Saturday 4th July ASC commences a program of weekly Winter Season club races on saturday afternoons. Trophy races are scheduled for Saturdays in July in the northern half of Albert Park Lake. Races start at 2pm, with Information Session at 1.45. and the club open from 10.30am.
There are some changes to normal club arrangements to meet COVID19 regulations and situation as it impacts our club membership. Details as at 1 July are on
https://albertsc.org.au/index.php/racing/2018-winter-season , and based on latest available guidelines include :
* Everyone entering the clubrooms or boatyard needs to sign in on sheets in the foyer, and assist with wiping down of shared surfaces they touch.
* Restricted to 20 people in each of two boat rigging areas at the northern and southern end of the ASC foreshore.
* Up to 20 people in the clubrooms, and 10 on the first floor decking. Toilets open. Come dressed for sailing, and leave in sailing gear.
* Reduced APYC/ASC on-water RIB presence, with between 1 and 3 RIBs, depending on conditions, and RIB crewing.
* Follow social distancing and hygiene practices. Don’t come if unwell
Arrangements will be adjusted as there are changes in Government prescriptions and with experience on changed arrangements.
On afternoon of sunday 5th, Week 3 of the Victorian Optimist Class winter coaching program at ASC.
Rod Thomas
for ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 2 July
Thursday Snippets, 25 June
Saturday 27th recreational sailing again at Albert Sailing Club with the club open 10am – 4pm. There will be a club Working Bee from 9.45am of so with the focus on cleaning of windows, boatyard leaves and a general cleanup of clubrooms and boatyard. Following changes in government COVID19 regulations a maximum of 20 people are now allowed in our clubrooms and up to 10 at a time on the decking. If coming to sail the recommendations is to come dressed for sailing and to leave in your sailing gear. The club changerooms can be used if really needed, but showers are not available for use.
On sunday 28th June pm and wednesday 1st, and thursday 2nd July am and pm ASC is hosting the Victorian Optimist Association winter coaching program. Come down to the Lake on one of these days and have a coffee from the Boatshed Cafe and watch the fleets of juniors in action.
Everyone who comes to the club to sail or as a visitor needs to sign in on sheets in the club foyer and follow social distancing, hygiene and cleaning protocols. This includes disinfectant wiping of shared surfaces in foyer, clubrooms and boatyard.
The ASC/APYC winter club racing program on the Lake commences on Saturday 4th July with a number of Saturday afternoon stand alone trophy races at 2pm on saturdays in July. This is for single handed dinghy classes and double handed sailing classes for people in same family or juniors under 18.
A number of club single handed boats will be available for monthly lease across July If interested email Rod or Don via training@albertsc.org.au
Keep following Snippets for changes in program due to changes in Government COVID19 regulations.
Rod Thomas for ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 18 June
The forecast is for another wintry weekend in Melbourne, with some showers Saturday morning, and light to moderate winds across the weekend. On saturday 20th Albert Sailing Club will be open 10am – 4pm for recreational sailing. On Sunday 21st the Victorian Optimist Association (VIODA) commence their winter coaching program at ASC. Over 20 Optimists from Melbourne clubs, including ASC, will be involved in coaching each Sunday afternoon till mid September. Full details of the VIODA program on https://www.facebook.com/optimistvic A reminder that everyone who comes to the club to sail or as a visitor needs to sign in on sheets in the club foyer and follow physical hygiene and cleaning protocols. Boat rigging is in two areas at northern and southern ends of club buildings, with a limit of 20 people per area. Club toilets will be open, but changerooms and clubrooms are again closed this week.
The good news is that on Sunday 14th June the Victorian Government announced some changes in COVID19 restrictions including some in relation to community sport which take effect from 22nd June. The club committee and the club sailing committee have been considering the updated regulations and await some further advice from Australian Sailing on some sailing specific aspects. It is proposed to commence ASC/APYC winter club racing on the Lake on Saturday 4th July with a number of Saturday afternoon stand alone trophy races and then a shortened winter series. There are current restrictions, including competition of up to 20, and double handed sailing only for people in same family or juniors under 18. Changerooms and clubrooms are allowed to be opened after 22nd June if the relevant regulations are being followed. There is more work to be done on all of this, and we will provide further details next week. And of course, there will be further changes in restrictions in coming weeks which will impact what is possible.
