Dinghy Park Coordinator will visit regularly to check on boats and to ensure that there are no issues. Meanwhile, there should be no reason for anyone to travel to the club; if you believe there is an urgent reason for you to do so, then please contact me.

I hope that this is the beginning of the last restriction that we will have and that by early spring, we will be able to get back on the water again.

Stay well and I will you update you when the situation changes.

Meanwhile, don't forget the TISC QUIZ on Friday 8th January!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Update 01/01/2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

I hope that you were all able to celebrate the new year in some way and are looking forward to all the good things that we hope 2021 will bring.

Update on Current Situation

With the move of most of our members to Tier 4, the sailing club remains closed for sailing until 4 January. The staff at the base will then be returning and so I will be able to discuss the feasibility of those members who live nearby and are therefore allowed to travel short distances within their tier area for exercise, being permitted to get back on the water.

Current Regulations

• We are permitted to exercise within our tier area whilst keeping it as close to home as we can - only short distances should be traveled.
• The RYA have confirmed that single or household sailing may take place, although no organised activities are to be arranged and no mixing etc at the club.
• However, we will still need to get approval from the Head of Establishment to access the water.

Going Forward

Thorney Island borders Sussex and Hampshire with it being very difficult to get an agreement of where it sits. Wikipedia says it is in West Sussex but the postal address puts it in Hampshire!

Hence, it will be a challenge and possibly somewhat unfair to allow access to one county in Tier 4 and not the other. When I discuss the option for allowing sailing again, and due to the requirement that we are expected to exercise close to home, it is likely that those who live closest will be allowed to sail at Thorney Island, if permission is granted.

Please be assured that there are regular visit to the boat park to check on boats, and this includes those by the HoE who emailed us with photos of boats who needed attention after the storm before Christmas.

I will let you all know as soon as I can as to the arrangements while we are in Tier 4.

Stay well and let's look forward to the Spring when I hope things will be different!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Sarah Cray

Commodore

Updated 5/11/2020

Following the announcement on Saturday by the Prime Minister and the decisions the Government took this week, this is just to confirm that unfortunately, no sailing or other watersports are currently permitted from the slipway or shore of Thorney Island Sailing Club. Hence, all access to the island has been stopped and at present, this is only allowed for essential reasons. Please note, that no access to the dinghy park is permitted from the Public Right of Way that goes around the island.

This is a great shame but, I suspect, not unexpected for many of you.

This means:

1. No sailing, racing or other watersports until further notice.

2. No Duty Days such as grass cutting or working days.

3. No access to the club house.

4. No maintenance or working on boats in the boat park.

5. We have had to close the bar again!

• If you are a cruiser owner and your boat is still on its mooring or it needs winterising, please contact myself or RC Cruising to discuss arrangements for doing these tasks.
• If you would like to remove your dinghy, please contact myself or RC Dinghies.

If the situation changes and sailing is permitted as an activity, I will notify you all as soon as possible.

Do all stay well and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Previous Update

Good news - We have been given permission to access the island again - on the proviso we review and agree to the procedures outlined by the Army - these have been distributed to all members via email.

Please review the email and materials thoroughly, but below is a summary of the key points

1. This is a phased re-opening starting with Outdoor activities only so not using the club house kitchen or lounges. These will be locked. Only the disabled toilet will be accessable.
2. Review and adhere to the instructions from the Army.
3. You and all family members(adults & children) need to be on the NEW access list to gain entry to the Island. Not on the access list and you won't get access.
4. To get on the Access List - Agree & Accept for each family member in the Membership Area on the website, Each family member has their own profile so only one name in the 'Covid Requirements completed' field in a profile.
5. Leave a statement agreeing to conditions signed by all family members in the club postbox on the north end of the club on your first visit.
6. Check In/Out when you Enter/Leave the Island. This has to be done on a smart phone. There is information on the front page of the website on how to do it.
7. Bring soap for hand washing and wash hands in the boat park. Also bring gel.
8. The Clubhouse is restricted to the disabled toilet only for members (Not to be used for changing). Change outside.
9. Builders are working in the club at the moment trying to finish the gents upgrade so be aware.and keep your distance.Wash hands and gel before and after if you need to use the toilet.
10. Note: The door combination is not as in your renewal. The current code has been communicated to members via email.
11. At this stage NO communal equipment is available. This means no boats can be hired at the moment.
12. Follow Government Guidance and adhere to Social Distancing at all times, including sailing - sailing solo or only with members of your household.
13. Assuming you review and agree to the 'Covid Requirements' online by 12:00 on Friday you will be added to the list for the following day - after this you will need to wait another week for the access list to be updated.
14. Only come to the club if you are in good health and not showing signs of Coronavirus
15. if you have symptoms after coming to the club please return home and contact a committee member.immediately so we can establish who may be at risk. This is why it is important to check in/out.

At this stage there is no training or racing scheduled - but we are looking at options to allow us to open up these activities safely in the future.