Letter from RYA

[Lightwave395]

"From Alistair Dickson, RYA Director of Sport Development

We are at the point in the Covid-19 pandemic where people are beginning to plan and look to the future and we just wanted to reassure you that the RYA is no different. Since the start of lockdown we have encouraged everyone to follow the Government’s clear guidance for people to stay at home and save lives and we would like to thank everyone for their support of this stance.

At the same time, in conjunction with other sports and agencies, we have been in constant communication with government to facilitate a return to boating as soon as practical and in accordance with any future government advice. We believe that as an inherently socially distanced outdoor activity, boating should be one of the first to restart as we emerge from lockdown.

We expect an announcement from the UK Government this week on their thinking on initial relaxation of current lockdown restrictions. We are now developing a ‘Return to Boating’ strategic framework which aims to create consistency across the boating community whilst also providing you with the freedom and autonomy to make decisions based on your own unique set of considerations.

In the meantime, we encourage you to start considering the following:-

How could your club facilitate activity which minimises the risk of transmitting infection? (including operating within any necessary social restrictions, adequate cleaning & hygiene measures and deciding which communal areas of the club will need to remain closed)

How can your club reduce the likelihood of a callout to emergency services? (enhanced risk assessment/management, maintenance and safety)

We will be doing what we can to support you through this process and we are planning a series of interactive webinars through our #SailFromHome programme which will attempt to address each point in turn.

As ever, we will be looking to capture and share examples of best practice and innovative thinking so please reach out to us if you have already made significant progress in this area.

I can assure you that the entire RYA is looking forward to a phased return to normality where boating can take place once again, hopefully sooner rather than later. We will keep you informed and updated with regards to our ‘Return to Boating’ planning and please do contact us if you have any feedback, questions or concerns."

 

[John_Silver]

A good day to drop your MP an e mail. Decisions are being made......

 

[russ]

Once we are allowed access to our boats we will need some kind of organised visiting times to our respective marinas, at least for a few weeks after lock down eases. Can you imagine 250 owners all turning up to SQ marina on the same days. Take into account there are no adequate passing points on pontoons and there will be restricted marina facilities.
Perhaps divide owners visits by odd and even numbers of their berths.

 

[[70521]]

Once we are allowed access to our boats we will need some kind of organised visiting times to our respective marinas, at least for a few weeks after lock down eases. Can you imagine 250 owners all turning up to SQ marina on the same days. Take into account there are no adequate passing points on pontoons and there will be restricted marina facilities.
Perhaps divide owners visits by odd and even numbers of their berths.

How many people visit your local supermarket each day?

 

[russ]

That's fine if being marshalled like the supermarkets do. Also there's no doubling back allowed along the aisles so no passing by each other as you would on the pontoons.

 

[Giblets]

I see the Irish Government have issued their 'road map' for lifting of lockdown restrictions. This link may be of interest to you folks: What Does the COVID-19 Restriction 'Roadmap' Mean for Sailing & Boating in Ireland?

 

[[165264]]

Hold one's breath when passing on pontoons?

 

[Dutch01527]

I think that people are adult and sensible enough to keep 2 m apart on a pontoon or whilst using a wash room. It is not rocket science.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Once we are allowed access to our boats we will need some kind of organised visiting times to our respective marinas, at least for a few weeks after lock down eases. Can you imagine 250 owners all turning up to SQ marina on the same days. Take into account there are no adequate passing points on pontoons and there will be restricted marina facilities.
Perhaps divide owners visits by odd and even numbers of their berths.

Most, if not all marinas have finger berths. Easy to step onto to allow someone on the main pontoon to pass 2m away. Not exactly rocket science.

 

[russ]

Most, if not all marinas have finger berths. Easy to step onto to allow someone on the main pontoon to pass 2m away. Not exactly rocket science.

I know it’s not rocket science but there some very ignorant people around as I experienced the weekend of lockdown.
It’s a long walk along one pontoon to the next pontoon with finger berths. Unfortunately we have to regulate for the lowest denominator.