Rod Thomas
For ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 11 June
On saturday 13th June. Albert Sailing Club will again be open 10am – 4pm for recreational sailing on Albert Park Lake. Everyone who comes down whether sailing or as a visitor needs to sign in in the club foyer and follow physical hygiene and cleaning protocols. Boat rigging in areas at northern and southern ends of club buildings, with a limit of 20 people per area. Club toilets will be open, but changerooms continue to be closed.
The Victorian Optimist Association Winter program returns to the Lake with a 12 week program on sunday afternoons at Albert Sailing Club commencing on sunday 21st June Details are being published on the VIODA Facebook.
The ASC committee met on wednesday and again had a full Agenda. A report was considered on the resumption of Albert Sailing Club following the COVID19 lockdown period. Recreational sailing commenced in late May with a few down to sail on saturdays, and also during the week. The ASC COVID19 Safe plan is in place and is being well followed. Last Friday the carpets in the upstairs clubrooms were cleaned and have come up looking and smelling good ! Planning is in progress so that when further easing of government restrictions occurs, we can move back to a club racing program and a more regular range of club activity. A letter from Australian Sailing Victoria was received which outlined their representations to the Victorian Government seeking an easing of restrictions on sailing in particular not allowing of competition sailing, dinghy class sailing in single handed boats only (except where two in same family), and restrictions on keel boat crewing. These restrictions have been lifted or have been announced to be lifted in most other States. Australian Sailing has asked for members of sailing clubs to lobby their MP’s for changes in restrictions on sailing. A letter which can be used for this purpose is being loaded onto the ASC website www.albertsc.org.au.
Continue to get active and enjoy the winter weather.
Rod Thomas
for ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 4 June
Enjoy the June Long Weekend and the eased Government COVID19 stage 2 regulations.
Recreational sailing at Albert Sailing Club on saturday 6th June. Club foyer, boatyard and toilets open from 10 – 4pm. Boat rigging in areas at northern and southern ends of club buildings, with a limit of 20 people per area. No club racing and no ASC RHIB patrol boat crew on duty. Check weather conditions before you come down.
Victorian Optimist Association Winter program at ASC should be finalised soon. Expected to commence second half of June or early July. Details will be on VIODA and Albert Sailing Club Facebooks.
Other News – Australian Sailing club level courses, and the latest on Albert Park Reserve Parking.
Australian Sailing have a range of club level Instructor and Race Officer courses available over the next few months. ASC will provide financial support to members to attend. If interested check details on the online link, then contact us through training@albertsc.org.au.
Dinghy Instructor courses at Albert Park Boatshed https://www.sailing.org.au/course-finder/20/
Race Officer online courses https://www.sailing.org.au/course-finder/46/
She Sails all female Club Race officer Online course Sunday 14th June 2020, 13.00-16.30
Our Club Commodore Cindy Tilbrook is registering, and would welcome involvement of other ASC female members. Contact Cindy via commodore@albertsc.org.au
Albert Park Reserve Parking
A friendly reminder to members and visitors parking in the Albert Park Reserve to ensure that they park in a sign posted parking area and that their Parking Permits or daily tickets are current and clearly visible on their windscreen or dashboard.
Parking Enforcement Officers are checking vehicles for either a current Albert Park sports club member permit or a valid ticket purchased from a ticket machine. Parking is permitted on Aquatic Drive or approach roads, with gravel areas for unloading of boats and gear for up to 15 minutes.
For permit renewals or to purchase a new permit, please complete a 2019/2020 Sports Club Member or Junior Sportsclub Member Application Form. Current Fees and Forms available on https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/albert-park/things-to-do/car-parking-in-albert-park
Completed application forms with proof of current club membership can be processed by:
1. Email – albertparkparking@parks.vic.gov.au
2. Mail – Parking Administration Parks Victoria, PO Box 768, South Melbourne VIC 3205
3. In person – The office will open for processing of permits on Tuesdays and Thursdays (8am to 4pm). Press the doorbell at the front gate – Parks Victoria Albert Park Office, 23 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park buildling past the Golf Driving Range).
