Chipstead Sailing Club

CHIPSTEAD SC CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – 11th MAY 2020

 

Dear Members,

I guess we were all waiting to hear what the Prime Minister had to say yesterday evening, including what that meant for our ability to recommence sailing. However the Prime Minister’s statement was by no means clear in detail.

The RYA has issued a press release which includes the following:

From Wednesday, 13 May unlimited outdoor activity will be permitted in England, and we understand that this will include all forms of boating. The Prime Minister also indicated that people would be permitted to travel to other destinations in order to exercise. Any activity will still need to be alone or with members of a single household, and social distancing must be followed at all times. . . . .

The RYA will review the Government guidance . . . published on Monday, 11 May. The guidance is expected to contain a level of detail that will enable to RYA to issue further advice and guidance for RYA Members, Affiliated Clubs and Training Centres before Wednesday, 13 May. Where there is any uncertainly within the guidelines we will seek urgent clarification.

We are awaiting the detailed advice and guidance from the RYA and I will write to you again as soon as I’m able with details of the activities which will be permitted on the Lake.

Whilst writing I’d like to take the opportunity to give a more general update on the present status of the Club.

It will come as no surprise to you that the Club’s income for this year will be impacted severely from fewer subscriptions and no earnings so far from Training or our other regular activities. We have also had to cancel our annual Open Day which is our main membership recruitment event of the year. Meanwhile, although cutting back as much as possible in the light of the closure, our bills still need to be paid, and our rent is the most significant of these. Like most clubs and businesses, our insurance does not include cover for financial losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, to offset the above, I have some good news in that the Government’s temporary measures, from which we are now benefitting, are providing some financial support from the business rates holiday and leisure business grant schemes which are enabling the Club to keep finances on an even keel.

In the meantime I should like to draw your attention to the RYA online resources that are available to our club members at: https://www.rya.org.uk . In particular, I wanted to let you know about the OnBoard and other RYA online resources that are available to you through the new #SailFromHome initiative that can be accessed from the RYA Homepage. There are also weekly video tutorials for sailors called Sail Smarts, which come out every Wednesday at 10am on the RYA YouTube channel with downloadable activity sheets for children (and parents) to try at home.

Finally I know that the continued inability to use the rest of the Club facilities is a cause of frustration to all members. The General Committee has been discussing options for giving some recognition of this to members who have paid their subscriptions this year, and I will let you know more once we are clearer about the situation going forward.

In the meantime I should appreciate your patience in continuing to abide by the Government’s restrictions.

Steve McCann
Commodore
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For the Chipstead Sailing Club General Committee