 

[Greemble]

I see the Irish Government have issued their 'road map' for lifting of lockdown restrictions. This link may be of interest to you folks: What Does the COVID-19 Restriction 'Roadmap' Mean for Sailing & Boating in Ireland?

Good to see a Government actually making some plans ahead of time...

 

[Lightwave395]

Good to see a Government actually making some plans ahead of time...

And Guernsey:

Guernsey

Recreational boat owners in Guernsey will now be able to use their boats in local waters provided the latest weather forecast has been obtained, the vessel inspected before use and all surfaces and objects frequently cleaned. Social distancing must be followed with skippers only accompanied by members of their own household or, where the boat is large enough to allow social distancing, one other person from a different household.

Landing on Alderney, Sark and Herm is not currently permitted and skippers and crew are advised that they must self-isolate for 14 days if they make landfall outside of the Bailiwick's waters.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Recreational boat owners in Guernsey will now be able to use their boats in local waters

And the furthest distance they can travel to their boats is about 6 miles.

I guess we could have a similar restriction in this country to make sure it doesn't stimulate unnecessary travel.

 

[Cathy*]

I live over 200 miles from my boat and many of my fellow berth holders do not live within a few miles of the marina. I'm already p****d off that one berth holder has been allowed to spend the lockdown on his boat. When marinas open we should all have access.

 

[Stemar]

I think that some people are adult and sensible enough to keep 2 m apart on a pontoon or whilst using a wash room. It is not rocket science.

Fixed that for you

 

[syvictoria]

When marinas open we should all have access.

Come what may???

I think the cleaning (if carried out adequately) requirements might actually turn out to be more onerous than the social distancing, and both the Irish and Guernsey guidance make reference to cleaning.

 

[RJJ]

Once we are allowed access to our boats we will need some kind of organised visiting times to our respective marinas, at least for a few weeks after lock down eases. Can you imagine 250 owners all turning up to SQ marina on the same days. Take into account there are no adequate passing points on pontoons and there will be restricted marina facilities.
Perhaps divide owners visits by odd and even numbers of their berths.

No adequate passing points on pontoons...except for finger pontoons.

In any case, a bit of reality please. First, passing by somebody, outside, fleetingly is nearasdammit a zero-risk event in terms of transmission. Second, following lockdown the risk of infection in either party is low to begin with following social distancing in place since early March. Third, if you cared to visit a busy urban park or the Thames path at any point on one of those sunny days in April, you'd agree that even if everyone visits the marina at the same day and arrives and leaves at the same time, it's no big deal by comparison and for sheer force of numbers.

 

[syvictoria]

First, passing by somebody, outside, fleetingly is nearasdammit a zero-risk event in terms of transmission.

Granted it's a low risk, but not nearasdammit zero surely? Unless you get far more notice of an oncoming sneeze than I sometimes do...! Oh, and you've also got some inner ability to be sure that you're not asymptomatic/recognise those that are.

 

[syvictoria]

And everyone seems to be overlooking the ~72 hours that the virus can remain on hard surfaces, although granted, UV is supposed to deplete that somewhat.

 

[RJJ]

Absolutely nearasdammit zero, as long as you don't sneeze on someone. If you sneeze, use your elbow and face downwind. We sailors all know where the wind is, right?

Scientific journals are firmly indicating that transmission risk is heavily geared around being indoors or in confined space with someone for a period, especially at close quarters and if they are very close. It's to do with viral load; a normal exhalation (not a sneeze, cough or shout) doesn't contain many viruses nor project them far.

If you pass someone outside say 1m away, fleetingly, you might be exposed to 1 breath. The chances of that breath containing enough viral load, such that your inhalation captures it and then infects you, is near-zero. (You might get a tiny number of viruses; your nose and throat are a hostile environment for viruses and it takes a hefty dose before you hit any noticeable probability of infecting yourself, hence the "extended period" proviso).

And wearing a mask, even a tea-towel over your face, reduces the risk even more. And if both parties wear a mask, you can dance a jig on the pontoon if you want.