Newsletter: 14th September 2020

Clubhouse Update - September 2020

Two steps forward one step back …..”the rule of six”….

Just when we thought we were moving back towards normality on the water and in the clubhouse the Government presents us with another change to the rules.

The Health and Safety team met last night to discuss what the new “Rule of 6” means for us and, based upon the emerging instructions,  from this Monday (14^th September) we will be required by law to make some changes to the way we use the Club.

The good news is that the changes to the on-the-water requirements are pretty limited as we already have good Risk Assessments in place and are, we believe already compliant with the Government guidelines and, of course, the law.

Changes to Sailing:

1. We need to restrict gatherings of sailors for briefings, for example, to 1 briefer + 5 sailors.  This means we’ll need to continue to use Zoom and Whatsapp for briefings.  Your sailing co-ordinators and Class Captains will let you know how this will work.
2. Having resumed our RIB service we now need to restrict the number of people on a RIB to 5 + the driver.  The Boatmen have been instructed not to exceed this limit.
3. Post-race dinners can still be held but the Club cannot be seen as the organiser.  When such an evening is advertised (we can’t call it an “event”) individual crews or teams must book under their own names

Allan Hill, Captain of Racing, is working to update his recently published “Return to Racing” document which will go into more detail and will be announced here and placed in a prominent position on the website. The Club’s own Risk Assessments are also being updated and can be found on the website here.

Changes to the Clubhouse:

1. We are required to restrict the number of people at each table in the bar / restaurant to 6 (unless from the same family bubble).  We cannot accept bookings for more than 6 people. 
2. There should be no mingling between tables, or wandering between tables to talk with friends.  It follows that it will not be allowed to move or merge tables. 
3. We are now required to log the details of everyone at each table for ‘track and trace’ so we are going to change the way we record this and ask each table to complete a form which will be already on the table (rather than creating a queue on entry to the bar area).  This is only required in the bar and restaurant is actually open.
4. For the avoidance of doubt, Members still have to wear face-coverings when moving about the Club until they are eating or drinking in the bar / restaurant.
5. A full programme of social events is currently being planned by the Social Committee under Mary Bell.  She will announce the details shortly but you can expect a monthly Quiz, Film Nights, Fleet suppers and a number of special evenings, with the emphasis on enjoying ourselves and having fun, all based around tables of up to six. And, as always, the ever-popular series of weekly talks are being organised by Cruising Division, details to follow soon

Fortunately, this seems a pretty small change to the way we operate and it allows us to continue to meet in the Club with our friends in some degree of normality.  This is the right thing to do.  In any case, the consequences of non-compliance are escalating fines and potential closure and must be avoided.  We have no choice.

Because this is a change required by law staff have been instructed to request compliance from members and have been instructed to report any breaches.

Thanks very much for your co-operation,

John Tudor - Vice Commodore

More Fun on Thursday Evenings

We have teamed up with the guys over at the Lymington Pop Up Restaurant to bring you a whole new exciting dining experience. This Covid secure Pop Up will be situated adjacent to the Club house on Bath Green for the month of September and our members have been given priority booking for Thursday evenings following the racing.

Pre-booking is essential so don’t miss out on this great opportunity to try something different. Book online now via our exclusive link now: https://lymingtonpopup.co.uk/rlymyc

Kirsty Husband, General Manager - Operations 

Escape from the Solent Race

A single long distance race on Saturday 26th September open to IRC & Handicap Yachts, more information on the race & online entry will be posted very soon here.  

The restaurant at the Club will be open in the evening of the race & all competitors and guests will be welcome under the latest Covid-19 rules.

Feva Fever

Since the River opened up there has been a cloud burst of enthusiasm in our Feva fleet.  It started with family bubbles on Wednesday evenings with some parents sitting at the front or even sometimes at the back.

Then came Junior Race Week and to my astonishment there were sixteen Fevas out on the race track.  Time moves on and parents have gradually been eliminated (to their relief?) as the kids have paired up.  Now school has started we are moving to Saturday afternoon sessions.  We seem to be having a new family signing up every day and our four Club Fevas are getting well used.  David Bignold has continued to help organise and Ollie Tait has been Coach.

