After considerable discussion during a conference call last night attended by all members of the Club executive, it was unanimously decided that the Club will be closed effective 4 pm on Sunday, March 29.

The lock on the gate will be changed and only one or two executive members will have keys.

The decision to close is based on the COVID-19 pandemic and the declarations of emergency made by the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto.

The delay in closing is to permit notification to all members and provide a brief period for members to remove their boats and trailers should they wish to do so before the Club is locked down. The combination for the lock on the Clubhouse door will be changed when the gate lock is changed. Please bring hand sanitizer. Or bring soap to wash your hands with lake water brought onto land. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Keep distance from any others.

Anyone with a catamaran on the beach is urged to move it to the catamaran parking area to the east of the Club road. High water is forecast for Lake Ontario and could occur during the period when the Club is locked down. Any catamarans left on the beach will be solely at the risk of the owner and the Club accepts no liability for any loss or damage to catamarans left on the beach.

All members are urged to make sure their boat is properly secured especially those with kayaks or canoes on the racks prior to lock down.

Spring clean-up is indefinitely postponed. 

The Club will re-open once government authorities indicate that normal activities can resume.

Norm Lamb

Chief Rat (Commodore)

Resources

Outer Harbour Sailing Federation

City of Toronto COVID-19

Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19

World Health Organization COVID-19 

A letter from the City of Toronto for Water Rats, April 9, 2020