CSC Social Committee Update

The social committee have been working on plans for some events to coincide with an exciting sailing calendar over the summer and we will update you as these progress. In the meantime, we are delighted to announce 2 events in July. These are the first opportunity since last year’s regatta for some social activity so we hope you come along and enjoy.

Saturday 3rd July Summer BBQ 

18:30, Cost £10pp to include Steak Burgers, marinated chicken fillets and Sicilia sausages along with breads and salads. 

Saturday 24th July Mexican Night

Catered by the renowned Taquitos, Cost £15pp for unlimited Tacos 

Tickets to both events are limited and must be purchased in advance at the bar, please also advise of any dietary requirements on booking.

The events will be subject to the Covid restrictions at the time.

Club Closure

Dear Members

In line with new Government Covid-19 Rules we will be closing the clubhouse bar tonight at 11pm for a minimum of 4 weeks.

We will still be contactable on social media and emails.

We hope you and your families stay safe.

Best wishes 

Carrickfergus Sailing Club Committee

Bar Opening – Important Update

Further to the email issued only 2 days ago, the Executive has announced that new legislation now means that “no more than 6 people from TWO households in NI will be allowed to sit at the same table in a pub or restaurant.” Unfortunately this puts some restrictions on our intended seating plans for our first weekend of normal opening and it will mean we may be a bit further apart from our friends than we had hoped.

So for clarity, here are the updated mandatory requirements…for now:

The venue will be required as part of its risk assessment process to identify the number of people who can safely be accommodated in line with social distancing requirements, and must clearly display this figure in the premises (60);

Hand sanitisation stations must be in place;

The venue will be required to collect customer details to assist with the Test, Trace, Protect contact tracing programme;

All service will be seated at tables. There will be no standing and no service at the bar;

Customers must remain seated once in the premises, apart from using the facilities;

Dancing will be prohibited in hospitality venues;

A maximum of six people from 2 households can be seated at a table in a hospitality venue.

Face coverings should be worn to enter and leave the venue and for movement inside. They are not required once seated.

These new rules will take a bit of getting used to but we all must follow them, we all have to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus. Please DO NOT come onto club grounds if you are feeling unwell, if you have symptoms of covid-19 or have been in recent contact with anyone who has.

Thank you all again and hopefully see you in the Club soon.

The Management Committee 

Return of Summer Sailing, Junior Training, Catering, and Bar Opening

Hello everyone

Thank you all for your patience and support as we continue through this difficult time. We appreciate that not all facilities have been available to members but we continue to review everything continually and within the constraints of guidance from the Executive and RYA. We thank you for following all the rules as we opened up the club grounds, the bar and the club racing.

Since the easing of restrictions, and with the availability of our new slipway we were able to recommence some sailing activity during July and we were pleased to accommodate some training for our junior sailors in August, as well as a short summer series for the Dinghies and Keelboats. We had a great Members Regatta day 29th August with over 30 boats on the water followed by our first social event since lockdown. Our Autumn Series commenced on 13thSeptember and we had a good turnout of Juniors, Dinghies and Keelboats. Typically the winds were not kind on the first race day but we had a good turnout last Sunday and will continue the series until 25thOctober. If you still want to enter, you can do son on the Website. Last weekend we had brilliant results from several of our junior sailors at the RYA Youth Championships at Ballyholme Yacht Club.

We have issued an advertisement for a new caterer to join us on a franchise basis and hopefully we will find someone suitable soon. Meanwhile, the Executive has announced that “wet bars” can open from today 23rdSeptember. Last month the Environmental Health Officer called and we are pleased to advise our bar received a 5 star hygiene rating. We have updated our risk assessment and are excited to announce that we are opening the indoor bar facility once again from Friday 25th. While we have restricted our hours this week we are looking forward to welcoming our members back to a more normal schedule from next week. We hope you can come down and continue to support the club while meeting up with your fellow members and friends.

Opening Hours this week:

Friday 25th          17:00 – 23:00

Saturday 26th     14:00 – 23:00

Sunday 27th        14:00 – 18:00   

From week commencing 28th September, we intend normal opening hours Tuesday to Thursday 19:00 – 23:00, but for now we will remain closed on Monday evenings.

We need to see how things go over the first few weeks and so all of the above will be subject to review.

