Hello everyone
We hope you and your families remain safe and healthy during this challenging time with the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic. We cannot believe it has been over 10 weeks since we had to temporarily close U Sail Bermuda this past March. We are pleased to announce today our plans on reopening the centre at the beginning of July.
Working with Bermuda Government covid-19 guidelines, we have adjusted our booking system to start taking bookings again from July 3rd. Of course, we are very much optimistic that we can all get back out on the water and enjoy the sport that we all love.
We may not be able to run at full capacity initially but will do our best to provide the on-water activities that you want to do with us.
To those who have had bookings over the last months, we have been in contact with you to offer alternative arrangements and we appreciate your patience as we move on into the new norm.
Stay Positive and be patient
Of course, we have missed seeing you all and our seasonal staff team, but we are all getting ready to live the ‘flip flop’ life in the sun on Harrington Sound. We want to see many happy faces coming off the water after enjoying a fabulous sailing session.
There is a balance to everything that life throws at us individually, even as a company, but most important is your health and safety is our priority. Over the next couple of weeks, we shall adjust to a new way, when we can all continue to enjoy the sport of sailing.
We realize that we will need to carry out certain adjustments to gain people’s trust and confidence by having the necessary covid-19 protocols in place. We want to make sure you have the best time with U Sail Bermuda, whether that is having a tuition session, hiring a sailing dinghy, or becoming an instructor with us.
We are applying in U Sail Sailing centre, new safe-operating covid-19 procedure available before we open in line with government guidelines and all attendees will be required to complete an additional covid-19 health declaration.
Adapting to the future
We have as before many varied programs and courses, all of which are on our exciting revised website, www.usailbda.com please see the changes below:
We will have these activities in suitable boats to be in line with government guidelines (disinfecting protocol, social distancing, etc) but look to use double handers for family within the same household, close friends and for those people who to sail together where possible (social bubble) are encouraged. For all other participants as soon the government guidelines permit.
Our summer 5-day activity weeks will be with boats again suitable to the current government advice. In particular, the watersport’s week and beginner sailing week will be using the RS Zests single handers with double handers being used for participants in the same family/close friends and those who are happy to sail together. This is very likely to change with amended government guidelines moving further along into phase 4. The windsurfing weeks will run normally depending on the wind conditions.
We shall still be offering equipment hire including our hour by hour or multi-hire session packages, but we ask that you please book online through our upgraded website for your time slot and avoid just walking into the centre if possible.
As we do not have the capacity to issue each student with a separate manikin due to an increased risk of close contact of transmission of covid-19 on first aid courses, we have taken the difficult decision to suspend face to face first aid training until 1st September 2020, when we will reevaluate the situation.
However, for anyone who has a RYA First Aid certificate which has expired after March 2020, an automatic extension is granted by RYA headquarters until September 2020. We also have the capability of running a 1 year online 2.5-hour extension course via Zoom, valid with your expired certificate.
With our Easter Dinghy and Start Windsurf instructor training courses postponed; we intend running them around August. A RYA Powerboat Instructor & Skills Assessment course will be added on request. Please await further details.
All students and instructors are to wear face coverings while on a powerboat level 2 course as in close contact for extended periods of time, even though all training will take place outside on the water only. Theory items may be covered remotely. A bottle of spray disinfectant will be carried to wipe down controls between student and instructor touch point.
Book Now with Us
We encourage everyone to book online through our new website www.usailbda.com . If a course is not able to run, we will offer a full refund in the form of a gift voucher to be used on a later booking. For the summer months until October, we would like to offer a flexible deposit booking of 50% of your course cost to confirm your space and then not pay the full balance until 6 days prior to the course start date. If you prefer not to take up your space on the course, we will issue with a gift voucher to be used on future courses in the next year.
We know these times are unsettling and uncertain as to what the future holds but we want to build the confidence and trust of our customers that your health and safety is our paramount concern. We really appreciate you supporting our family-established sailing centre and all the team at U Sail Bermuda are looking forward to having you back at the centre and sailing on Harrington Sound.
Please keep safe and healthy and see you very soon.
Thomas Penruddocke
MD, Activities Director
U Sail Bermuda
