Starting in October you are probably aware that we will be going back to our normal Autumn Series races - with a few small changes, principally:

• average wind speed limit increased to 16 knots
• four starts - ASSY, FAST, SLOW, MULTI
• juniors racing in slow handicap fleet with separate results extracted for the series
• no restrictions on the number of inflatable buoys used to set courses
• sign on will continue with the website based system we have been using recently
• beachmasters can now race - see below

The club sailing instructions have been amended accordingly - DOWNLOAD HERE - this replaces the previous COVID amendment.

I have also updated the user guide to the sign-on system - including the few tweaks I have made to the interface - DOWNLOAD HERE

Conscious of the need to try and keep the number of duties to a minimum, we are going to attempt to allow beachmasters to join in with the racing. Simon Greenslade and I will nominate one person each week to act as beachmaster for launching - once most of the boats have launched the beachmaster will then be able to join in the racing. Based on the entries for the race we will also pick three people to be "recovery" beachmasters - first one ashore after the race will act as beachmaster. I will notify the beachmasters by email on friday of each week. If it doesn't work we will have to go back to having non-sailing beachmasters, so please try to make it work.

The work party today cleared a large amount of debris, and parked trolleys and trailers in a more orderly manner to free up parking spaces.

There is now plenty of room to park at a slight angle to the fence line - like this:

Please think of others and do not park parallel to the fence. Thank you.

Starcross Yacht Club is no longer going to be part of those sales for non-reusable water bottles.
From now on we do not stock water in bottles.

Many of you will already have your own favourite water container. The Club now stocks a few re-usable water containers with an easy-to-use, single-handed “twist and sip” operation so you can keep one hand on the tiller. Capacity is 600 ml. They are dishwasher safe.

The containers are made from recyclable Polyolefin, a food grade material, and contain no Phthalate or BPA. They are pliable to enable “squeeze drinking” and cannot break if dropped.
Available from the galley service window, they cost £4.00 each. Fresh drinking water is available from the tap between galley and race box. Full cleaning instructions are available from sistema Twist ’N” Sip products.

As we make the approach to colder weather and lower water temperatures, we should be aware of the effects of exposure to them. A state known as hypothermia is where the human body core temperature is reduced and needs assistance to recover. Old methods of a hot bath or shower are no longer acceptable as they could induce more serious conditions leading to cardiac arrest in severe cases. 

The following document has been put together by Peter Schranz  and edited by Sarah Peat (both healthcare professionals) to help us better understand the symptoms of and the treatment for hypothermia.

Within the next week, the space we are developing as a facility for disabled persons will be used over the winter months for the treatment of potential hypothermia. Please take the time to read through and familiarise yourselves with this treatment.

We are now legally required to keep a record of all visitors to the SYC site.
If you haven't signed on for racing, Free Sailing or individual sailing, or entered your name in the sign-on book (see end of article), you can register your presence using the NHS App instead.

• Download and install the correct App
  (Android or iOS) 

• At SYC, open the App and select 'Venue check-in'

• Point your phone at the poster (several placed around the Club) from about 2 ft away. Within seconds…

Some weeks ago I reminded Members to make sure the main gate was shut on leaving the Club premises and to be vigilant when on site.

Recently a senior Club member went on a 26-mile trip from the Exe, round the QM2 cruise ship in Lyme Bay and back, on his catamaran. Starting the trip, he realised he had the wrong tiller extension. On his return he found one of his twin rudders was jammed. One of the rudder pairs, which are sequentially marked, was not his. The rudder, which was in a poor mechanical state, had been swapped over for one of his original good ones, as had the tiller extension.

Had this faulty rudder jammed at sea, it could have caused a serious incident. We are fairly sure the theft was perpetrated by someone outside the Club. Somehow this person gained entry, presumably at a quiet time, and carried out the crime.

Apart from a costly replacement, there could have been a serious safety issue at sea for the catamaran crew involving the emergency services.

Although we do not know how this person gained entry, I hope this incident reminds everyone to make sure the main gate is closed, preferably directly after entry and exit on non-race days, and to report any unusual behaviour to a Club officer.

Thank you
Ian Purvis
Commodore

I'm not sure what I have done to deserve the penance of trying to make sense of the government's COVID regulations and the RYA's COVID guidelines, but that seems to be my life at the moment. Changes made by both organisations this week mean that we need to make some changes to our COVID procedures if we want to remain on the right side of the law. Please read the following carefully as it applies to ALL members.

The fundamental change is that the club is required to keep contact details of EVERY visitor to the club premises. For participants in the racing we can use the sign on details you give us through the online system when you enter the race. For free sailors and those who leisure sail during the week we will introduce a similar online system that will allow you to register your visits (more details will be published here next week). For members doing club duties (OOD, safety boat, galley) we can use the dutyman records. These systems will cover the majority of visits to the club but there is still a significant minority of visits not covered - for example, family members watching the racing or freesailing, boat bimblers, contractors etc. For these visits we offer a couple of options for you - either complete one of the paper slips that will be available from the Members Room porch and post it in the box provided, OR if you have downloaded the government's contact tracing app, scan the club's QR code which you can find displayed at various points on the club premises.

  
Club dinghies may be hired once again from Friday 29 May. Bookings are open as of now.

There are now 14 dinghies available for hire, each clearly numbered for identification. 

The Hire Dinghies page of the website has been considerably revised. Please be sure to read the new page before hiring your boat, because a number of changes have been made in order to enable all members to hire safely at a time when Covid-19 precautions are essential to safeguard both you and the hirer who comes after you (not to mention volunteer members undertaking any maintenance needed).