Monday, 28th September 2020
CORRESPONDENCE TO MEMBERS via email on Monday 28 September
Dear Members
Over recent weeks we have been advocating on your behalf to get better outcomes regarding the safe re-opening of your Club. We are pleased to advise that the collective efforts of the marine and boating industry have now achieved some initial, positive outcomes.
These are set out below and they improve our roadmap for many of our stakeholders, but unfortunately they do not improve it for all of you – as yet. We continue to advocate on everyone’s behalf in a bid to get back recreational boating and racing in a safe manner. We do the same in the areas of food and beverage and the broader Club itself. For now, here is the overall status including the key updates;
Recreational Boating – If you reside further than 5km from SYC – unfortunately you currently cannot go boating. We are very hopeful this will be fully re-instated on 19 October (3 weeks). If you reside within 5km, single handed sailing or sailing with someone from your household bubble (up to 5 persons from your household) is now permissible as part of your 2 hours of daily exercise but it must be in an unpowered vessel. This means it is okay in an Off the Beach dinghy and also in a yacht – but the yacht cannot have a motor (if your yacht has a motor, even if you don’t use that motor, you cannot use that vessel). I am advised the 2 hour limit includes your travel time. You must do all the other normal things including staying within 5km, wearing a face mask while on land, social distancing etc.
→ Off the Beach Sailors: if you are going sailing unsupervised from the OTB area, we have improved our policy to help make you safer when sailing alone. Please read through the updated policy by clicking here If you have any questions, please contact James Sly
→ Fishing: the statement was made yesterday that fishing is allowed. It is but you cannot do so from a powered vessel (sorry… Government rules). You can go fishing within 5km of your home, from land or in an unpowered vessel. This is being queried with Government but as it stands, you cannot go fishing in a power boat.
SYC Marina, Hardstand & Off the Beach – For authorised Members, if you live within a 5km radius you can visit SYC and check on your vessel whilst you are getting in your daily exercise (i.e. walking or riding) or buying food from the Ken King Centre. You can also drive to the Club and then exercise. For those boat owning members who live outside of the 5km radius, you too can now travel outside of your 5km radius to check on your vessel at SYC. Strict conditions and paperwork apply, including it is for emergency maintenance or essential safety purposes only, you have vessel proof of ownership with you and you have verification on SYC letterhead you are a current Member and the vessel is berthed at SYC. If you would like a letter verifying your Membership and boat status at SYC please email Karen
Boat Yard Operations: the boat yard is now open for tenants and contractors under restricted conditions to clear existing contracts. No new work can commence however we are working with Government at the moment clarifying the full scope of new works we can do and it is promising (more in the next few days). In more good news most contractors are back onsite and they are working hard on clearing the current boats in the yard to make way for the maintenance backlog.
Food & Beverage – the clubhouse remains closed but the Ken King Centre is open daily from 10:00am – 5:00pm for take away food, coffee and alcohol. If you live within 5km you can pop in as part of your daily shopping trip and grab some of Kol’s frozen food and or the fresh meats on offer. If you live within 15km, we are doing home delivery. From 10am-2pm on weekends, look out for the chef on the Ken King BBQ cooking take away fresh bacon and egg rolls and steak sandwiches after 12pm.
SYC roadmap: to view the overall updated SYC roadmap please click here
Podcast # 23 – SYC Rear Commodore Sue Bowes joins George and Deeksie this week with some announcements and they are joined by SYC Members Steve Aulich, Lowa Paszko and Brian Barnes – tune into the podcast here
In closing, the weather is warming up, daylight saving commences this weekend and we have a roadmap that is taking shape and giving us hope. Thank you again for your patience and loyalty to SYC during this challenging 2020.
The Commodore will be in touch with some further updates and positive announcements later in the week.
Warm Regards & Stay Safe,
Richard Hewett
Chief Executive