Today ERCU Race Coordinator Jerry Dunlap heard from Jim Hagen that Snohomish County has closed Twin Lakes Park and cancelled all events there through May 20, due to the Coronavirus outbreak that has brought the state of Washington to its knees.

Additionally, Fort Steilacoom Park (home of Waughop Lake) in Lakewood has locked gates at its entrances, so the Jack Regas Memorial being held on its original date of April 18 is unlikely at this time.

As a result, the ERCU Board of Directors today made the decision to officially postpone the first four races of the season. Effective today, all races between April 4 and May 20 (Champion Spark Plug Regatta, April 4; Jack Regas Memorial, April 18; Diamond Cup, May 2; and Fred Leland Memorial, May 17) are postponed.

We've made this decision out of the proverbial "abundance of caution", for the best of our members and the public.

Jerry will work to reschedule these races later in the summer if at all possible.

Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available in this ever-changing situation.

Thank you for your understanding.

Fellow Boat Racers & fans of ERCU,

Greetings to each of you, and I hope you're staying healthy.

Word came today from the City of Centralia that Fort Borst Park will not be fully available to ERCU on April 4, as originally scheduled. With that, the ERCU Board of Directors has agreed to postpone the season-opening Champion Spark Plug Regatta to a future date.

Centralia's parks director said we could use the park for our race, but city services to unlock gates and restrooms, as well as provide emergency services should we need them would not be available to us.

At this point, it does appear that we will be able to run the Jack Regas Memorial at Waughop Lake in Lakewood on Saturday, April 18. Stay tuned for confirmation as that date gets closer.

We are continuing to monitor conditions at all of the race sites we currently compete at and will keep you all updated as spring gets started and we close in on the 2020 ERCU Racing Season.

Thank you for your understanding.

Nelson Holmberg, Chair
ERCU Board of Directors

Fellow Boat Racers & fans of ERCU,

With the ongoing concern over containing the spread of COVID-19, the ERCU Board of Directors has been closely following events, recommendations by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and regulations by Governor Inslee’s office.

With our first race of the season set for Saturday, April 4, we are paying close attention to these issues with the safety and health of our members and spectators in mind.

Since there will easily be fewer than 250 people in attendance at the event, we are not subject to the Governor’s order that events with 250 or more attendees be canceled or rescheduled.

It is our recommendation, at this time (and we do reserve the right to change if conditions warrant) that we keep the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, and all other races, as scheduled until the crisis period is over, or a different decision is made by the board.

We offer the following conditions, in order to keep fairness in place for all, for all scheduled ERCU race events through the duration of the crisis:

1. The race will be run and conducted by all in attendance at the event.
   
2. Anyone who feels uncomfortable or unsafe attending the event is encouraged to stay home.
   
3. Anyone who would have to self-quarantine as a result of attending the event is encouraged to stay home.
   
4. Anyone who is feeling symptoms of ANY illness is urged to stay home.
   
5. The Board of Directors has suspended ERCU high points activity until the Governor’s office and State Department of Health gives an all-clear order. This is being done with the intent to keep universal fairness so that those who cannot, or choose not to, attend events are not penalized the opportunity to win a high points championship.
   
6. If the crisis continues through the entire season, there will be no high points championships awarded for 2020.
   
7. Conditions will continue to be monitored throughout the remainder of the crisis period and if changes to this recommendation are warranted, the club board of directors will reconsider.
   

Further, for those who do choose to race, we issue the following stipulations:

1. We urge “social distance” (no handshakes, fist bumps, high fives, etc., unless BOTH parties are comfortable doing so).
   
2. Keep conversations at least an arm length, if not as much as six feet, apart.
   
3. Sneezes and coughs should be covered by a cloth, paper towel, Kleenex or into your elbow sleeve or upper arm sleeve.
   
4. If you use non-latex gloves for paint/glue work in your shop, consider bringing gloves with you to use at the race site.
   
5. Lysol will be sprayed on the keyboard of the computer, club printer, and any other community surfaces, as appropriate throughout the day.
   
6. WASH YOUR HANDS thoroughly throughout the day or use hand sanitizer with 60% or more alcohol content regularly throughout the day.
   

This a very serious issue, and we want all members to know we are giving it the highest level of consideration for the health and safety of our members. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns with this decision.

Thank you.

ERCU Board of Directors

Rick Evans ran his brand new 1980 Evergreen Roofing for the very first time at our test session on Sunday, March 8. There were multiple other new boats tested that day as well, including the 1987 Oh Boy! Oberto, the 2013 Graham Trucking, the 1985 American Speedy Printing (in primer) and Robbie Roberts' 1988 Sutphen Spirit. It was a great day that stayed relatively cold, even though the fog lifted off the lake enough for guys to run between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Jerry Dunlap also tested his boats, including the Rick Evans-owned, Dunny driven 2015 Dalton Industries.