Important Restrictions on Club Use

Last week, we published rules permitting people to access the club to retrieve and return boats for sailing for the sole purpose of exercise. You can see these rules HERE. 

These rules were formulated specifically by the club for the benefit of our members – they are not generic rules that we have merely adopted.

The rules are intended to ensure the club and its members act within both the letter and the spirit of the law, as reflected in the Public Health Orders related to COVID-19, interpreted in accordance with guidance set out by the Office of Sport and by Maritime.

There has been some discussion about the meaning of the rules and, in particular, the meaning of the rule that “no more than two people are allowed to sail together on the water”. For the avoidance of any doubt, please note that this means no more than two boats are permitted to sail in any proximity with each other.

If you are planning to go for a sail, you should coordinate that with no more than one other person.  If you see other boats from the club (or from another club) on the water, you should avoid them by sailing somewhere else.  Don’t sail over to say “hi”.

This is very important.  The harbour is a highly visible arena where a group of sails really stands out, particularly with the nearly zero activity occurring on the water at present.  It is important not only that we do the required thing, but also that we are SEEN to be doing the required thing.

There has been some debate as to whether or not more than two boats is in fact an illegal gathering.  This is a moot point.  The fact is that, as a community club that occupies public land and a public building, and that benefits from public funding, we must avoid any adverse perception.

We appreciate your cooperation with the club’s position.  We hope we are all able to continue to enjoy sailing for exercise on an individual basis or a two-boat basis throughout this period of lockdown.

If you have any queries about this, please contact the Commodore to clarify.