COVID-19 Update

As the Government has now removed most of its COVID regulations the Club has updated its own guidelines.

There are now no restrictions on numbers gathering either inside the Clubhouse or anywhere else on site; and face coverings are no longer required inside any Club buildings.

However, whilst the Club is a relatively low risk environment, COVID is still a concern and we want as many members as possible to enjoy using the Club's facilities. So we strongly recommend:

1. Using the hand sanitiser provided at entrances and key touch points.
2. Using a face covering when inside.
3. Maintaining a respectful distance especially when
   - queueing at the Bar or Galley
   - using the changing rooms
   - using the training rooms.
4. Keep all doors open for ventilation especially the main entrance and fire exits.
5. Use the walkways when moving around the Clubhouse and do not obstruct them or the entrances.
6. Scan the Club's QR code (even if signed on for racing).

Above all please avoid close contact and be respectful of other members, especially when indoors.

The General Committee

Sailing at FPSC- Learners

The Race Committee has recently agreed a proposal that 'learner' or less confident sailors may wear a yellow vest/racing bib to highlight themselves to other members while on the water. The aim is to allow these members space and time to build confidence and skill in a race environment. It has a similar purpose to the L plate or P plate for learner/less experienced drivers. However, the 'yellow vest' is a purely voluntary scheme.

An example 'yellow vest' can be seen at: https://www.gul.com/Watersports-Rashvests/GUL/RACE-BIB--Yellow/422950. Members wishing to wear a 'yellow vest' will be responsible for acquiring their own and ideally it should be worn over the buoyancy aid.

The objectives are:

1. To easily identify less confident racers/sailors to other members
2. Other members can then see and 'cut these sailors some slack' on the water and in races while they build confidence, knowledge and experience. We can give them time, give them space and give them advice gently and with forgiveness.
3. It allows less confident racers/sailors reassurance that others understand they might do something daft on the water (we have all done daft and still do so from time to time) and will give them a slightly wider berth. This makes sense for more experienced sailors as your boat may need less gel coat filler after a race.
4. For the Club, it makes sense for less confident racers to build experience as these sailors will be tomorrow's competition and it will mean that they are more likely to remain with and contribute to the Club in the longer term.

It is hoped that the membership will embrace the spirit of the 'yellow vest' approach and respond accordingly.

If you have any questions othen please speak to Chris Brown, Laser Class Captain, or Ian Gregory, Sailing Secretary.

Race Committee

Race Programme and Duties 1st July onwards

The General Committee has decided that it is now time to re-instate a race programme with allocated duties from the start of July. This will be held under review depending on how government restrictions change so we are initially releasing the race programme and duties for July and August. The remainder of the Summer Series and the Winter Series will be released in a few weeks time.

The Club Handbook with the updated race programme and Duty Teams included is available on the website here. To access it you will need to enter the username frensham and the passcode is the gate code.

Or navigate to Info> About the Club> Members' Handbook on the Club website.

Your duty allocations will also be sent to you shortly by the DutyMan system, which you can use to request duty swaps as normal.

We are very grateful to all members who have volunteered for race and safety boat duties over the last 12 months or so. Thanks to you the Club has been able to organise racing and complete a number of race series in testing circumstances.

This is another major step forward in getting the Club back to operating on a more familiar and effective basis.

The General Committee