The IVF is there: here is the protocol for the resumption of the activities of clubs and sailing schools

Phase 2 in Italy also means a, gradual, return to sports activities, and sailing is one of them. The question that all enthusiasts are asking, beyond the many and sometimes confusing regional regulations that we have summarized HERE, is how we can get back to doing activities within the rules but above all following a safety protocol that guides us in our actions. Also asking for it are the many sailing schools and clubs that now see their most important season just around the corner.

The answer came from the Italian Sailing Federation and President Francesco Ettorre With an official safety protocol, recognized by the Ministry of Youth Policy and Sports, intended for all clubs and nautical bases affiliated with FIV but which, in our opinion, can be a guideline for all those who want to start again, safely, to practice our sport.

The crucial points of the Protocol, you can read it HERE, which we summarize below, were explained by President Ettorre during a press conference broadcast live on the Federation’s social channels. The document’s guidelines offer a useful tool for clubs, coaches and athletes, equipped with specific advice, on hot topics such as sanitizing social venues and boats, social distancing, conducting educational activities on land and at sea, activities for sailors with disabilities, and more generally on how to deal with, taking into account the health emergency, this initial journey back to normalcy. On the subject of sanitization in particular, agreements will be announced soon for companies to purchase at a subsidized price the necessary principals to make the venues serviceable.

During the press conference, however, not only the protocol was discussed, but also many other hot topics for the sailing community. Ettorre was quick to clarify one point: “Athletes of national interest, i.e., Olympians, will resume activity immediately although with limitations especially in travel between regions that are not allowed. Then he will gradually resume basic activity. Land directions in the latest DCPM in some realities has been twisted by regional regulations, some have expanded activities and others have also opened sports facilities, generating much confusion. The main rule, contained in the DCPM, is that the ateco code of companies is not entered, so these must remain closed. At the regional level, some entities have decided to let the clubs’ outdoor spaces be used for a gradual resumption of activities. We remind everyone that the opening of companies must be done in accordance with ministerial guidelines. Today we sent guidelines to the companies, to give them clear tools on how to move safely. The protocol, which is currently valid until Jan. 17, however, does not authorize opening, mind you, this should be clear, unless regional or national devices intervene. Regional initiatives unfortunately did not give clubs time to bring clubs into compliance, now protocols need to be put in place and quickly, regardless of whether regional regulations have come along that have created confusion” Ettorre pointed out.

One of the hot topics at the press conference was, of course, also the world of offshore racing, on which the president explained, “is the activity that definitely has the most problems and we can hardly think of dates before mid-July to resume activities, in this case there is an objective problem of spacing, at the end of May we will have some more indication. We are not just thinking about the Olympians, the offshore is an important beacon of ours, it will take time to see if the spacing can be reshaped to allow more or less crews to be in the boat together. It must loosen what is the grip of distancing and increase mobility. The distancing in even the healthiest regions will not be loosened in a few days. So we are thinking about multiple scenarios, such as racing with crews reduced to 70/80%, which might be fine for offshore but for example not for monotypes where it would be impossible for technical reasons. We are trying to work on multiple scenarios, and the high ground will probably not have just one. Reducing the number of crews is obviously one avenue, but serological testing as soon as they have definitive reliability is also one of the avenues we are looking at, and of course that of sanitation and personal devices. The distancing could last much longer, and it is essential to think of new ways. Everyone will have to sign the self-certification required by the Federation and the Ministry about their health status, this must be done regardless of what kind of sailing activity you do, offshore, dinghy or whatever. Instead, it is unrealistic to be able to track the movements of every athlete as is done in the world of other professional sports.” Ettorre pointed out.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROTOCOL

• Sanitation standards: ban on individuals with flu symptoms entering facilities; ban on the use of communal bottles; requirement for frequent hand sanitization with devices available at the entrance to venues; ban on physical contact of any kind; daily sanitization of social spaces and vessels; ventilation of enclosed places
• Sailing activities allowed only in facilities that can provide onshore spacing between the people involved of at least one meter
• Locker rooms and technical areas accessible only to athletes and coaches and sanitized frequently with a ban on leaving duffel bags or other personal equipment on site
• Self-certification on one’s health status
• entry of one person at a time into the secretariats
• Mandatory face mask when training is not taking place and disposable gloves
• only coaches can be present with the athletes during practice
• Meal consumption only in open areas with social spacing of at least one meter
• brefing and theoretical lectures only outdoors and with spacing, teaching materials will be strictly personal and not sharable with others
• for athletes with disabilities, an assistant to the athlete, if any, is equivalent to the instructor and must wear disposable gloves and mask

Mauro Giuffrè

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