Juniors Kick Off Meeting

As the weather slowly warms up and the cruisers finally take to the water, it is time to kick off our 2021 season ! There will be a virtual meeting :

to go over the current status and plans for the future and to answer your questions - please join us if you can :

https://join.freeconferencecall.com/rearcomsailing

Dial-in number (if you don't want to use computer audio) : 0330 777 2406

Access code: 1701835#

We are obviously currently still under COVID restrictions, however we are able to operate in a limited fashion within them and expect to have more opportunities as the season progresses.

First step then is to complete the LSC Junior Consent form without which you won't be able to participate in LSC events:

Click HERE : Junior Consent Form 2021

The consent form only needs to be completed once for the season - unless something changes, in which case you should complete a new form.

The calendar of Junior events is now on the website :

https://scmw.langstonesc.org.uk/events?tags%5B%5D=100880.

Don't forget that the vast majority of LSC club races will also have a junior start (these are currently having the Junior tag added so they show up in this view)

2020 was a year that favoured the more experienced sailors - and unfortunately 2021 is going to start the same way. The current Covid guidelines are still aimed at maintaining social distancing, and that is much more difficult with beginners or less experienced sailors who are more likely to interact with each other and need the assistance of the safety boat crews.

Following review of the rules for other junior sports, being personally involved in school mountain biking, and most importantly lengthy conversation with the RYA South Region Development Officer, in the current phase of the restrictions there are three basic covid-related rules :

1. On shore, all Covid restrictions apply - eg rule of 6, distancing etc. Boats should be rigged, launched and recovered in household bubbles.
2. Only sailors who are capable of sailing independently should go on the water (minimum RYA stage 2 level) - unless accompanied by an experienced sailor from their own household.
3. No mixing of households is permitted on the water - in either dinghies or safety boats (only exception is our launch, Sinbad, that is big enough for social distancing).

Please respect the rules above - as you know we have no paid staff to act as covid-guards and these rules are for the benefit of everybody. We sincerely hope that around the 17th May there will be new rules that allow us to change our operation - but not yet.

In addition, as in 2020, LSC events will only run in wind strengths of Beaufort F2-F4.

There are some changes that have been made to try and ensure that our less experienced sailors can get on the water. The most important is that all of our JIB's (Juniors in Boats) are also FIB's (Families in Boats) - where parents or more experienced siblings sailing with less experienced juniors will be strongly encouraged.

The club fleet of boats is currently being prepared and we hope will be moved into summer berths this weekend ready for use once enough cruisers have been launched to free space.

Our first JIB/FIB session is planned for Sunday 2nd May at 15:00 - the three rules above will apply. Attendance will only be through prior sign-up - the sign-up form will be available shortly. The current weather forecast is for F2-F3 SW winds, max temperature 10C with sunny showers - although that is not a settled forecast, it may well change. The water temperature is also around 10C - it is still cold, full wetsuits are still required.

Finally, Junior week 2021 is still in planning and we are closely following the rules to see exactly what format the week will take. More information and sign-up forms will be out as soon as we have a bit more certainty to allow us to progress.

Things may change fairly frequently - we will endeavour to keep the LSC website up to date with the current status and will also post on the private LSC Junior Facebook page - if you do not currently have access to that, search for "LSC - Juniors" and request access.

Hope to see you in the virtual meeting on Thursday - and at a JIB soon !

Stewart

Tide times

Tide data for Northney

Last updated 10:36am on 5 September 2023