Sailors head back to the water as COVID-19 lockdown is eased

Boating is slowly returning to parts of the UK as coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased two months after lockdown.

- Robert Harding/Alamy

As PBO went to press (1 June), sailors in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland were allowed to go day sailing, although no overnight stays on board were allowed unless the vessel was the owner’s permanent residence.

In Northern Ireland, it was recommended day sails should be limited to a maximum of four hours, and skippers should keep Belfast Coastguard informed of vessel movements.

In Wales, only those with direct access to their boats within a five-mile radius of home were able to go sailing with their household. This was expected to be reviewed on 18 June.

Marinas and yacht brokerages have also started re-opening in parts of the UK as long as there is compliance with the government’s social distancing and hygiene guidance. The National Coastwatch Institution has reopened all of its lookout stations around the English coast. To comply with guidelines, each station is being manned by one volunteer at a time. The Cruising Association warned boaters that many facilities, such as harbours and marinas, may not have had time to implement safety measures, and advised sailors to check.

On English inland waterways, both the Canal & River Trust and The Broads Authority have opened for short boating trips.

The Canal & River Trust expected navigations to reopen fully by 1 June, subject to some local exemptions. Those who don’t liveaboard can’t stay onboard overnight.

The Environment Agency, which controls navigations such as the rivers Thames and Medway, initially only allowed sailing and other non-powered water sports to resume. Boat owners could visit their moored boats and were urged to book a Boat Safety Scheme check to ensure all was well. All leisure boating is expected to resume during June.

Common sense

For some, the return of boating is too early. In a survey on PBO’s Facebook page, 56% of over 300 respondents said it was too soon.