Forum: Race Officers

Covid 19 Policy Issues and Best Practices

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Paul Zupan
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • National Judge
In an effort to help with both the process of thinking through whether to run a regatta and best practices while conducting a regatta, we've put together a document with information from several sources.  Many people have worked on this and it is a living document.  We expect it can be continually improved.  Please contribute what you feel is important.  You can email a document or contributions to me directly if you wish and I will integrate them into the document. 

Proposed Policy for Sailing Events in Response to Threat of Infectious Disease
Created: 20-May-02 16:07

Comments

David Henshall
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • National Race Officer
2
There is a further aspect to be considered (and one that I fear may impact on my next scheduled event) in that is a fair assumption that  numbers will be significantly down, potentially changing the equation as to the financial validity of the event. If the set up had been for a proposed entry of X number of boats, but with all the signs indicating a much smaller numbers, clubs may well have to pull the plug to protect their own finances.


Created: 20-May-02 18:32
Mike Leyland
Nationality: New Zealand
0
Fantastic to be collaborating and sharing learnings and good question David. 

We are a one design keelboat class association debating potential entry numbers right now as we replan postponed and plan scheduled events with host clubs. 
 
Not sure we are seeing the signs of reduced enthusiasm for safe sailing here in NZ but our govt has been tough, perceived risk and active C19 cases are dropping in inverse proportion to the frustration of being locked up and losing jobs and seeing the clubs struggling to survive. The balance of health vs economy/jobs. 

We will survey members and crews to check in re intentions to compete and thoughts re risk mitigation ie hygiene protocols before during and after sailing, contact tracing logs, reducing crew number to increase distance etc

I am not a market research specialist but will happily share a link to our Google survey once done.
Created: 20-May-02 19:36
Lloyd Causey
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
0
     I understand that this is a work in progress.  However it does not specify what time frame is targeted. Is  this meant to be the future process without an end date?  When would this go into effect? What standards would be used to judge whether a proposed regatta would be operating under these guidelines?  

     If these are the way we operate from here forward, I envision very limited sailboat racing in the future.
Created: 20-May-03 00:34
Simon Lovesey
Nationality: United Kingdom
1
One of our IRO friends referred me to RRS, some great material here

#restartsailng is working on restarting racing in these difficult times, looking at new procedures and working together to allow a safe return of sailing when appropriate.

Created: 20-May-03 05:34
Claudio Uras
Nationality: Italy
Certifications:
  • Regional Umpire
  • Regional Race Officer
  • International Judge
0
Just a follow up on previous comments on this topic, I confirm that Italian MNA federazione italiana vela is preparing a policy, like all other italian sports federations, derived from guidelines of the Italian Olympic Committee.
Created: 20-May-03 15:51
Brent Draney
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
0
The Yacht Racing Association (YRA) of SF Bay is actively working with the SF Coast Guard on a draft set of guidelines and instructions to be added to NOR's and SI's in order to get Coast Guard permits to run races.  After the draft if given a positive nod it will go to the Yacht Clubs for consideration.  Also, we have placed a request into the CA Governor's office to get  Sailing officially added to the list of approved recreational activities.  If Badminton can be added the Sheltered-in-place family sailing can also be added.  We are hoping that we can get sailboat racing approved as a  low risk activity.

When the draft is ready to share with Yacht Clubs (hopefully later this week) we will post it here as well.

Created: 20-May-03 19:43
P
Angelo Guarino
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
0
Brent re: " ... Sheltered-in-place family sailing can also be added"

I think your comments highlight the heart of my concern surrounding this.  As we all know, when we talk about sailing as a sport, it runs the gambit .. from single-handed boats like windsurfers, lasers, etc to crews of 10+ on a boat.  Except for proximity issues during launch and landing, I think it would be hard to argue that a laser regatta poses much of a health threat OTW, except maybe to those on the RC and mark-boats.

That said, as soon as you have 2 .. 4.. 6 .. 8 people on the boat, the boat now becomes the risk.  I race on a boat that typically has 5-6 onboard.  I know of no J/105 which is sailed solely by people who cohabitate.

So, can we safely start single-handed racing again ?  I think so .. and I think that's where we as a sport should start.

The smaller individually-sailed boats also have the benefit of being inexpensive and further from any impression of a 'sport of the privileged'.

IMO, I think we risk doing serious harm to the image of our sport, and the image of the community of people that loves it, if pictures of crew-packed $50,000-$100,000+ boats start showing up in the local papers Thursday morning ... alongside stories of people still out of work, loosing homes and business and dying from this scourge in that same community.
Created: 20-May-04 13:37
P
Paul Zupan
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • National Judge
Mike Leyland
Nationality: New Zealand
0
The New Zealand Government released plans today to step down from what we call level 3 to level 2. 

Timing has yet to be confirmed but hopefully they will announce on Monday that this will happen next Wednesday at midnight.  At least planning can begin

Yachting New Zealand has published their interpretation re implications of this next move for sailing including useful hyperlinks here https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/news/sailing-and-boating-return-under-level-2

The government strategy has retained good hygiene practice & the conservative approach re symptomatic people.  The emphasis on distancing has been relaxed and the emphasis and availability of testing and contact tracing increased.

The clubs and boat owners/skippers need to have show appropriate discipline and responsibility around cleaning, distancing and contact tracing.  


Created: 20-May-07 09:20
Mark Townsend
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Race Officer
  • International Umpire
  • International Judge
0
US Sailing issued two guidance documents, one on how to restart sailing competitions and a second on Junior programs. Links to these and other documents can be found on the US Sailing website at https://www.ussailing.org/membership/organizations/resources/ under the US Sailing Resources tab.

The direct links to the documents are below
US Sailing Guidance for Junior Sailing Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
US Sailing Guidance for Return to Competition




Created: 20-May-14 14:40
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