Proof of membership for Parking Permit is by one of two options.
1. Use of application form stamped with Albert Sailing Club stamp, available from club on Saturdays.
OR
2. Printed Proof of Membership from your ASC Membership database profile. Login to https://albertsailingclub.wildapricot.org/ with your email address and Wild Apricot password.
If don’t know your password, select Forgot Password and create a new Password.
After Login select your Name (in top right) and your Profile page should appear, with Membership details and Name as first two sections. Print this first page and use as proof of current membership. You can mail it in with paper application form OR scan and attach to email application.
Rod Thomas
For ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 28 May
Recreational sailing again at Albert Sailing Club on saturday 30th May. Club foyer, boatyard and toilets open from 10 – 4pm. No club racing permitted and no RHIB patrol boat crew planned for this week, so check weather conditions before you come down. The final week of the online Corona Non-Sailing Series is at 2pm on sunday, with entry via the tab under Sailing on the club website.
Noah Bajayo from ASC partipated in the online Victorian eSailing championships last weekend. He progressed from the Elimination races on saturday, to sail in the Final on Sunday where he finished 7th overall out of 10. Well done Noah. The Australian eSailing Champs are on Thursday night at 7pm with details on Australian Sailing Facebook.
A group of half a dozen members sailed at various times on tuesday, which was a top Melbourne Autumn day. The Lake conditions were great for sailing. They plan to repeat with am or pm sailing on the next good midweek day in the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in coming down midweek for an afternoon sail when others are down, send an email to Rod via training@albertsc.org.au, and we will include you on the email list, with distribution the day before a planned midweek sailing day.
Club sailing in Victoria continues at a recreational, non competitive level, and will continue as such until the Government advises otherwise. We are liasing with the junior VIODA Optimist class on commencment of an Opti winter program, with details to be finalised soon.
There will be an ASC saturday duty roster out mid June, with provision for RHIB crews. Some members in more vulnerable categories may not be available. If you are available to help out by placement on a backup list in June or July, send an email to Steve Dunn via sailing@albertsc.org.au.
If you are planning to come down to the club some key considerations are :
* Stay away if you are unwell or are awaiting COVID19 test results.
* everyone whether sailing or not needs to sign in and sign out on a Form in the club foyer ;
* if sailing arrive ready to sail.
* rig boats in designated rigging area at southern end or northern end foreshore in front of club buildings
* wipe down door handles, taps and hard surfaces in downstairs areas you touch.
The SEDA educational group are down using our clubrooms Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for the middle few hours of the day. Unfortunately, while they can use the upstairs clubrooms, members are for now not able to, and we await government announcements as to when this is possible.
regards
Rod Thomas
for ASC Committee
Thursday Snippets, 21 May
Albert Sailing Club will commence weekly recreational sailing on Albert Park Lake on saturday 23rd May.
The club foyer, boatyard and toilet will be open from 10am to 4pm, for members wanting to go for a sail on the Lake. There is a set of requirements based on Government Restrictions and advice which need to be followed by eveyone who comes down to the club on a saturday or another day of the week. A copy of the ASC requirements was emailed to members on wednesday 20th. The requirements and the Sign In/Sign Out Form to be completed by each person on each visit to the club can be found on https://albertsailingclub.wildapricot.org/page-1779767 At this stage numbers at ASC (and APYC) are limited. Visitor sailors are not being encouraged until Government restrictions are further eased. Visitors can check on availability via email to training@albertsc.org.au.
The online Corona Non-Sailing series of 8 “races” has two weeks to go, with Noah Bajayo from ASC and Rob Pulham from APYC tied in the overall lead. There has been a change in Sailing Instructions such that race 7 will be held on sunday 24th May and race 8 on sunday 31st May. Series entrants and casual visitors welcome with details, including start times, on the tab under Sailing on www.albertsc.org.au Also State esailing championships on Sunday, with Noah representing Albert Sailing Club following club event last weekend. Go Noah !
