ECSC RETURN TO RACING

The ECSC Sailing Subcommittee met on 17 June 2020 to review the possibility of undertaking some limited Thursday Evening Racing. We are guided by policy advice from the RYA Advice Note: “Guidance on restarting racing and COVID-19” , and discussion with Cowes Clubs and Classes Association (CCCA).

The RYA interprets the government’s current constraints to mean than club-organised racing is currently not permitted, while self-organised racing is permitted for up to 6 people, provided those 6 people follow social distancing rules. (We know some clubs have different interpretations and indeed are running racing today.) The RYA has very little visibility of how and when the rules will be relaxed further.

The view from CCCA is that “normal racing” in our dayboat fleets cannot resume until social distancing is no longer required on yachts. CCCA Racing is therefore postponed until 8 August 2020 at the earliest, and this will be reviewed in mid-July.

ECSC, notwithstanding constraints of a very small race management team and the unlikelihood of a support boat being available, could potentially resume Thursday Evening Racing on 6 August, running a 5-Race series through to 6 September. In the past events have seen considerable support from CCYC, however before moving ahead with event notification, risk assessments, Notice of Race etc the Race Team need to know what level of support is to be expected from within ECSC. Please would any ECSC member wishing to take advantage of a Thursday Evening Series outlined above please pass not later than 26 June 2020 the following information by e mail to sailing@eastcowessc.co.uk :

“I should like to possibly/probably/definitely (delete as appropriate) like to enter the ECSC Thursday Evening Series to be held between 6 August – 6 September 2020, subject to full adherence by me to COVID-19 Restrictions and other conditions to be detailed in a Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

Name of Skipper: ……………………………….

Name of boat: ……………………………………..

Maximum number of crew:. ; …………………………………”

Many thanks

Peter Jackson

For Rear Commodore (Sailing)