Ahoy All,
Here's good news from Wildwood CA. Waterway to open for non-motorized watercraft May 21. Enjoy! Donal O'Connor WSC Commodore From: Paul Switzer <switzerp@thamesriver.on.ca> To: Donal O'Connor <donoconn@bell.net> Date: May 17, 2021 at 2:58 PM Here is an update on the current plan for opening. With the extension of the stay at home order we have had to delay camping until June 3rd. We will be starting to charge dayuse admission fees on May 21st for access to the trails. The reservoir will be accessible for non-motorized watercraft (canoes/kayaks) at that time. Motorized watercraft will not be permitted until the stay at home order is lifted due to the volume of traffic it would generate. We are asking cottagers/ sailing club to refrain from using motorized watercraft at this time. Current water levels and lack of rainfall this spring are causing concern for boating this summer. Information is being developed this week on water levels and the restrictions that could impact watercraft this summer if the current trend continues. I will forward this information as soon as it's available. If you have any questions let me know. Paul Switzer Superintendent Wildwood Conservation Area Ahoy All Sailors, Please find attached a message sent to me by Wildwood CA Superintendent Paul Switzer. It addresses current Provincial restrictions regarding COVID-19 that will delay all access to the reservoir until sometime after May 20 and sets down procedures for safe use of park trails. I'll just add here that it's not a bad idea for club members to include a walk around the marina as part of a recreational trail walk over the course of the next few weeks. Sailors on site from time to time can be a deterrent to other wanderers who may not have the best of intentions. Stay tuned and stay safe, Donal O'Connor WSC Commodore Ahoy Sailors,
Most unfortunately for our sailing season preparations, the extension of the current Provincial stay-at-home order to May 20 means our tentative May 8 Docks Put-in and Clean-up Day must be postponed. And given projections for the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus in the short term, there seems little value at the moment in setting another tentative docks installation date. As with every other recreational club, our WSC executive committee will be monitoring the evolving situation with regard to the virus. Once the go-ahead for outdoor group activity is declared by public health authorities and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, we will set a date for docks installation and notify you. Stay Safe, Donal O'Connor WSC Commodore Ahoy Sailors,
Just a few days ago days ago I had a very different newsletter in mind, one welcoming everyone to better times and an expected full sailing season at Wildwood Sailing Club. Thursday's lockdown announcement by the Province, however, echoes last year's uncertainties and puts a bit of a damper on our plans. The immediate setback for WSC is that all of our club activities, including our Docks Put-in and Clean-up day scheduled for April 24, must be put on hold. A province-wide restriction of no more than five people gathering at a time for the month of April means our docks installation must await the green light from the province, our Huron-Perth Health Unit and Wildwood Conservation Area. Of course, we are hoping that the current rollout of vaccines and the shutdown will soon outflank the worrying spread of COVID-19 and that we will be able to safely install our docks a bit later this spring. Saturday, May 8 is a tentative target date that's supported by our Docks Director Hans Rosch and Past Commodore Les Leonhardt. Grounds clean-up activities can be very flexible with tasks undertaken by individuals or quite small crews under the general leadership of Grounds Director Phil Christie. Social Director Bernadette Kowalchuk, meanwhile, is looking after cautionary signage for our club premises and we will be paying close attention to Wildwood CA regulations and regional public health directives as far as that is concerned. It's only prudent as well to mention here that social distancing and mask wearing are still highly recommended in social groupings of any size and I think we can agree it's important not to let our guard down even in our idyllic, outdoors setting. At this time -- and until further notice -- I also urge all club members to limit on-site social gatherings and food sharing beyond their "household bubbles." As of today, April 1, Wildwood Conservation Area anticipates opening of the waterway for public use May 1, but its website notice does add "This is subject to change without notice if provincial restrictions are put in place." (The notice was placed well before this week's announcement.) Although we must apply the brakes -- head straight to wind -- on group activities at the marina, boaters are free to check on their boats, make repairs and spruce up their crafts as desired. With any luck regarding our revised docks target day of May 8, our sailing season could well start by mid May. As we progress into sailing mode, members are reminded that we have experienced a number of thefts and attempted thefts at the marina in recent months and that it is up to each of us to minimize theft opportunities even as we continue to expand on-site photo monitoring. I will post additional information as the situation unfolds. And, by the way, my welcome to the sailing season still applies! Donal O'Connor WSC Commodore |
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