The hard deadline for the Mudpuddler newsletter items is Sunday 24th. Send items to Jamie via mudpuddler@albertsc.org.au.
Parks Victoria has scheduled tree works trimming on Aquatic Drive and Palms Lawn on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th May. Parallel parking down Aquatic Drive will be available for anyone visiting the club.
Rod Thomas for ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 14 May
Two main items this week
Our Albert Sailing Club Annual General Meeting is at 4.30 this Saturday 16th May. Put the meeting in your diary and join us for the club’s AGM. It will be an online meeting via Zoom software. If attending please send an email to our secretary Tim Falkiner via secretary@albertsc.org.au. You can hook in to the meeting by PC/laptop or phone, with the Zoom internet link and the phone option details on The Club – Annual General Meeting tab of www.albertsc.org.au. It is a short but worthwhile agenda with Annual Committee and Financial reports, confirmation of 2020/21 ASC committee members, and some Commodore comments on the year ahead. Reports and other AGM materials are on the same website tab as the meeting link. At the conclusion of the meeting there will be a Q&A and an informal Virtual Chat and Drinks.
Resumption of Sailing for Clubs on Albert Park Lake
The Albert Sailing Club and Albert Park Yacht Club clubrooms and facilities were both closed in mid March, and currently remain closed. Earlier in the week the Victorian Government made announcements on easing of some of the restrictions, including on sport and recreational activities from midnight on Tuesday 12th May. Recreational boating is now permissable, with restrictions. A draft plan for resumption of recreational sailing for Sailing Clubs on Albert Park Lake has been developed taking into account Government and Australian Sailing prescriptions and advice. This plan had its initial consideration at a club sub-committee meeting on Thursday evening. At this stage there are matters which are unclear and need clarification. There are also hygiene items and processes which need to be put in place for the health and safety of people using any club facilities. The clubs thus remains closed, until outstanding items can be addressed. The objective is to resolve these items as quickly as possible.
Final call for items for the next Mudpuddler Newsletter. Send your articles, stories, photos, ditties or whatever to our Editor Jamie via mudpuddler@albertsc.org.au.
The club website www.albertsc.org.au was down for a week in early May. It is now back up and running with a different visual appearance, but essentially the same content. There is still some work to be done on the Home Page to be undertaken in the next week or two. Thanks Luke Tupper for the website update.
Rod Thomas and Cindy Tilbrook
for ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 7 May
Hello fellow locked down sailors. We wait for Victorian Government announcements on some easing of COV-19 restrictions. When boating becomes possible it will be under restricted circumstances and with important health considerations. Plans on how and when sailing at a club level could resume will need to be developed.
In the meantime this Snippets covers :
* Club website disruption
* Annual General Meeting on Saturday 16th May – Register attendance, Committee nominations, documentation.
* Virtual Drinks and Chat” 4.30pm – 5.30pm on saturday 9th May
* Articles required for next club Mudpuddler Newsletter
* The Albert Sailing Club website www.albertsc.org.au has been unavailable for a few days from early May. The website back end is being attended to and hopefully the site is up late week. If the problem persists a post will be placed on https://www.facebook.com/AlbertSailing/
Albert Sailing Club Annual General Meeting
The AGM is to be held online or via telephone on Saturday, May 16 2020 commencing at 4.30 p.m.
Nominations for ASC 20/21 general committee are being sought and need to be emailed to secretary@albertsc.org.au by 5.30pm on Friday 8th May. The email needs to state :
I (Your Name) wish to nominate for the position of . . . . . for Albert Sailing Club 2020/21. I agree to abide by the Rules and By-Laws of Albert Sailing Club Inc and accept nomination for the above position. The secretary will organise nominator and seconder.
Attending the AGM Support the club and its committee by attending the AGM with an informal Q&A and Virtual Drinks catchup at the end of the meeting. Please let our secretary know whether you plan to attend via email to secretary@albertsc.org.au If you are unsure in using Zoom there are instructions on the AGM website section and there are a couple of trial sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.
