(Annapolis, MD)- "As the new dates for the Annapolis NOOD regatta draw closer, we are working hard to make plans to accommodate all the new Covid 19 regulations imposed by State of Maryland, and local Annapolis authorities, as well as the Annapolis area yacht clubs. Our goal is to ensure we have a great sailing event and most importantly, a safe sailing event. The landscape in which we find ourselves is ever changing, so planning is more difficult than usual, but rest assured we are doing our best to pull this off.
No doubt you have questions and we will try to address those and share what we know to be the plan to date. We will not mandate any in-person meetings or gathering, including registration. All waivers, payments, etc., will be completed online. We are working on ideas on how to distribute skippers’ bags, so stay tuned for information on pickup schedules or something similar.
With all confidence, we can tell you that there will be no organized social events post sailing during the NOOD regattas. State regulations prohibit large gatherings, so however disappointing it seems, we will adhere to those guidelines. Save your dancing shoes for next year – we will go big!
Together with AYC we have agreed to reduce the number of boats needed to form a class. Please refer to Amendment 1 to the NOR posted on Yacht Scoring. Note that smaller classes may be sharing starts but will still be awarded trophies by class. Hoping to make room for anyone that wants to sail.
Awards MAY be hosted via ZOOM and prizes will be left at AYC’s Sailing Center for winners to claim. Linda Ambrose, AYC’s Harborside Director has been kind enough to offer to facilitate the “giving of swag” since we cannot host an awards ceremony in person. More information on this as we get closer to the event.
Regarding whom you crew with, how many you crew with, masks or no masks – none of this is up to us to decide. We will confer with our co-OA Annapolis Yacht Club as to what the current (at the time of the event) state and local government regulations are regarding recreational boating and those will be the guidelines. All of this will be posted and reposted closer to the event.
Launching – please make sure to confirm the policies of your launching location whether a boatyard or yacht club directly with that entity.
Annapolis Yacht Club has welcomed visiting yachtsmen to their Main Clubhouse during NOOD for years, but not this year. We support their current policy of not allowing non-members to obtain guest cards and use the Main Clubhouse facilities. Members are welcome to have non-member guests join them for lunch or dinner at the Club while visiting Annapolis, but those of us that are not members will refrain from visiting this year. The AYC Sailing Center will be open for locker room use as well as ice purchase if needed. At this time, masks will be required upon entry to any AYC facility and while addressing any AYC or NOOD representative. Hand sanitizing stations will be onsite at the Sailing Center.
Lastly, we are excited to get back on the water with you. Annapolis Yacht Club has proven successful at getting racing going and conducting safe, fun, competitive races so we are confident in our partnership. With the help of AYC we have been able to offer a one-time-only discounted entry fee for the Annapolis NOOD. We will be posting a lower than normal entry fee, with a nod to all that isn’t happening this year and will refund a portion of full fare entries that have already paid as well as any social passes purchased. If for any reason the regatta does not occur as planned, all entries will be refunded in full. We just hope those that are comfortable will come out to play. More to come, stay safe and sail fast." Sailing photo credit- Paul Todd/ Outside Images. For more Annapolis NOOD Regatta by Helly Hansen sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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