Well we are finally here, Opening Day 2020 this Sunday at 1300!

It has been a rollercoaster six months but we are now fortunate to be returning to sailing and a situation where we have club operations almost back to normal. Of course, the threat of Covid-19 still lingers and we must continue to be vigilant.

PDYC has implemented a Covid-19 Policy which can be found on the Club website with paper copies available at the clubhouse.  This Policy is supported by a full risk assessment and formal Covid-19 Safe Plan. Please familiarise yourself with the PDYC Covid-19 Policy and the requirements when coming to the Club. Most of this it is now pretty well standard practice throughout the community. Key points being:

• Contact tracing records must be completed on entry to the Club
• Social distancing must be practised wherever possible, including 1.5 m between persons
• Each room/area at the Club has designated maximum person limits. For example, upstairs inside there is a 100-person limit and outside the total deck area limit is a 35-persons.
• High standards of hand and cough hygiene must be maintained.
• All persons must be seated when consuming food and alcohol

The Opening Day program will include presentation of the major perpetual awards and pennant winners from last season together with some special awards. This will be followed by the traditional sail-past and racing. Afternoon tea will be served afterwards, however for this year, members please do not bring a plate. 

A huge amount of work has occurred leading up to Opening Day. Tasks undertaken by member volunteers (in no particular order) include transporting all rescue boats to Launceston and return for annual motor and associated servicing, installation of hydraulic steering to rescue 3, pulling of all permanent marks in the estuary for servicing ashore and re-laying, removal of old redundant rail way iron posts from under jetty then cutting up and disposal (this was an industrial scale job involving heavy machinery and hard physical work), slipway and cradle maintenance, repair of bar refrigeration system, coordination of sailing calendar and printed program, negotiations with advertisers and sponsors, coordination and preparation of canteen and bar operations, coordination  of manufacture and installation of awning and boat covers, sign work, significant project work and  roll-out of all matters related to Covid-19, technology related upgrades, general grounds works, and more. To everyone involved in contributing to any facet of the club, no matter how big or small - thankyou.

We have a full sailing and social program for the season, with something for everyone. This has been set with an optimistic outlook and will require the continued support of all members and volunteers, both on and off the water. Some big events are programmed including the SB20 State Titles in late January 2020. Now is the time for all of us to make a contribution.

So, Opening Day this Sunday, a time for celebration but also to pause and reflect how fortunate we are to be back sailing and part of the wider club family.

Cheers,

Greg Rowsell

Commodore