Dear Members

It is with regret that I have to inform you that all sailing activities organised by St Catherine’s Sailing Club must cease with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future.

Racing and training events are now cancelled and all Club owned craft, dinghies and RiBs will remain on shore until further notice.

We are following the latest advice from Jersey Sport which complies with the requirement by the Government of Jersey for us all to practice social distancing to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. These measures are set to be in place for a considerable duration.

Private Sailing Sessions – It is of course feasible that you will want to sail privately as an individual or as a household, a very healthy option indeed.  If this is the case, please be aware of the safety factors involved and that it is your responsibility to take the necessary precautions without the benefits of the usual Club safety cover or equipment. Look at the weather forecast, sail in pairs, use a small inflatable dinghy with an outboard to provide cover for your children, tell someone ashore of your intentions.  Above all, be aware of the capabilities of every sailor and match this to the conditions in the bay.

Sailing is such a big part of our lives, a passion, an obsession!!  We are however, facing a global threat from the Coronavirus that puts sport, despite the benefits to health and wellbeing, into perspective and highlights the need for us all to play a part in looking after families and preventing the spread.

A strong family ethos and a thriving social scene has been at the heart of St Catherine’s Sailing Club since its establishment back in 1953, making it a place of healthy on the water activity, humour and joy.  As we face a prolonged period of time at home and away from our Club, please keep that social flame alive by posting your messages and videos on social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Keep happy and healthy and I hope to see you all in the Club in the near future.

Best regards

Dave Jones

Commodore

Dear Members

It is with regret that I have to inform you that all Club sailing activities for members under the age of 18 and over 65 will cease from Saturday 21 March until further notice. This includes all racing and training events we have planned for the age groups concerned.

As a result of this announcement all Winter Training sessions are cancelled with immediate effect.

We are following the advice from Jersey Sport which is set to be in place for a considerable duration.

Whilst this does not of course bring the Club to a standstill, adults can still take part and enjoy their sailing under the present guidelines, I am aware that St Catherine’s Sailing Club is a youth orientated organisation and that the news today will greatly affect the start to the season.

If as an adult, you are still intending to sail in any scheduled event, please adhere to the advice sent out in my recent emails.  Please also adopt a ‘Sail and Go’ approach to each event to prevent group gatherings in the clubhouse.

I hope you will understand and respect the steps we are taking, as the need for us all to play our part in tackling the spread of the Coronavirus across the Island community becomes a priority.  These are unprecedented times for us all.

Keep happy and healthy and look after yourselves so that we can fully reconvene as a Club together soon.

I hope to see the Bay full of sails and the dinghy park full of smiles again in the near future.

Best regards

Dave Jones

Commodore

Dear Members and Friends.

This Saturday we will be welcoming Kevin McIlwee of the Jersey Marine Conservation Society to guide us through the diverse species and biodiversity around St Catherine.

Please bring your wellies and rain gear and be prepared to clamber around over all types of terrain.

Meeting at 1pm at the clubhouse, we head off to the coastal and inter tidal area in the bay.

We return to the club for a chat and talk from Kevin on seagrass and it’s important role in the ecosystem, as well as any questions you may have, drawing on his extensive knowledge as a renound diver and lecturer.

Please bring biscuits and cake as has become customary in our friendly open club.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Applications are being invited for a Clipper Bursary this year. If you have a particular maritime venture planned that would benefit from some funding, please click on the link below for details.

Applications poster 2020

St Catherine’s Sailing Club members are invited to join in with the Marlow Rope Show at ST HYC on Thursday 6th February, between 7pm and 9pm. Please contact the St Helier Yacht Club Office to reserve a space, as we are limited to 50 places for practical reasons. The Chefs are providing Chilli con Carne, Chicken Curry and a Vege option for £8.50 during the break. Please let the office know if you plan on eating when you reserve your space.
Please contact Chris on 732229 or office@shyc.je with any queries.
Don’t delay, the course is filling up fast!

RYA Sailing courses for younger sailors will start after the Summer half term, on Wednesdays (entry level) and Thursdays (Intermediate and and racing,) booking will be online through Webcollect from February 25th 2020 (see bookings.)

Priority will be those who are fully paid up members for the year, and bookings will go online in the first week after spring half term, followed by temporary members in the following weeks. It is hoped that families will continue to make use of the club, and become active members throughout the year.

Our summer RYA sailing Courses will begin at the end of July, during the summer holidays. The dates are…

Winter training dates for 2020 are as follows..

Notice is hereby given for the 2019 St Catherine’s Sailing Club AGM to be held on Sunday 24th November at 15:00 hrs.  Any items for the Agenda should be posted through the club letterbox no less than 8 days before the event. All members are invited to attend.