Things will look a little different at first, so we ask you to be patient and compliant with the mandatory requirements set out by The Executive, which include:

  • The venue will be required as part of its risk assessment process to identify the number of people who can safely be accommodated in line with social distancing requirements, and must clearly display this figure in the premises;
  • Hand sanitisation stations must be in place;
  • The venue will be required to collect customer details to assist with the Test, Trace, Protect contact tracing programme;
  • All service will be seated at tables. There will be no standing and no service at the bar;
  • Customers must remain seated once in the premises, apart from using the facilities;
  • Dancing will be prohibited in hospitality venues;
  • A maximum of six people from any number of households can be seated at a table in a hospitality venue. Children aged 12 and under will be discounted from the total. More than six will be permitted if they all belong to a single household.
  • Face coverings should be worn to enter and leave the venue and for movement inside. They are not required once seated.

In line with these requirements we have identified through our risk assessment that we can safely accommodate 60 across our upstairs rooms. On entry you are required to sanitise your hands and sign in as part of the track and trace programme. The sign in book will be placed just inside the entrance door to the bar. Please note there is a one way system and you should enter the bar area by the usual doorway and leave again by the door in the function room area. You should wear a face covering on entry and until you are seated. The maximum number at any table is 6 (unless from a single household). Tables and chairs have been set out bearing in mind the 2m social distancing and furniture must not be moved. There will be tables with sanitiser and disinfectant spray and wipes on tables in each area. You must remain seated, moving from your table only to use the facilities or to exit the clubhouse. When you do move from your table you must wear your face covering. You cannot order your drink from the bar and the bar staff will provide table service. Please leave empty glasses and bottles to one end of your table to enable staff to collect easily. The bar staff will be wearing a face covering or visor. Please be patient as we follow these new procedures, they are new to us all and the bar service may be a little slower than usual.

These new rules will take a bit of getting used to but we all must follow them, we all have to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus. Please DO NOT come onto club grounds if you are feeling unwell, if you have symptoms of covid-19 or have been in contact with anyone who has.

Thank you all again and hopefully see you in the Club soon.

The Management Committee 

CSC Members Regatta Day

Dear All

Unfortunately Storm Ellen put play to last week’s ‘Members Regatta Day’ and hopefully Francis has also now passed so we are all set for some fun racing  tomorrow, followed by a bit of socially distanced craic.

The proposed format for the day is:

10.30 Junior Fun Race

13.00 Keelboat  Race

13.05 Dinghy Race

If you intend to participate and have not yet registered, please do so via the website, where you will also find the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

Outdoor bar facilities will be available from 13:00 – 21:00, with outdoor live music from 17:00 – 19:00

No food is available so feel free to bring snacks or a picnic.

Now for the safety stuff…

Coronavirus has not gone away and there have been reports of several local cases recently with businesses having been forced to close temporarily. 

Social distancing is an essential part of slowing the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and saving lives. We all need to play our part and keep our distance (2 metres where possible).

Please do not come to the club if you or anyone you have been in contact with are showing signs of COVID-19. The main symptoms are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Anyone who has already visited the club will know we are taking a list of names for contact tracking and tracing purposes. We also encourage you to download the free Stop COVID NI App.

A Risk Assessment has been carried out for the event and can be found on the website. 

Summer Series Racing 12th August to 3rd September – Bar Opening

Hello everyone 

We are delighted that we were able to commence a short summer series of racing this evening with a good turnout of dinghies enjoying a great race in near perfect conditions. The keelboats start their series on Thursday evening, 13th August. 

To welcome back our sailors and to celebrate the start of our long awaited summer racing, we are going to open the bar on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm until 10pm, until the series finishes on Thursday 3rd September. With the current restrictions this still has to be outdoors so unfortunately will be weather dependant. 

The forecast (so far) for Thursday is good so hopefully you will come down to enjoy the racing, with a few drinks from the bar. 

CSC Outdoor Bar Opening Hours 11th and 12th July

Further to last week’s email, Carrickfergus Sailing Club is pleased to announce that its bar facilities will be open for members on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July, from 14:00 – 18:00. The clubhouse remains closed and only the bar staff, cleaning staff and committee members will have access. We had a successful calm and dry day last Saturday, followed by a wash out on Sunday, so fingers crossed for a good weekend!

