The NSW Government announced on Thursday 11^th June that restrictions in regard to COVID-19 would be eased regarding competitive sailing. The Club’s Committee has reviewed the latest information and, as a result, I am pleased to advise that the Winter Series will commence on 21^st June 2020.
 
It is important that participants support this early return to sailing, by complying with all government and KBSC requirements. In short:

• Stay home if you are unwell
• Get in, sail and get out;
• Practice good hand hygiene before and after sailing;
• Avoid physical contact;
• The Clubhouse (upstairs), change rooms & kitchen will be closed for now - arrive dressed and ready to sail;
• Don’t share drinks or towels;
• Sharing of equipment should be avoided and if necessary, should be kept to a minimum;
• Keep a distance of 1.5 metres where reasonably practicable;
• Contact Tracing records must be kept - all skippers to sign in and provide the names and mobiles of their crew.

For more information, please read the attached risk warning and procedures plan.
 
General

• All members and crew are reminded of the Risk Warning. In addition, everyone must assume that there is a possibility that a fellow participant is infected with COVID-19. Sailors must decide for themselves whether they engage in KBSC events, in full knowledge of the risk to their own, and their colleagues, health and safety.
• All participants are requested to strictly adhere to the requirements outlined in this Return to Sailing Plan.
• At present, the KBSC clubhouse, and change rooms will remain off-limit for all sailors, unless they require access as part of their official duties. This situation will be reviewed by 1^st July 2020 by the Committee in line with government updates.
• Individuals must not attend KBSC if they have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or are generally unwell.
• The guiding principle for KBSC events will be that all participants must minimise the time that they spend on KBSC grounds – ie arrive, sail, then leave.
• While the current government restrictions imply a 20-person limit on sailing events at KBSC, skippers are encouraged to keep crew numbers during KBSC events to a minimum.
• Skippers must register crew details (name and mobile phone number) with KBSC for each event. In addition, all participants are encouraged to load and activate the government COVIDSafe app throughout each KBSC event.
• The Rescue boat will have a maximum of 2 crew, and should maintain 1.5m physical separation where reasonably practical.

 
Getting on the Water

• All sailors must arrive at KBSC promptly and be ready rig and sail.
• Interaction with other boats’ crew should be minimised.
• All sailors are encouraged to use the hand sanitiser provided by the club in the rigging area.

 
Sailing

• Crew members must maintain 1.5m physical separation while on board where reasonably practical. 
• Skippers are encouraged to allocate crew to specific tasks for the entirety of the event rather than swapping roles midway, to minimise cross-contamination via surfaces.
• Crew should not share drinks, towels and other personal equipment.

 
Completion of Sailing

• Once boats have returned to the rigging area, crew will unrig their boat with minimal interaction with other boat crews.
• All sailors are encouraged to use the hand sanitiser provided by the club in the rigging area.
• Crew are requested to depart the KBSC grounds as soon as possible, with minimal interaction with other boats’ crew.

I'm sure you are all looking forward to getting back on the water. On behalf of the KBSC Committee, I wish you enjoyable racing, and look forward to a shortened winter series