All of the documents for the AGM can be found on the Albert Sailing Club website under the first menu item The Club / Annual General Meeting
Albert sailing clubs Virtual Drinks and Chat this Saturday 4.30pm – 5.30pm using Zoom software. All welcome to join in on the “Virtual club decking” with great views over Albert Park Lake. Connect with others and hear about what they have been up to. To participate you need a PC, laptop or smartphone with inbuilt microphone and camera or have a mini microphone/camera connected to your PC. Then at or in the 15 minutes after 4.30 click on the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86201439421 When the meeting link is connected click the video and unmute icons and you will join the catchup.
Also heat 5 of th Corona Non-Sailing Series at 2pm, with a new set of sailing related questions to test yourself against.
Content for the next ASC Mudpuddler Newsletter is being sought with deadline of 20 May. Send Articles, photos and other items to Jamie via mudpuddler@albertsc.org.au.
Rod Thomas
For ASC committee
Thursday Snippets, 9 July2020
All sailing programs on Albert Park Lake and in metropolitan Melbourne were suspended from Thursday 8 July for a period at this stage of 6 weeks till mid August. This includes club racing on saturdays, VIODA Optimist winter training programs on sundays, and any training activities. The clubhouse which includes the upstairs clubrooms, and the downstairs training room, changerooms and toilets are closed to club members and visitors. There may be some midweek use by SEDA educational group students and teachers., to be confirmed.
Based on the Government Regulations and the latest Australian Sailing advice recreational sailing, without a competitive or training component, is allowable on Albert Park Lake and other Melbourne Metropolitan venues as long as it is only with members of your household, or with one person from outside your household, and the 1.5 metre social distancing rule is adhered to at all times. Double handed dinghy sailing is ruled out until further notice and No sharing of equipment. The relevant Victorian Government Regulations and Australian Sailing advice is shown below.
We are assuming that club members who have a club key and swipe card can access their boat in the ASC boatyard. To do so enter the boatyard by the most direct route through the club foyer. Open boatyard gates to take a boat out or to return it, and leave them closed and locked when not being used for boat movement. Any member so doing needs to enter their details on the Sign in form in the foyer and wipe down door handles, locks, pens and shared surfaces with disinfectant wipes. You would come dressed to go sailing and leave in your sailing gear.
A restart of club sailing and clubhouse activities depends on Government announcements on easing of restrictions, not expected before mid July.
We will keep you informed of further developments via Weekly Thursday Snippets and the club Internet website.
Rod Thomas
for ASC committee
As at 8 July 2020
Current Victorian Governement Stage 3 COVID19 restrictions are that ” Community sport training and competition cannot occur within the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell. If you live in this area you cannot participate in community sport elsewhere.” further “Outdoor sport facilities will be closed, except for facilities where people can exercise with no more than one other person or members of your household while maintaining 1.5 metres distance. Equipment should not be shared, and communal facilities cannot open.”
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/updated-restrictions-1159pm-wednesday-8-july-covid-19
Australian Sailing is working with Sport and Recreation Victoria to confirm their interpretation of the stage 3 restrictions that are being reintroduced at 11.59pm Wednesday the 8th of July. A full updated framework will be available (on the Australian Sailing COVID19 website) in the coming days.
https://www.sailingresources.org.au/covid-19/vic/
Australian Sailing’s initial interpretation of the new stage 3 restrictions are:
All club training and organised sailing must stop as of 11.59pm tonight (Wednesday 8 July)
Recreational boating my continue as long as it is with members of your household, or with one person from outside your household. However, the 1.5 meter social distancing rule must be adhered to at all times and there is to be NO sharing of equipment. So this now rules out all double handed dinghy sailing until further notice.
Informal training is NOT allowed. It is not seen as recreational boating.
Club facilities (meeting rooms, changing rooms, toilets, cafes, restaurants, canteens etc) should be closed, except for the delivery of takeaway meals and drinks.
Please note that for all clubs in Regional Victoria that sit outside the suburbs in Greater Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell. The move back to stage 3 does not effect you. There has been no change to your restrictions, so sailing may continue as per the guidelines introduced on the 22nd of June.