Racing during the COVID 19 Pandemic

CURRENT STATUS: ORANGE TIER – Crewed Racing permitted, masks not required provided all crew are vaccinated.

The YRA has been working closely with the U.S.C.G. since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to develop a reasonable and safe set of procedures for continuing racing during the ongoing threat of the virus.

We were all caught off guard as the pandemic hit in early 2020 and it stopped yacht racing on SF Bay in it’s tracks. We are much more prepared as we head in to 2021 and have learned how to mitigate risks and still enjoy our sport. To that end, the YRA has developed a set of guidelines which lay out what type of races we will run under the color coded tier system here in California.

As an organizing authority headquartered in Solano County, the YRA will be following the current health orders/tier status of Solano County to determine what type of race we will run. These guidelines will be updated as necessary as the course of the pandemic changes and county and/or state orders are revised. We encourage all organizing authorities to follow these guidelines and to follow the tiered status of the county they are headquartered in to determine what types of races they can run.

Please check back frequently for updates.

You can download the complete Guidelines HERE

If the county status/current tier is…
County Status: California State Regional Stay at Home order in effect:

• Canceling or postponing races is preferred.
• If an event is held, Single handed, or Same-Household-doublehanded crews only, are OK.
• No pre or post race activities.
• RC is limited to a sole individual or volunteers from the same household.
• Races should not count for a series unless the series is designed for singlehanded or doublehanded crews only, regardless of the county Covid Status.

County Status: Widespread / Tier 1, Purple tier:

• Racing is limited to singlehanded or double handed crews. Doublehanded crews from two separate households are OK.
• RC is limited to 3 households. Race committee members must practice social distancing.
• Masks are required for all participants unless ALL crew on a boat are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• Masks are required for all Race Committee personnel unless ALL personnel are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations
• Crewed divisions can opt to race double handed but races do not count for a series.
• No pre or post race activities.

County Status: Substantial / Tier 2, Red tier: 

• Crewed racing is OK. Crews must wear masks at all times unless ALL crew on a boat are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• Crew should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
• Limit crew below deck to one person at a time for the duration of the sail (including pre and post race).
• Race committee members must wear masks and practice social distancing unless ALL personnel are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• No after pre or post race activities.

County Status: Moderate / Tier 3, Orange tier: * CURRENT TIER

• Crewed racing is OK. Crews must wear masks at all times unless ALL crew on a boat are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• Crews should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
• Race committee members must wear masks and practice social distancing unless ALL personnel are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• Host yacht clubs can be open for outside bar service or take out only and must follow the bar and restaurant guidelines of their county.

County Status: Minimal / Tier 4, Yellow tier:

• Crewed racing is OK. Masks are recommended unless ALL crew on a boat are 2 weeks post fully completed vaccinations.
• Crew should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
• Host yacht clubs can open for inside bar service with a limit of 50% capacity and must follow the bar and restaurant guidelines of their county.

In addition to the above guidelines for what type of race to run under each tier. We have worked with area clubs and the USCG on the following guidelines for how to run safely run races during the pandemic.
Guidelines for Organized Regattas during COVID-19

In the interest of the health and safety of race organizers, race committees and regatta participants, the following guidelines are recommended for running races during the COVID-19 pandemic. Races must be run in compliance with the current county and state health orders in effect for the organizing authority’s county of residence.

Race Committees/Race Management

1. Race Organizers must ensure their regattas follow the current health orders and social distancing requirements for their county.
2. Per CDC Guidelines, if all members of the race committee are vaccinated, facial coverings are not needed, however people should still wear masks when out in public areas.
3. Race Committees should be comprised of the least number of people needed to safely start and finish a race.
4. When more than 1 person is on the race deck social distancing measures must be adhered to.
5. Race Committees should maintain a Contact Logbook tracking which volunteers are on the race committee, including their county of residence.
6. Race entrants should be limited to single-handed divisions or crewed divisions where all persons on board have been sheltered in home at the same residence, unless the current county orders permit mixed household outdoor activities.

Race Committees may want to consider:

• Consider having All RC personnel take a self-administered health screening the morning of a race. Anyone with an elevated temperature or anyone exhibiting other symptoms should stay home.
• When appropriate, consider using only sound signals and omitting flags to minimize the number of people needed to start a race. Use of VHF Radio to announce courses and starting sequences is highly recommended.
• Consider using programs such as RaceQS to track finishes, or asking participants to text finish times to the race committee.
• Consider using a scoring program or other system that allows racers to maintain a crew manifest for contact tracing purposes.
• When possible, consider using fixed marks for race courses to avoid the need for more than one committee boat.
• Consider offering Non-Spinnaker divisions for family crews.
• Modifying sailing instructions to allow the use of hand signals for important hails as facemasks may impair the ability to hail.
• Race Organizers should consider designating a flag to indicate “Penalty Accepted” or some other method of accepting penalties to avoid a protest hearing.

Regatta Participants

1. Participants in a regatta must ensure they are following their current county health orders and social distancing requirements.
2. Per CDC Guidelines, if all members of the crew are vaccinated, facial coverings are not needed, however the crew should still wear masks when out in public areas.
3. When at their marina, launching their boat and putting their boat away, racers must comply with social distancing and health/safety protocols posted at the site and any other restrictions, including prohibitions, on access and use established by the Health Officer, government, or other entity that manages such area to reduce crowding and risk of transmission of COVID-19.
4. Crews should be limited to only those who have been sheltered in home in the same residence, unless the current county orders permit mixed household outdoor activities.

Racers may want to :
• Consider taking a self-administered health screening the morning of a race. Anyone with an elevated temperature or anyone exhibiting other symptoms should stay home.
• Maintaining a Contact Logbook tracking who is on the boat for each race including their county of residence.

Protest Hearings

1. Protest hearings should be handled via Zoom or some other remote platform when possible
2. Protest Hearing procedures should be added to sailing instructions.

Skippers Meeting/Post Event Parties

1. Skippers Meeting should be held via Zoom or some other remote platform, unless the county is in a tier that allows group gatherings.
2. No pre or post-race in-person gatherings or activities may be planned unless the county is in a tier that allows group gatherings.