Strangely, Covid has caused the rebirth of our 29er fleet, and suddenly we have five boats and peopled mainly by sailors who would have been in Fevas this year.  However, Sam Webb came back to Fevas for the Draycote Open last weekend.  Teamed up with Olly Peters of HISC, they won the event, more detail below.

Looking ahead, we have the RYA Regional Championship at Portland on 26^th September with eight of our Feva Fleet entered.  Then during the October half term (24/25^th) the Club may host a Grand Prix event for the UK Feva Class, but Covid limited sadly to forty entries.

Jeremy Vines, Captain of RS Fevas 

RS Feva Nationals Success

The only RS Feva National competition of the year to date, the Summer Championships, took place at Draycote Water Sailing Club on the weekend of 5/6 September. 50 boats took part in a full range of conditions.

Ollie Peters (HISC) and R Lym YC’s Sam Webb, both Feva National Squad sailors pre lockdown, teamed up for the event. Sailing very consistently throughout the weekend, and particularly well on the Sunday in very shifty conditions, they took first place overall.  Sam and Ollie’s Dads sailed together in an International 14 over 30 years ago, thought not quite so successfully, a fact they are likely to continue to be reminded of!

Royal Lymington’s Freddie Fitzsimmons and Henry Patten also competed, finishing a strong 18^th overall.

Club PaddleBoards

The Club owns 4 NEW PaddleBoards which are available for Members to hire. 

Please see below for the full list.

The Club PaddleBoards are as follows:

• PaddleBoard 1 (Fanatic)
• PaddleBoard 2 (Fanatic)
• PaddleBoard 3 (Fanatic)
• PaddleBoard 4 (Starboard)

To book Club PaddleBoards please click here. A contract must be completed and submitted to Reception or via email to [email protected] for each calendar year. For hire costs, please refer to the contract.

RYA Powerboat Level 2 Courses

The Club is now in a position to start running Powerboat Training again, different to last season course sizes will now be limited to 8 candidates. Candidates will be put in grous of two to allow only 2 candidiates in the RIB along with the instructor. 

Course fees; Members £150 & Non Members £250

The course dates are below & can be booked by emailing [email protected]

2020 Course Dates;

• 17th & 18th October
• 21st & 22nd November
• 5th & 6th December

2021 Course Dates;

• 9th & 10th January
• 13th & 14th February
• 13th & 14th March

First Floor Update

FRIDAY NIGHT SUPPERS

Friday theme nights continue this week with 'French Classics'.  See the menu here & book a table here.  Please do make sure you book to avoid disappointment as these supper nights are popular.

Click here to see our membership testimonials of their experience returning to the Club after lock down.

SUNDAY ROASTS

Please book your table here to join us for a Sunday Roast with all the trimmings.

CLUB LUNCHES

We offer lunch from Thursdays to Mondays (excluding Sunday) we have this menu available.  Click here to book yourself a table. Food is served from 12:00 – 14:30 and the bar is open until 15:30.

ONE WAY SYSTEM

Following the latest Government guidelines, it is no longer necessary for the Club to have a one-way system so this has been removed.  Please reminded that it is now mandatory for all to wear a face covering whilst moving around the Club. Please be considerate to others and not pass on the staircases. Thank you for your co-operation.

FRONT OF HOUSE VOLUNTEERS

We have been very grateful for all the hard work & support received from our Volunteers so far and it has been such a pleasure for me personally to be working alongside Club Members to ensure a great service is provided. If you are keen to help out and be part of the team, please see what is involved and read volunteer testimonials by clicking here, We also have a list of shifts available that you can add your name into – click here to view. All volunteers have a free drink & meal on the shifts that the kitchen is open.

Click here for more info and to book a table.

Please contact me on [email protected] if you have any questions.

Gillian Poole, Clubhouse Events Manager