Restrictions on social distancing remain and we all need to stay alert and safe to prevent further waves. While we want you to have fun meeting up with friends we need to be mindful that coronavirus has not gone away so please see reminders below for your safety:

•        Stay 2 metres away from those not within your social or family bubble

•        Use the hand sanitiser, disinfectant spray and blue roll 

•        Toilets available within changing rooms, accessible by side door

•        Order your drinks from the waiting staff on the balcony, do not queue on the stairs

•        Keep your tables tidy, dispose of empties in the bins provided

•        Contactless is the preferred method of payment

•        Your names will be recorded for tracing purposes, these records are kept for 3 weeks

•        Only drinks purchased from the bar allowed, feel free to bring your own picnic or snacks

•        Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times

•        Continue to close the main gate on arrival and departure

These are not normal times and as we slowly start to edge out of lockdown we ask you all for your co-operation, patience and support as the situation we find ourselves in is new to us all. The Committee are working hard to restore as many facilities as we can, always in line with Government and RYA guidelines. It is great to see our sailors are starting to get back on the water and we continue to plan for a return to club racing as soon as we can. 

Things are changing so quickly and advice can sometimes change on a daily basis but our priority is to ensure the health and wellbeing of our members and of our staff. We will review the provision of the bar facility weekly and if social distancing is not adhered to we will consider closing again, until such times as it is safe to open up.

Please direct any 2020 Membership queries to membership@carrickfergussc.org

The Commodore and committee look forward to welcoming you back at Carrickfergus Sailing Club in the very near future. 

CSC Reopening of bar facility

Carrickfergus Sailing Club is pleased to announce that it is reopening the bar to members from Saturday 4th July. In line with the government guidelines, the only option at present (without serving food) is bar service in an outdoor area. We are lucky to have an extensive grass area with beautiful views and if the weather picks up again it will be a delightful area for our members to meet up, albeit socially distanced. The clubhouse remains closed and only the bar staff, cleaning staff and committee members will have access. Unfortunately, we are not yet in a position to offer catering, so for the time being we are only permitted to use an outside space to serve drinks. We hope to recommence catering soon.
Initially the opening hours will be 14:00 – 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays but this will be regularly reviewed. The temporary arrangements will only work if the weather is good so lets hope for a good summer…at least until further relaxation and government guidance.  Drinks cannot be ordered at the bar but members orders will be taken by the waiting staff at the balcony area. Drinks will be prepared by a member of bar staff and the waiting staff will serve at an agreed table.
Rather than presenting your bar card please advise the server of your number so discount can be applied. We have a new bluetooth card machine so contactless is the preferred method of payment.
We will naturally be observing all the government protocols on social distancing, hand hygiene and queues similar to how you see it in local shops and supermarkets. We will have hand sanitisers available for use and soap and water will be available within the toilets, as well as disinfectant spray and hand towels. The only toilets in use will be in the ladies and gents changing areas, accessible from the side door. There is limited capacity so you may have to queue.
There are picnic tables and other chairs available for use but please feel free to bring your own chairs or picnic rugs. Please bear in mind social distancing at all times, you should only be in groups from the same household or social bubble. Some members may be nervous about coming out again and we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable but more importantly, safe. Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult at all times. 
Only drinks purchased from the bar will be permitted on the premises. While catering is not yet available members are free to bring some food and snacks on the premises but please take your litter home or use the bins provided.
The premises are open to members only at this time. Names of those on the premises during the opening hours will be kept in case of tracing requirements, for a period of 21 days. Please DO NOT come into the grounds if you, or anyone you have been on contact with, are showing signs of Covid-19. If you show symptoms within 2 weeks of being on the premises please advise a member of the Committee. 
Please continue to close the main gate on arrival and departure.
These are not normal times and as we slowly start to edge out of lockdown we ask you all for your understanding, patience and support as the situation we find ourselves in is new to us all. The Committee are working hard to restore as many facilities as we can, always in line with Government and RYA guidelines. Things are changing so quickly and advice can sometimes change on a daily basis but our priority is to ensure the health and wellbeing of our members and of our staff. It is great that our sailors are starting to get back on the water and we continue to plan for a return to club racing as soon as we can.

The show must go on!!

Although the Ireland match had been cancelled we are still running our St Patrick’s Day Shenanigans! Drinks promotions and bar snacks during the Wales v Scotland match.
Then between 8pm and 10pm we have a FREE Supper, and drinks promotions and Irish themed shots! The craic will be ninety!!!