Using HOAC During Covid-19

Please remember it’s your responsibility to follow government guidelines with regards social distancing and self-isolation, particularly if you feel unwell or are in a vulnerable group or in contact with anyone who is. If you are in the vulnerable group or are showing any of the symptoms please do not visit the centre, you will be required to sign a document agreeing to this when you arrive.

You shouldn't come to the centre if you have

• high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• Been classed as high risk

We intend to remain open for as long as it’s safe to do so, and feel we are able to keep both customers and our staff, as safe as possible whilst engaging in outdoor activities which will enhance their mental well-being.

Before arrival

• HOAC is open to pre-booked members only, membership deals are available on our website. No onsite bookings are available
• Everyone must book a time slot in advance using our website
• If you are hiring HOAC equipment you will be designated a timeslot for your visit, please adhere to your times.
• For members who are using club boats or your own boat, you will need to book a timeslot for your arrival, once on site you can stay for as long as you wish until the centre closes at 5:30pm.
• At this time, we are unable to have hirers under the age of 8. Parents must stay onsite for anyone under 14.
• HOAC is only hiring kayaks, canoes, SUP's and katakanus at this stage

Arriving on site

Whilst we have been on lock-down HS2 have put security on the lane to limit protester activity. For users to access the centre now they will need to show their membership card and/or a booking confirmation. Please do not attempt to visit the centre without pre-arranging first as casual visitors will not be able to access the centre.

• Where possible please arrive by car, bike or on foot and avoid using public transport. You will be required to show some form of ID on arrival.
• All arrivals should follow the signage to our side entrance and park in the new area at the rear of the boat park. If you arrive more than 30mins prior to your time slot please wait in your vehicle.
• The vending machines will be out of service until further notice. Please bring with you your own snacks and drinks and where possible take your litter home with you.

 On Site

• Please follow the floor markings. Collect yourself a buoyancy aid, before waiting to sign in and be allocated your equipment. (see diagram below)
• Where possible please come dressed ready to go afloat. You need to think about either travelling to/from the centre in your watersports kit or getting changed by your car. There will be no access to the changing room. If these are required in an emergency, please contact a member of staff and keep your distance from others using the governments 2m guide as a minimum.
• If you are changing at your car, please bring the means to do so with decency for the sake of yourselves and other customers (and from a safeguarding perspective if younger customers are on site). Consider investing in a changing robe – which will also help you keep warm too
• Toilet facilities are now available
• We are unable to offer wetsuit or cag hire at this time.
• We cannot look after any valuables or keys at this time
• Do not congregate in groups anywhere onsite. The wet area and shelters will remain closed to assist customers to stick to this. Picnics and spectators will not be possible.
• Please follow the signage and markers around site to assist you with social distancing.
• Please do not enter any buildings, and please respect those living on site by staying away from the onsite caravans
• Those taking equipment afloat should where possible able to launch and recover themselves as the duty staff will not be permitted to assist (unless in a case of emergency) For sailing dinghy’s being sailed single-handed to abide by social distancing, participant may find it easier to launch and recover from the furthest slipway from the log cabin. Those from the same household can assist them with launch and recovery.

What are HOAC doing to keep you safe

As well as the measures above we are enhancing our cleaning to help protect our staff and customers by:

• Increased cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces and handles.
• HOAC equipment hired will be cleaned/disinfected after each use.
• Please help us by leaving any used HOAC buoyancy aids in the box provided by the log cabin for cleaning.
• We ask all customers to regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or sanitizer gel before arrival and once you return home and to cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze, dispose of tissues and wash your hands. We have two sanitizer stations, one on arrival and one at the log cabin.
• We hope with these measures we will be able to continue to operate however if these procedures are not followed we may have to make the decision to close the centre.
• Please be aware that our on-site staff all live together so do not be alarmed if you spot them not social distancing from each other.