The big news is that Bangor Marina opened at noon on Tuesday 19 May following strict safety protocols. There will be a different feel to the experience as the staff and customers still have to conform with social distancing rules. The full conditions are the subject of Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 2020, all Skippers/berth-holders will have been informed of the rules but for the army of winch grinders, galley slaves, foredeck expendables, stainless steel polishers and head unblockers the full text of the notice can be read here. Boatfolk has also produced a very informative  COVID-19 leaflet. Please respect the guidance and stay safe.

A huge congratulations and happy birthday to Michael McKee who turned 90 yesterday and was treated to a socially distanced chorus of “Happy Birthday” by some of our members! Many Happy Returns Michael!

The sailing committee and officers have been looking at the effect of the current pandemic on the clubs sailing programme in 2020.

With the current Government advice in mind it has been decided to cancel or postpone all sailing at RUYC until at least the end of May 2020.  We are currently monitoring all advice and will review this decision as the situation develops.

Should things ease we will work at putting together a revised programme for members, similarly if there is no let up, we will postpone events as necessary.  This is done to ensure the safety and health of the members.

The events that are affected are:

• The Easter Cruise in Company
• Spring Series
• Opening Day
• First 5 Thursday nights of the early season points
• The Ardglass Race, &
• The Round the Copeland Islands Race

Our regatta is currently planned for the 13^th June 2020 and we are going to approach the Lough Conference to try and move our regatta to the 11^th July, when hopefully we will be in a position to hold a successful event.

In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy

Jim Coffey

Hon Sailing Secretary

Further to Monday night's Government statement and the subsequent curbs imposed, we have no choice other than to close the club, with immediate effect, until further notice.
 
The General committee will continue to review any further instructions from the Government and take whatever action is appropriate to comply.
 
While the office will now be closed to members, Nicole will still be working from home and will be contactable via email at nicole@ruyc.uk, or in the case of something urgent, the club office office phone has been redirected to her mobile.
 
The health and wellbeing of all our members and staff is paramount and we thank you for your support and understanding during this very challenging time.
 

The Club Officers and General Committee have over the last few weeks been actively considering what steps should be taken in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions being generally imposed.

Regretfully the decision has now been taken that the Club’s catering and bar facilities have to be closed with immediate effect from tonight the 18th of March.

The Club itself will still be open between 0900 and 1630 daily for those who want access to the Office or Snooker Room.

The scheduled Saint Patrick celebrations and the Quiz on Thursday are the first social events to fall victim to COVID - 19.

Upcoming events are:

• Mothers Day next Sunday. Please note in the interests of hygiene it will be table service, not a Buffet/Carvery as previously announced.
• Club night talk on Wednesday 1st April, Hal Sisk "Back to - the future - Dublin Bay 21's."
• Ladies Lunch Saturday 4th April.
• Easter weekend and monthly Sunday Carvery 10th - 12th April.
• Easter cruise in a company on Belfast Lough.
• VE day 75th Anniversary Ball on Friday 8th May.

Given the current crisis, it would be impossible to predict the outcome of some or all of these events. Be assured the Officers will be meeting regularly and monitoring Government advice to make the best decisions possible.

 No doubt in some cases prudence will prevail so if members decide to cancel a booking please inform Catering sooner rather than later.  
 02891465002 or email michael.mcginn@ruyc.uk.

Objection to Planning Application

The Rear Commodore would like to draw the attention of Members to the lodgement by King’s Fellowship of an Amended Planning Application for their site at the junction of Seacliff Road and Ward Avenue.  Unfortunately very little has changed from their original proposal to make it anything like appropriate and acceptable not just for the Club but also for the area as a whole.

Members who sent in letters of objection to the original Application may be assuming that their objection is automatically carried forward and will apply to the Amended Application.  Unfortunately that is not the case and it is necessary to send in a further letter of objection to the Applicant’s new proposal even though little has changed.  It is also open to Members who may not have objected to the original Application to now do so in relation to the Amended Application and they are encouraged to make the effort and do this.  The more objections that are submitted then the greater are the prospects of preventing this completely inappropriate development for the area.  Click Here for suggested content of objection letters

Details of autumn and early winter entertainment are now on the Social section of the web site including three more quiz nights and three Club Night talks.  Please note the Club Nights are now on the first Wednesday of each month.

A few snippets gleaned from Ed Wheeler's Pictorial History of the Club.

1919 - The Club was attempting to resume a semblance of pre-war activities.  The Minutes show good co-operation with the Ballyholme Sailing Club (not yet Ballyholme Yacht Club) in the matter of starting guns, co-ordination of fixtures etc.  This is Ballyholme YC's Centenary Year - long may the good co-operation contiunue!

From Wednesday 6 September 2017 the Coastguard will no longer broadcast on VHF 23, 84 and 86. It will instead use VHF 62, 63 and 64. The use of VHF Channel 10 for MSI and pollution control (back up) is unchanged.

There is more information on the changes on the RYA web site: Click Here