UPDATE – COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
10th June 2020
Hello All members
This message relates primarily to yacht racing, but is also of general interest regarding all events for all vessels.
Presently, restrictions which apply as detailed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), only permit recreational boating for training only, and not competition, provided other social distancing measures are also observed.
Australian Sailing (“AS”), through Victorian State Manager Gavin Wall have advocated that sailing competition be exempted from the current restrictions, as many other sports have been.
A copy of the AS letter to Peter Betson, Head of Sport, Recreation & Racing, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions in the State of Victoria may be accessed by clicking on this link LETTER REQUESTING EXEMPTION. It was sent on 29 May 2020.
AS have written to all afiliated clubs today as follows:
Dear Club Secretaries, Commodores and GMs,
As you are aware we have been advocating hard with the Victorian Government on the creation of exemptions for sailing. Attached is a copy of a letter that went to government on the 29th of May. Yesterday at a meeting of Better Boating Victoria it was agreed that the proposed exemptions should be included in the June 22 easing of restrictions. However this must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. To achieve this it is important that we as a sport keep the pressure on the Government to ensure they approve our requested exemptions.
With that in mind can I ask that your members write a letter to their respective MPs asking them to advocate on our behalf for the following exemptions:
- Competition be allowed
- Exemption from the 4m2 per person rule when participating in sailing activities;
Proposed solution: Replace with “Comply with 4m2 per person where practically possible” - Exemption from 1.5m rule when participating in sailing activities;
Proposed solution: Replace with “Maintain 1.5m physical distance where practically possible” - Exemption from the 10-person limit;
Proposed solution: Permit sailing vessels to be manned with crew numbers to facilitate their safe operation
To achieve our targeted date of June 22, it is important that we all contact our local MPs as soon as possible.
Many thanks for your support.
Regards
Gavin
Those of us who want our voice heard about resuming yacht racing and other boating events beyond “training” are asked to suppoirt AS by writing to your State MP.
Our state MP in the Legislative Assembly for Mornington is David Morris MP who may be contacted by email – david.morris@parliament.vic.
Our state MP in the Legislative Assembly for Nepean is Chris Brayne MP who may be contacted by email – Chris.Brayne@parliament.vic.
Our state MLC (eastern Victoria) is Melina Bath MLC who may be contacted by email melina.bath@parliament.
Safe boating!
John Hall
Commodore