MYC Jr Sailing COVID-19 Policies for Summer 2021

The goal of our MYC Junior Sailing is to continue to conduct the program in a safe and fun manner. We recognize that we are presented with a unique set of circumstances and challenges this summer. In order to keep the program running we will need everyone’s cooperation with the new guidelines. As the summer continues we may need or be able to make adjustments to the policies. Your participation in the program is an acceptance of these policies and any changes that may be made.

All of our policies are made in accordance with guidelines from the CDC, the JSA, US Sailing, and state and local governments. They may be changed at any time without notice.

Participation in the Program

By participation in the program, parents and guardians acknowledge their acceptance that their child’s participation in the Program may expose the child to COVID-19.
Participation in the Program is voluntary “opt-in.” The Program cannot guarantee that the child will not be exposed to risk.
The JSA waiver remains in full force and effect, and COVID-19 is considered a “Loss” as per the definition of the term within the waiver.
The Program reserves the right to request a secondary waiver from parents or guardians prior to the commencement of the Program.
The Program will not be responsible for monitoring the health of participants, but requests that all be forthright and vigilant to known/unusual symptoms.
Each parent/guardian is required to complete and sign a health questionnaire for each child daily. This will include a temperature check at home. The child must turn that questionnaire into the instructor staff each day before they will be allowed to participate in the program that day.
The Program reserves the right to conduct non-contact temperature checks on any child or instructor at any time. The Program will have a thermometer on-site. A child or instructor with a temperature in excess of 100.4°F will be dismissed for the day. Parents are requested to pick up a dismissed child immediately. The parent or guardian is requested to confirm temperature at home. Temperature must be below 100.4°F for 72 hours (without any medicinal effects, e.g. fever reducers) in order to return to the program.
A child who carries a temperature of 100.4°F or more for 72 hours will qualify for a pro-rated refund of program fees; such calculations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A parent/guardian must notify the program immediately if any sailor has had direct contact with an individual who has tested positive or has themselves tested positive for COVID-19. That child will be sent home from the program and asked to self-isolate for 2 weeks.
A child who tests positive for COVID-19, or who has a known exposure will qualify for a pro-rated refund of program fees; such calculations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
If a child, instructor, or family member becomes infected with COVID-19, decisions on how to continue, pause, or cancel the Program will be made at that time. Parents and guardians acknowledge that there are too many scenarios possible to predict a single response to this possibility.
Cancellation: Should the Program be cancelled while in session by events or directives outside the control of the Program, or due to a COVID-19 infection within the Program, a prorated refund for Program Fees (less a $175 fee, which will defray the operational expenses of commencing the program which include t-shirts, buffs, instructor training, and similar expenses) and Boat Charter Fees (if a boat is chartered from Milford Yacht Club; exclusive of any privately-made charter agreements) will be made to all participants.

Social Distancing and Physical Contact

Sailors and instructors will be expected to wear face coverings at all times on land.
Sailors and instructors will keep a social distance of 6 feet from one another when practical and possible.
All Opti and Laser sailors, including first and second year sailors, will sail alone in their boat.
Sailors are not permitted to touch each other. Instructors will remind sailors of that when necessary. It is an expectation that parents will educate their children on the importance of this as well.

Daily Operations

Sailors will use their own personal equipment exclusively for the duration of the program. There will be no sharing of equipment: boats, life jackets, clothing, etc.
Sailors will arrive at the program each day with all their essential items. Any sailor arriving without all essential items will not be able to participate that day and will be sent home. There will be no backups available through the program. Essential items include: Life jacket, Buff, Water bottles filled at home, Signed daily health questionnaire form
Sailors will arrive at the program dressed in their sailing gear and will leave the program dressed in their sailing gear. There will be no changing of clothes at the program.
All classes will be conducted outside. The JYC will be closed to sailors, with the exception of briefly depositing or retrieving items from their assigned cubby. In this instance groups of sailors occupying the building will be limited and staggered.
All cubbies will be emptied by sailors daily. There will be no lost and found during this time. Any items, including but not limited to life jackets, personal items, gear, or equipment, left behind outside of the sailor’s cubby will be disposed of at the end of each day.
Doublehanded boats will be allowed with the consent of the parent/guardian of both sailors. There will be no substitution or switching of partners allowed.
Groups will be limited to no more than 8 sailors.
Groups will not change or be combined for the duration of the program.
Each group will have a singular designated area for drop-off/check-in and pickup/checkout. Parents/Guardians are asked to remain in their cars to avoid clustering of people.
Launch and retrieval will be a scheduled and staggered operation to avoid clustering of boats and sailors, and is strictly enforced. Individual groups will launch separately.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be cancelled. This is to avoid large groups inside. A cancellation email will be sent by 7am in the morning should the program be cancelled that day.

Discipline

These regulations and procedures are for the health and safety of all sailors and instructors, as well as all MYC members and staff. Strict adherence to all regulations and procedures is expected at all times. Any sailor whose behavior compromises the health and safety of others will be addressed in the following way:

Infraction #1: warning by an instructor
Infraction #2: escalation to the Director of Junior Sailing; call home to parent
Infraction #3: escalation to Fleet Captain and Junior Program Chair; call home to parent and “final warning”
Infraction #4: dismissal from the Program. No refunds will be given.

Junior Big Boat Sailing

Junior Big Boat Sailing is postponed until further notice.

Regattas

According to JSA rules, any inter-club racing must be conducted without launching at other clubs’ facilities. We will work with other clubs to determine if inter-club racing is feasible, but, at this time, there are no regattas scheduled.

Milford Yacht Club will hold weekly series racing and events to simulate the regatta experience.