Bar reopening

As you will be aware by now the announcement was made last week that licensed premises and member clubs are permitted to open outdoors only from next Friday 30^th April albeit with certain restrictions.

We will therefore be reopening the Club bar from next Friday 30^th April outdoors using the Boatshed Bar and initially on a limited days and times basis as follows:

Friday                   5pm to 9pm
                                Saturday              3pm to 9 pm
                                Sunday                 3pm to 6 pm

The above days and times will be monitored and if numbers justify and or sailing commences shortly on certain evenings then we will review and increase the opening periods.

Members are advised this is a temporary outdoor arrangement until we can hopefully reopen in the Clubhouse on 24^th May (subject to confirmation) and as such will be weather dependent so be prepared for any forecast cold or wet periods should you be using this facility.

Please also note there will be certain limitations on the drinks selection.

In order to access the club via the automatic entrance gates members are required to use their access fob. This is the same fob for accessing the clubhouse via the front door. Please ensure you have your fob!
If you have mislaid your fob or have any issues with it, please contact Trevor Kirkpatrick directly or email the membership secretary Steve Atkinson at membership@carrickfergussc.org to obtain one.

Return to boating

Organised training for groups with a maximum of 15 (inclusive of coaches and safety) was permitted from 12^th April and we have trialled this with an RYANI Topper training group last weekend (17/18^th) and a Laser training group this weekend (24/25^th).

Our own junior training sessions will hopefully recommence on Saturday 1^st May for members and further information will be made available on both the club website and via the appropriate What’s App group.

Recreational sailing with mixed households is possible as part of activity that is not organised activity, but this must conform with the wider social contact regulations, which include social distancing and the Rule of two households and 10 people.

Club racing is now permitted but is subject to several restrictions particularly regarding mixed household crews where the rule of 2 households and 10 people still applies and our sailing committee is currently assessing what can be organised by the Club and planning to recommence on water activity as soon as possible.

The published guidance recognises that in some situations whilst afloat it will not be possible to maintain normal social distancing; helps skippers and participants to evaluate the risk and suggests some mitigations which may need to be implemented.  It is important that skippers (in particular) determine a suitable number of crew whilst balancing the risk of Covid transmission vs the risks involved whilst carrying out manoeuvres and generally sailing and racing short-handed.

The Covid 19 Framework for return to boating, FAQs and Mixed Household Guidance are available through the RYANI Return to Boating Web page.

Unfortunately, there remain several restrictions that will impact on some Club organised sailing activity and future updates will be communicated and shared as soon as reasonably possible.
We want to get our sailing activity back on the water asap but in a safe and responsible manner for our members.

& finally Boat Detail updates

For the purpose of club racing and for use at Belfast Lough Yachting Conference regattas we maintain a record of club members boats. We need to provide a list of boat names and sails numbers and owner names so that they can be identified at regattas around the Lough.  These updates are required to be compiled before the end of April for BLYC.  We would be grateful if you know of any changes either to your own boat ownership or others that you are aware of could you let us know by email to sailing@carrickfergussc.org 
The details we currently hold are on the website at https://www.carrickfergussc.org/boat-details/
Trevor McCaig
Commodore

Thank you!

Another month has passed since you received my last email and thankfully the days are getting longer and brighter and the vaccination programme is rolling on faster than a lot of has hoped and the prospect of getting back out on the water is getting much closer and the dream of even getting to the club for a well-deserved draught pint or what takes your fancy is hopefully not far over the horizon for all of us.

The main reason for this email is to say on behalf of the Management Committee a big thank you to all members who responded to the requests to support the club and pay their 2021 membership and on time to strengthen the financial position of the club and you have certainly done that so again thank you sincerely! Your support has been vital and amazing!

By the end of February (last week), we have received in approximately 70% of the normal annual membership fees, by those who have paid in full or signed up for the direct debit payments running January to June.

It goes without saying that we would further appeal to the remaining 30% who have not yet paid to do so on or before 31^st March, which is the cut off date for payment, except in the case of new joining members.

Our thanks also goes to those members who have promptly paid their boat park fees, which as our main source of income after membership and the bar revenue has also been of great assistance. Some dinghy bills have still be issued so you haven’t been forgotten!

Boat Park

Having mentioned the boat park I have been asked to remind any members accessing the boat park for the permitted purposes currently allowed of carrying out essential checks on a boat (e.g., to check the boat is secure) that it is essential that they close and lock the boat park gates on leaving, including the wicket pass gate unless they have specifically agreed with any other member on site to do so.

It is important to realise that members with small dinghies and other small craft and trailers have insurance conditions specifically requiring them to be kept in a secure locked compound. Any member leaving the gates unlocked is risking other members insurance in event of theft.

Thank you all once again

Trevor McCaig
Commodore

The RYA Northern Ireland welcomes today’s announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive on the Pathway to Recovery.

The Executive has outlined the “ approach to further relaxations will likely focus on those activities which are of most benefit to our health and wellbeing, community and the economy and considered to be a lower risk of increasing transmission.”

RYA Northern Ireland is now analysing the plan, in particular the theme of Sport and Leisure. A number of questions still remain and we will be working with officials on more detailed considerations and frameworks in order to provide guidance to clubs, centres and participants. Although we welcome this announcement, it remains clear that the steps will be cautious and in very gradual steps.

