We hope that you and yours are all well and enjoying the opportunities to return to some sailing, accessing yards, and of course the reopening of yacht and sailing clubs albeit with full social distancing requirements.
For those members interested in racing and are thinking or wondering about our national championships could you please read the section below. It does require an important time limited response. If you are not a racing boat, then no action is needed and you might wish to skip to paras 2 and 3 below.
Here are some current updates for you.
1. National Championships 12 and 13 September 2020.
We have been in fairly regular contact with Island Sailing Club throughout. From 4 July the clubhouse has been open to members with all required restrictions in place. Club racing is resuming round the country, and we hear it is well received in the Solent e.g. the postponed JOG Nab Tower race coming up this weekend apparently has now closed entries at 120.
To summarise and remind members, the current on the water regulations are that from last weekend outside sport is permitted in groups of up to 2 households, or in groups of up to 6 people from different households, but with social distancing for those that you don’t live with in the same household. Contessa 26 racing with these terms in place is possible but to observe the ability for the majority to easily comply, we have come to the view that as things stand today a crew number limitation will be necessary of a maximum of 3 persons on each boat. This may change if there are further relaxations.
The Island is keen to run this for us and are confident that they can provide an environment for us that is compliant. They are working hard on this in the current circumstances.
However from our point of view when administering class events with our host clubs, and also from the clubs point of view, we all are used to working through a tried and tested preparation procedure incorporating the criteria that experience has proved our particular class racing requires. But in the uniquely strange circumstances this year the normal procedures are impossible and so the event will be largely from “the seat of the pants” with less formality and things are likely to change from the norm and indeed up to the last minute. Racing may be different, probably with all fixed rather than laid marks being used, and maybe such things as members taking their own finish times. With this in mind some classes have arranged meetings with some sailing instead of a formal Nationals just for some light hearted racing together. As our numbers are comparatively small, and it’s always a friendly meet up with racing conducted in a fair but friendly atmosphere, if entrants are happy with the concept then I don’t see any reason to divert from calling it our “Nationals” and using the class trophies but please be aware it will be different.
The basics including one start for all, our class handicap system being used for an overall result, and separate trophies and results as well for Class 1 (IRC) Class 2 (Class handicap with spis) and Class 3 (Class handicap without spis) should be possible. I can imagine that with crew restrictions to a max of 3 some normal Class 2 entrants may be more interested in entering Class 3 ? and if so it will be perfectly acceptable.
With our numbers we can have a socially distanced BBQ type evening in either the lower or the upper marquee.
The Contessa 32 Class are still planning their event at the same time and we will be able to share facilities, in a safe way, although if numbers stipulate it they will use a different marquee level in the evening.
The original booking for moorings with Shepards Marina is in place, but this currently raises a question. They are not currently able to raft up boats, but may be able to raft up 2 by then. Just like the Island they are also working hard and are under some pressure from other clubs and classes who are trying to previously postponed rallies and events rebook in September. Our pre lock down prior booking will naturally be honoured but they require our commitment in early course by both booking and payment.
As normal the nightly mooring cost has been negotiated at a discounted rally rate and is £3.18 pm if we achieve 6 visitors plus and £3.55 pm if not. Shepards have just helpfully confirmed that paid and booked moorings can be cancelled up to the day before the event and will be refunded but less an administration charge of £10.
What all this means is that if you are planning to come along and sail then to progress things we need to know during the next 2 weeks so that we can progressive plans with the Island as and also you will need to book your mooring at Shepards if you wish to moor there before 24 July.
To complete the picture the previous agreed entry fee with ISC was £60 (£75 for late entries) for the 2 days racing. This was based on a fixed line start being used but we will probably now be switched to a committee boat start and finish. There may be a small uplift if this is the case. We cannot finalise the discussion on this point without knowing the number of potential entries which your reply will assist with if you are interested or planning to come along.
We have also obtained agreement from the Island that if the event has to be called off by them due to any new restrictions or local lock downs then the pre paid entry fees will be refunded once again after deducting an admin fee.
So, in principle now the question is, are you prepared to rock up, meet up, do some racing which maybe rather informal, all with the appropriate social distancing. It seems to us it might be fun, but we do appreciate that attending will require members confidence, the usual expenditure and your organisation, for something that is a bit different from previous years.
We do look forward to hearing from you.
2. Zoom Virtual cruises and new date planned 26 August 2020,
Thank you to all who took part in our Zoom virtual cruises on 27 June. We really enjoyed it and thank you to those members for the subsequent many kind thank you messages received. A giant thanks to Kevin Thornton who took us on a cruise on Queen Esther along the length of the River Medway and Simon Jollands for his east to west Solent cruise in Sulali from Chichester Harbour. Both talks were most interesting and had been very well prepared indeed by our speakers, so a giant thanks to them both. The remote meeting took place on the postponed Association east and south coast rallies weekend and it was lovely to see members from around the country. It was so good and as suggested by some members we are arranging another one on Wednesday 26 August 2020 at 18 00. We are delighted that Mike Lindsay has accepted the invitation to speak to us. He will follow the virtual cruise concept and take us to the Northumberland coast in Me-mo. Members will no doubt remember Mike is a former Class Captain, with his wife Diana. Following Mike’s talk our Cruising Captain Simon Jollands is working on a planned fun quiz with a sailing and CO 26 theme. The meeting will once again be scheduled for one hour.
We will send out the “invitations” around 3 weeks beforehand and so at the moment it’s a save the date note.
3. Rearranged date for South Coast Cruise 6 and 7 October 2020.
Simon and I have been thinking about this. The current plan and proposal is a very informal but fun meet up on the Beaulieu. As above, marinas and venues are going to be busy with proposed rearranged sailing things in September, and so with a view to avoiding fixture clashes then we are going mid week in the first week of October for anyone interested in coming along. The plan is to moor at the marina at Bucklers Hard and eat in the pub, assuming we are allowed to then. It will be nice to see members there. More will follow on this one.
4. Reminder of new date for RiR race 26 September 2020.
We are sure everyone interested is well aware of the new planned date on 26 September, so it’s just a reminder. Details are on the race website.
In the meantime our very best wishes to all and hope you are able to enjoy some good CO 26 sailing,
Kindest regards,
Mike and Barbara.
Joint Secretaries
Contessa 26 Class Association Limited.