It's official we can now go sailing again!

[Little Grebe]

I suspect they leave it on 24/7 including when in their home marina and owners are back at work.

Sometimes when on hard as well

 

[Brooksie89]

Was that really necessary? So tired of the internet police.

 

[DJE]

There were a couple of transponders on yachts that went to Newtown Creek on Saturday, stayed there all evening and then stopped transmitting at bed time.

 

[DJE]

Was that really necessary? So tired of the internet police.

I thought I had made the point in post #341. Agree there was no need to name names in public.

 

[FlyingGoose]

Going for a sail , dropping the hook in an anchorage not going ashore, staying the night, does not spread a virus ,
I suspect most boast owners are intelligent to know this
Holiday homes and caravans by their nature are crowded together , and have a lot of socialising could spread a virus
Going to ones holiday home, were you will need to go shopping, no doubt walking, visiting sites could potential spread a virus
A boat is not a holiday home or caravan and is not listed in the regulations, so a grey area.
Travelling hundreds of miles over several days to keep up with the maintenance on the boat, as it is into the season now is silly and does not conform to the same rules as Holiday homes and parks ,were you go for one journey and then stay there.
So A boat owner is been IMHO discriminated against and lumped together without though and reason with other holiday homes , and to be honest it is still a grey area.

I am registered disabled and cannot drive back an forward to my boat over the days or it will seriously affects my health, does the disability discrimination act cover me , as a reasonable adjustment must be made for me . who knows but I am sleeping on my boat ,

I do not have the virus as 70 + days in lockdown, my family do not have it , my car does not have it , my cart does not have it my boat does not have it , and I will find a remote little place were not a soul lives and anchor off and actually have myself and my family in a more safer place. how does that work out

 

[bdh198]

Going for a sail , dropping the hook in an anchorage not going ashore, staying the night, does not spread a virus ,
I suspect most boast owners are intelligent to know this
Holiday homes and caravans by their nature are crowded together , and have a lot of socialising could spread a virus
Going to ones holiday home, were you will need to go shopping, no doubt walking, visiting sites could potential spread a virus
A boat is not a holiday home or caravan and is not listed in the regulations, so a grey area.
Travelling hundreds of miles over several days to keep up with the maintenance on the boat, as it is into the season now is silly and does not conform to the same rules as Holiday homes and parks ,were you go for one journey and then stay there.
So A boat owner is been IMHO discriminated against and lumped together without though and reason with other holiday homes , and to be honest it is still a grey area.

I am registered disabled and cannot drive back an forward to my boat over the days or it will seriously affects my health, does the disability discrimination act cover me , as a reasonable adjustment must be made for me . who knows but I am sleeping on my boat ,

I do not have the virus as 70 + days in lockdown, my family do not have it , my car does not have it , my cart does not have it my boat does not have it , and I will find a remote little place were not a soul lives and anchor off and actually have myself and my family in a more safer place. how does that work out

I agree 100%. Just make sure you turn your AIS transponder off! It’s not a good look having lots of pink dots in pretty anchorages on MarineTraffic late at night.

 

[Little Grebe]

The latest NTM from Weymouth is 'interesting'

As far as I am aware no other harbour authority has felt the need to specify who you can and cannot have onboard or limit where you can go to.

 

[Blue Sunray]

The latest NTM from Weymouth is 'interesting'

As far as I am aware no other harbour authority has felt the need to specify who you can and cannot have onboard or limit where you can go to.

Should he try to enforce some of those rules I can see Mr Howorth getting a very quick Latin lesson starting with Ultra Vires.

 

[Little Grebe]

I imagine the lifting bridge gives them a greater sense of control...

 

[Yealm]

After launching I had several rigging issues to sort and so arrived at my river mooring late this evening, exhausted, and not keen on the 40 min row to the shore. I was tempted to sleep on the boat, then realized that my visible tender would give the game away if the authorities came by !
I looked closely at all the other boats and not one tender in sight so looks like everyone else on the Yealm was obeying the rules..

 

[longjohnsilver]

After launching I had several rigging issues to sort and so arrived at my river mooring late this evening, exhausted, and not keen on the 40 min row to the shore. I was tempted to sleep on the boat, then realized that my visible tender would give the game away if the authorities came by !
I looked closely at all the other boats and not one tender in sight so looks like everyone else on the Yealm was obeying the rules..

What authority would the authorities have to prevent you from sleeping on your own boat?