In the meantime, is important that clubs continue to adhere to current guidance on our Return to Boating page.

The Pathway to Recovery can be found at: https://bit.ly/2OgLmXS

In advance of the Membership Subscription Renewals being sent out for 2021 we are undertaking a data validation exercise. Over the period of 29-30 December a personalised email was sent from the Membership Secretary to confirm the details we currently have on record regarding your membership.

There have been a good number of confirmations and updates received so far. 

If you have received the email, but haven’t yet replied, we would be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to check the content and confirm if it is correct, or provide any changes or additions as necessary.

If you don’t appear to have received it please check if it has been sent to your Spam/Junk folder for some reason. The Subject was of the form “CSC Membership Details Validation – <Membership Number> – <Name>” and it was sent from the address membership@carrickfergussc.org

it may also be the case that we don’t have a current email address on file for you. If so please send an email to membership@carrickfergussc.org so we can confirm the remainder of the records we hold.

Thanks for your assistance, Steve Atkinson – Membership Secretary

Hello everyone

Our AGM was held on Wednesday evening by Zoom. This was a different way of doing things but we were delighted to have 42 members attend. The list of members elected to the committee is below and this will be further updated and circulated once any co-options are made by the management committee.

Andrea Windsor
(Outgoing) Honorary Secretary

Carrickfergus Sailing Club Management Committee 2021 – RESULTS

• Commodore – Trevor McCaig
• Vice-Commodore – Graham Skelton
• Captain – Debbie Nelson
• Vice-Captain – Bill Kavanagh
• Honorary Secretary – To be Co-opted
• Honorary Treasurer – To be Co-opted
• Honorary Sailing Secretary – Richard McCaig
• Assistant Honorary Secretary – To be Co-opted
• Assistant Honorary Treasurer – To be Co-opted
• Membership Secretary – Steve Atkinson
• Committee Member (x 2) – Joanne Byers, Graham Zebedee

The Annual General Meeting is to be held on Wednesday 9th December 2020 at 19:30. 

Unfortunately this year we are unable to meet in the Clubhouse so it is the intention of the Management Committee to host this year’s meeting by Zoom. This is the platform already tried and tested by the RYA, RYANI and by other clubs in the Lough.

The invitation to the meeting will be issued by separate email ahead of the AGM. While this is not ideal, it is out of our control. Should you not be in a position to attend on Zoom we are able to send out all the relevant reports, including the Accounts. The Management Committee nominations are complete and once finalised the details will be sent to members, following the AGM.

The Agenda is noted below and, as ever, if there are any questions please send them to secretary@carrickfergussc.org ahead of the AGM, and by Friday 4th December if possible. This will also allow us to get any clarifications from the Auditor as he will not be in attendance.

Following our email request for nominations in  October,  there is a list of those nominated and seconded for Committee positions. There was more than one nomination for some positions, therefore a vote is required for those ahead of the AGM.

In preparation for this we have appointed two independent tellers to accept, count and verify the votes. Further information on the nominations and the voting process is available from the club secretary.

We appreciate this is a different way of carrying out our business but hope that you will be able to attend virtually and that we have a successful AGM.

Agenda
1. Welcome and Notice of AGM
1.1. Apologies
2. Minutes of previous AGM
3. Commodore’s Report
4. Honorary Secretary’s Report
5. Honorary Sailing Secretary’s Report
6. Honorary Treasurer’s Report
7. Annual Accounts
8. Election of Management Committee
9. Any Other Business

Andrea Windsor

Hon Secretary on behalf of the Management Committee

Ryan Seaton who is a member of Carrickfergus Sailing Club and who has represented Ireland in the 49 er Class at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics has been able to resume his winter training for the first time at his home club following the recent completion of the slipway widening project which was partly funded by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

In past campaigns Ryan has had to train away from home because the slipway at Carrickfergus was unsuitable to launch a high-performance dinghy. Ryan and his crew Seafra Guilfoyle are hoping to again qualify to represent Ireland at next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Qualification would see Ryan represent Ireland at three consecutive Olympics.

Ryan commented, ” Carrickfergus and Belfast Lough is one of the best sailing locations throughout UK and Ireland. But unfortunately, due to its lack of suitable slipway access I was unable to complete my journey to professional sailing success at my home club. The new CSC slipway is a game changer when it comes to launching and retrieving my Olympic class 49er. It means I can complete some of my Tokyo 2021 training in home waters for the first time. 

The Club had two National and one European event in the diary for 2020 following the slipway completion but unfortunately due to Covid restrictions the events had to be cancelled.

A spokesperson for the Club advised that they were hopeful that these events would be held next year, conditions permitting and afford sailors from clubs both in Ireland and Great Britain to compete in Carrickfergus and Belfast Lough.

In the meantime, the club has benefited from the new slipway since restrictions eased in July with regular junior sailing and training hoping to find another Carrickfergus Olympian amongst them. Sailors in the Rs 400 dinghy class have also been racing at the club.

The Club would take this opportunity to thank MEABC for all their assistance and financial support in making the project a reality for all sailors at the club Olympians or otherwise.

Media@carrickfergussc.org                                                    Photography Ryan Wilson