The new Lockdown

Published 08:42 on 5 Nov 2020

On 5 November the Government replaced the 3 sets of regulations that apply within each tier of the Medium, High and Very High Risk Zones with a single set of regulations that require an England-wide lockdown until at least December 2. The new regulations prohibit people from leaving their homes (their primary residence) without "reasonable excuse". Among the "reasonable excuses" are:

• Buying goods from a business that is permitted to remain open (e.g. a supermarket)
• Taking exercise alone, with other members of their household or "bubble", or with one other person in a public outdoor space
• Visiting an outdoor public place for recreation with members of their household or "bubble", or with one other person
• Going to work, if it is not reasonably practicable to work from home

The new regs also restrict gatherings (defined as previously as 2 or more people being in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction or undertake any activity with each other). The restrictions on gatherings are:

• No one may gather indoors (unless it is with people who are all from the same household or "bubble")
• No one may gather outdoors with more than one other person (unless the people are all from the same household or "bubble"). Children below the age of 5 do not count to the total. When gathering with someone outside your household the existing guidance on social distancing should be followed.

There are exceptions to the above, but none relate to the activities of sailing clubs.

The main impact of the Regulations and Guidance on WWSC activities

• From midnight on Wednesday November 4^th the Club car park, boat park and Hut will be closed to members. Members should not visit the Club or their boat (if it is in the car park) until the lockdown ends unless to do so is essential. We cannot foresee why that situation would arise. Members may therefore leave their boats and equipment at the Club during the lockdown.
• The Hard is a public place and so members may visit their boat(s) there as part of a permitted outdoor recreational activity but only with members of their household or with one person and so long as when doing so they do not access the Club.
• The Club season has finished but, even if it hadn't, we would not be able to run any organised activities during this lockdown period as to do so would be unlawful.
• Members are advised not to travel to Snowhill and the Hard if they are not already at their West Wittering home (unless the visit is essential). Visits to a second home are not permitted (unless it is necessary for work or another permitted activity).

We have updated our Covid Policy to reflect these changes. We urge members to continue to comply with the regulations and guidance and so help the Club play its part in reducing the spread of the virus in the community.

Last updated 11:01 on 28 March 2024