National Calendar of Events

18 August 2020

Dear Optimist Parents,

SA Sailing has asked the Committee to engage with our membership and get some insight into what the class suggests for the Class National Championships.

• Would you be in support of the Class Nationals remaining as part of the Youth National Championships format? YES/ NO
• Would you support a stand alone Class National Championships at another time and Venue? YES / NO
• Is December a good time of the year for your family to attend the Nationals? YES/NO
• Please suggest 3 possible dates for the competition.
• Please suggest the next venue keeping in mind the event would need to rotate.

Please Reply to this mail when you’ve had time to look at  the options and discussed it with your sailors. I’m looking forward to your responses.

Regards

Shellee

083 626 7597

optimistclasssa@gmail.com

26 June 2020

Dear Members

To answer everyone questions first…. As of now there is still no answer from Ministry on our application, and with the deadline only ending at midnight, there is not likely to be any news or updated issued today.

On our regular touch base with the Government this morning, we know that they have started the process and have received a large number of applications. We also note that by their announcement of the 24th They have reviewed soccer and given them the go ahead, this is so far the only federation to have received this which may mean we in for a bit of a wait still.

As much as the water is calling everyone out to it, we continue to urge and remind everyone to please be patient. We are not allowed to be out there under the current laws and we can only get out there on Ministries approval. As you will note by their attached communications (esp page 2), they are seeing this in a very serious light and we would really like them not to have any further reason to keep us off the water and use examples of regulations breaches to deny the application as submitted.

You will also note in these coms the very specific requirements that they are asking sport to compile under. We have addressed all of these in our responds and application and are hopeful that it will be accepted.

We have kicked off the process with clubs, and they are working away on getting the necessary reviewed and in place currently. The hope is that by the time we hear back on our application, clubs will be in a position to signed off as compliant as quickly as possible to get everyone sailing.

Once again, we thank you for your understanding and patience

Kind regards
SA Sailing

18 June 2020

Dear Members

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s update on Wednesday 17 June 2020 non-contact sport will be allowed to commence. Following lobbying by SA Sailing over the past month our sport was classified as a non-contact sport in the Sports regulations issued on the of 11 June.

We have engaged with the Department of Sport this morning, whom have confirmed that the announcement does not currently amend the sports regulations as was released last week.

In order to commence sailing, we were required under these sports regulations to make application around very concise requirements. We have now completed and submitted our application and need to wait till the closing date of 26 June for the Minister of Sport approval.

Please note that as of today we cannot commence sailing however the wait for a few days for final approval is key to the successful return of our sport.

SA Sailing will today be communicating with clubs, sailing schools and classes to explain the detailed protocols to be put in place in order for sailing to commence. We will work closely with the clubs so as to be in a position to open clubs once we have the necessary approval. These requirements are there to protect all our sailors and to contain any spread of the virus.

Lastly, we appeal to all of our members to be aware of the severe consequences of this virus which is still rapidly growing in number of new cases across our country and has already taken the lives of some of our members. It is the responsibility of each one of us to ensure that we adhere to the regulations and assist our sailing venues to maintain protocols to stop the spread of this pandemic.

Kind regards

SA Sailing