Well, this is definitely not what we had hoped for. All that beautiful sunny weather we have had this spring has a downside: we have a low-water year. We should be full and we are over 5 feet down (you can follow the water level here). The hoists are almost unusable and the tower ramp doesn't have much water. The the north ramp by the Youth Building does have plenty of water and most of the slips have enough water. We have had the occasional low water year and survived just fine.
Having said that, we are now living in the World of Covid-19. And that changes everything. Eugene Yacht Club is still partially closed. What does this mean for you? We are okay with members coming out, but we ask that you stay out of the clubhouse and stay out of the restrooms (we have a couple of port-a-potties so please use them) and stay off the playground. Also, you need to do all the social distancing stuff that we know is necessary: six feet apart and masks while on shore. If you get on a boat, please do so only with your own household members. Bring your own hand sanitizer, etc. We are not allowing members to use club-owned boats (paddle board and kayaks, too) right now but privately-owned craft are okay.
EYC is a social club. Half of what we do is get people on the water and the other half is gathering socially around our common interest in boating. So it is heart-breaking, but we have cancelled all club activities up to July 5th. This includes our Memorial Day Regatta, an event that goes back into the 1940s, the Live on the Edge Multihull Regatta, Sail School (which we did even in the summer of 20015 when the Corps rebuilt the dam thanks to the leadership and imagination of Directors Rene and Lynne Fabricant and Commodore Gale Morgan), and the Fourth of July with all of its fun activities and fireworks.
Is there hope? Of course! Lane County has entered Phase 1 of a reopening plan, and Oregon is in better shape than many other states. Hopefully our shelter-in-place perseverance and determination will get us through in time to enjoy each other's company at the club in the not too distant future.
The Board is making adjustments because of Covid-19 as fast as they can. Here are some important changes to be aware of:
The requirement that moorage holders mow and maintain the area around and under their boats and boat trailers (Rule 16) will not be enforced in 2020.
Sail School vouchers will be good for an additional year.
Work Party hours which are normally 16 hours per membership per year will be amended to 20 hours per membership for the two-year period from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021.
People are still doing work party work. You can contact Marji Clune by email or text or phone her at 541-554-2660 (please add your name to any text messages) and she will get you scheduled for a task when no one (other than someone from your household) is around and social distancing can be practiced. A ton of thanks to all the people who helped those huge piles of styrofoam and concrete disappear, and to all those who are making all our docks work, especially Paul Stephens and Gordon Mattatall.
And for clarity on what it is okay to do when we do fully open up? I have no idea. But stay tuned. Our goal is always to get people on the water, and we will communicate changes as soon as we know. And please, pay your accounts—EYC's bills have not gone away.