Club treasurer Anne P writes: Thank you to those who have sent their updated membership details and new subscriptions.
We hope to have everyone’s subscription and an up to date membership list by the end of May.
Click here to download the membership form. It has been updated to take account of associate members (£20) and add the fee for junior rowers who are on an individual membership (£20). Thanks to the eagle eyed members who spotted the omission. We’d be grateful if Honorary members could also complete the update form. Please use the email address treasurer@queensferryrowing.org.
If you’ve already sent in your form, there’s no need to send it again.
(Barbara also thanks the eagle eyed members who spotted that the form on the website was already populated! All fixed and updated now.)
Club vice-captain Marianne writes: Tomorrow is the big day! The City of Edinburgh moves to Level 2, and so those of us aged 18+ can join our youths rowers in a return to rowing.
Youth rowers out on the water
The SCRA has issued new advice, and we are confident that our Return to Rowing Protocol is in line with this. It’s been a while since we were out, so please reread the updated Return to Rowing Protocol.
Points to note:
We need to continue to sanitise the boat before taking it out, and wash down after, EACH TIME. Everyone needs to take part.
Coxes should continue to wear a face covering, although if the cox and stroke agree, then the cox does not now need to wear one. Coxes – please respect the view of the rower in stroke.
Stick to timings.
The Shed remains closed.
All booking for rowing should be done through Mike Breewood. (mikebreewood(at)gmail.com – thanks Mike!)
Please remember that, as we have seen before, coming out of lockdown can be a fragile process and indeed not all parts of Scotland are moving to Level 2. Stick to the protocol. We can all do our bit in making sure we keep each other safe, and continue to be able to get out rowing.
Mike B writes: Finally, we are able to get ready to row once more!
As we did last Autumn, we will be asking members to allocate or confirm themselves to a particular category for rowing – those who are happy to row with other members who have General interaction with others (such as those who are dealing with the public); those who would prefer to row with members who have a more Limited interaction with others; and those who would prefer to row with members who have been, or are, Shielding.
Following this email, I shall email those in each of the categories using the lists from last Autumn. I would be grateful if the members of each category could email me DIRECTLY at mikebreewood@gmail.com to confirm that they are happy to be in a particular category or to nominate a different category for themselves.
A happy crew last Autumn
Social rowing slots will be defined, based on tides, for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings (whilst we have the long light evenings) and for Saturdays from 09:00 and Sundays from 13:00.
I shall allocate social rowing slots to each of the categories described above and email members of the relevant category advising of slot timing and inviting members in that category to take a space in the crew for the slot. Spaces in crews will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sunday mornings will be reserved for Youth team rowing. Outwith the Social rowing times, boats may be booked by self-selecting groups at whatever time best suits them, subject only to the booking not impacting on times for Social rowing.
Booking requests for such groups should be emailed to me directly and I shall enter them into the relevant boat calendar.
There may well be glitches as we get going again so I’ll ask for your forbearance in advance!
Club treasurer Anne P writes: With the prospect of rowing almost upon us, the committee have agreed that it’s now the right time to renew subscriptions.
Along with subscriptions we are asking that members complete an updated member information sheet for the season ahead.
Please click here to download the form (it’s in an editable Word format). Return it, along with fees, either electronically or by snail mail as you prefer. Details are in the document.
If you are renewing your membership, please aim to do this by the end of May. If you decide not to renew your membership and would like to tell us why, the committee would find this helpful for future planning.
Marianne and Dónal write: The possibility of rowing is now becoming imminent, with a likely return date of Monday, 17 May. The Committee, Return to Rowing subgroup and Mike Breewood have met to discuss what processes should be followed for those who wish to row.
Peter, Lois, Oisín, Aaron and videographer Alexander on a recent row. It was part of Oisín’s Higher PE practical assessment.
The Committee has decided to continue with the processes used last summer, when we had a brief period of rowing. This includes the hygiene protocol we used before, during and after rowing. There will continue to be no access to the Shed.
Mike has kindly agreed to continue to help us organise rowing. Mike will contact all members to ask you to confirm which of three Groupings you wish to be part of. These are
Direct contact with public
More limited public contact/working from home
Shielding
Social rowing slots will be offered for these groupings (depending upon the tides on any given day) and members in each group will be offered the opportunity to put their name down for a particular slot – with crews being filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Committee has decided that social rowing will be offered on three evenings during each week (whilst we have the long, light evenings) as follows, subject to tides:
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
Saturdays between 09:00 to 13:00
Sundays – 13:00 to 17:00
Sunday mornings from 09:00 to 12:00 will be reserved for the Youth Team rowing. Youth members can row at all other club times too of course.
Covid-safe coxing last year
Outwith these social rowing times, the boats will be available to book by self-selecting groups, for the slots available during each week day and on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
Sessions will continue to be separated by half an hour.
As we’ve said, the Committee has asked Mike Breewood to manage the booking process on their behalf. He will be contacting the membership to confirm the grouping that they would wish to be part of (for social rowing) and will advise each grouping of the slots available during the social rowing times. Members should then contact Mike directly to put their name down for any particular slot. He will post the crew list for each boat/slot in the relevant Google Calendars. Please do not try to insert details into the Ferry Lass and Ferry Maid calendars directly – you won’t be able to!
A representative of each self-selecting group should contact Mike directly if they wish to book a slot during week-days or week-day evenings outwith Social Rowing evenings.
These plans, as always, remain subject to change. The Covid situation continues to evolve and we need you to continue to be patient while we process further Scottish Government and SCRA advice as it comes out. It does, however, look as if rowing is something we’ll be able to enjoy very soon!