 

[Babylon]

Run up a yellow jack then turn in for the night...

 

[bdh198]

What authority would the authorities have to prevent you from sleeping on your own boat?

“If” (and that’s an argument for another post) you were considered to be in breach of the regulations (by being outside of the place you are living without a reasonable excuse) then the only people who can enforce the regulations are the police.

Here is a good interpretation (from a public law barrister) of what the legal position is likely to be: Coronavirus Restrictions: local authority enforcement powers - narrower than you might think

Although that was written on the 9th April, there is nothing in the subsequent amendments to the Regulations on the 22nd April or the 13th May that would alter that interpretation.

Therefore, harbour authorities have no enforcement powers under the Regulations to tell you to move. Of course, if they find you and the situation turns confrontational then they may just call the police. Politely apologising and offering to anchor round the corner may be a better approach if they start getting difficult.

 

[Yealm]

“If” (and that’s an argument for another post) you were considered to be in breach of the regulations (by being outside of the place you are living without a reasonable excuse) then the only people who can enforce the regulations are the police.

Here is a good interpretation (from a public law barrister) of what the legal position is likely to be: Coronavirus Restrictions: local authority enforcement powers - narrower than you might think

Although that was written on the 9th April, there is nothing in the subsequent amendments to the Regulations on the 22nd April or the 13th May that would alter that interpretation.

Therefore, harbour authorities have no enforcement powers under the Regulations to tell you to move. Of course, if they find you and the situation turns confrontational then they may just call the police. Politely apologising and offering to anchor round the corner may be a better approach if they start getting difficult.

Do the harbour authorities have any responsibly under the rules? Eg if lots started sleeping on their boats, might they close the river/harbour again?

 

[Little Grebe]

Based on the RYA advice I believe the closing of the various rivers and harbours was something the respective authorities chose to do rather than something they were required to do under the legislation

It was rather disappointing that none of them appear to make use of the seven weeks available to them to plan for when the reopening would eventually happen.

Unfortunately I would not be at all surprised if a harbour authority tried to close down the river again for the reasons described.

 

[bdh198]

Do the harbour authorities have any responsibly under the rules? Eg if lots started sleeping on their boats, might they close the river/harbour again?

They can only act within their existing powers. Therefore, they can only close parts of the harbour area or ban staying on board while moored to a buoy in that part of the harbour they have authority over. Best thing is to speak to the relevant harbour authority and check if they have implemented any restrictions or notice to mariners in their area. If they haven’t specifically restricted that activity then whether you are staying on board on a buoy or at anchor is not within their powers to police.

Anchoring can also raise some interesting questions in regards to the powers of harbour authorities and it is not uncommon for harbour authorities to not fully understand the extent of their powers, as this previous thread in regards to anchoring up the river Yar on the Isle of Wight shows: Anchoring up the river Yar?

 

[greeny]

After launching I had several rigging issues to sort and so arrived at my river mooring late this evening, exhausted, and not keen on the 40 min row to the shore. I was tempted to sleep on the boat, then realized that my visible tender would give the game away if the authorities came by !
I looked closely at all the other boats and not one tender in sight so looks like everyone else on the Yealm was obeying the rules..

Pull the tender up alongside and not streaming behind you so it's not so obvious. If any one comes to "disturb" you, explain you had difficulties that delayed you leaving and when you looked at the risk of staying onboard overnight and going home in the morning, against a 40 minute row ashore in fading light, the lowest risk to you as an individual was to stay overnight. The risk to others in you staying overnight was nil. It's common sense and it would not be difficult to justify your decision. If common sense failed to work, what is the "official person" going to do with you?
I think he would look pretty stupid if he escalated it, and turfing you off the boat in the middle of the night for a 40 minute row would be considered downright dangerous.
You could also have noted in the logbook that you had carried out the risk assessment and the assessment process had clearly indicated to you as the skipper and master of the vessel, that staying onboard was was the most prudent action under the circumstances. Let them fight that one in court.
I would have stayed and b****r the consequences.

 

[ProDave]

Just say a migraine came on and you were not fit to travel.

 

[Yealm]

Just say a migraine came on and you were not fit to travel.

great idea!

 

[wombat88]

I went sailing last Friday, it was idyllic. I tried to go yesterday but the slipway and shore was so full of families enjoying the sun that there was no chance of properly socially distancing oneself.

I understand why they are there but I am not going to waste the hassle of weeks of isolation just to get a few hours on the water.