Coronavirus: Cruising Yacht Club Australia Darling Point closed over case
UPDATED: The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will remain closed following news a second member of the Darling Point club has coronavirus just weeks after the vice Commodore tested positive.
Wentworth Courier
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The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, home of the world famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race, will remain closed for at least another week and all racing this weekend is cancelled following news another member of the club has tested positive to COVID-19.
The Rushcutters Bay club notified members in an email on Friday it has decided to remain cautious and keep the club closed until at least August 21 with the clubhouse to undergo another cleaning.
On Thursday it was learned a member had been diagnosed with COVID-19 but had not been at the clubhouse. However, her partner had sailed twice (Sunday and Wednesday) and attended a committee meeting on Tuesday night.
On Friday another email informed members a second member has tested positive.
“We have therefore sought guidance on how to deal with this from NSW Health and they have advised that as the Club has only recently reopened there is no need for further action on our part other than cleaning the Clubhouse,’’ Commodore Paul Billingham said in an email.
“We are also advised that those persons who have been in close contact with the member have been contacted by NSW Health and asked to test and self-isolate – to date those persons who were tested yesterday have returned a negative test.
“Well, last time this happened we were far more cautious than we needed to be and closed for an extended period – so we will continue to be cautious and today the Board decided the following:
“We will, once again, clean the Club;
“The Club will then remain closed for 7 days and a decision made next week on its reopening from Friday 21 August;
“The balance of the Winter Series (Winter Series Race 10 on 16 August and Women’s Winter Series Race 2 on 23 August) will be cancelled;
“Youth Sailing Academy activities will be cancelled until Sunday 23 August; and
“Tender service will be cancelled this weekend while the Club is being cleaned, resuming Monday 17 August.’’
The club was shut down a fortnight ago when vice Commodore Noel Cornish and his partner both testing positive to COVID-19.
Hundreds of sailors underwent testing in the wake of the news.