Medway to Blackwater next weekend - ok?

[stu9000]

I have been reading various threads and links for ages but am not yet clear on what the current limits of the lockdown are.
Sorry to rehash this but Im looking for clarification ahead of a planned trip this coming weekend.

It seems we can go sailing but can I stay on board overnight?
Not in a marina. But at anchor in some quiet corner?

My plan is to sail very early Sat morning up to the Blackwater, anchor somewhere fairly quiet and then come home Sunday afternoon.

I could not find anything on the Peel Port website.
The Port of London Authority website urged caution but did not mention overnight stays
Boating on the Thames / Port of London Authority

Bradwell Marina website cites they are open.
Ill give them a call tomorrow.
Bradwell marina

Is there a Blackwater river authority website where I can check local interpretation of the regs.

Thanks

 

[LONG_KEELER]

AFAIK marinas are not accepting visitors at the moment.

Some my well argue the case, but only day sails from your home port are permitted.

 

[Greemble]

Some will argue the case, but only day sails from your home port are permitted.

Fixed.

To stay within the spirit & intention of the 'rules' (guidelines, recommendations, whatever you care to call them), it's as said - Day sailing only, from & to your own, regular marina/boatyard/mooring.

Sorry

 

[stu9000]

I have read the government guidelines and don't want to start another back and forth debate based on wishful thinking.

What official sources are there offering guidence on the Blackwater.

 

[LittleSister]

The national guidance is here -
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do

The national law is here -
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020

 

[tillergirl]

There is no River Authority as such. Maldon has a Water Baliff and Maldon has Maldon Harbour Improvements Commissioners. The Harbour area starts just upriver of the Heybridge Lock. West Mersea has no harbour authority but is 'run' by a cooperative (i.e. setting up and paying for the buoyage and lights).

So there is no 'directions' about the Blackwater as such. You would have to ring Bradwell marina. As to West Mersea, there are plenty of spare moorings at the moment but to get ashore you need a dinghy. The Club launch cannot pick up visiting yachtsmen or women at the moment. The issue is to ensure social distance on the launch, only 4 members a time can be facilitated so it is already a difficult operation. If you bring a tender to come ashore there are some rules about the use of the Hammerhead and causeway (social distance, right of way) which could be added.

Nice anchorage at Osea, nice anchorage in Thirstlet Creek, nice just inside Lawling Creek, nice just below Southey Creek

 

[stu9000]

The national guidance is here -
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do

The national law is here -
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020

Thanks. The key word, as far as I can tell, in the "law" is the "reasonable excuse".
6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave [F8or be outside of] the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

A reasonable excuse can be ...
to visit a public open space for the purposes of open-air recreation to promote their physical or mental health or emotional wellbeing.

The Bradwell Marina website home page states in large red text "we are pleased to be open again".
I gave them a call and they fedback advice that people should not be staying overnight, not just in the marina but anywhere.

The RYA cover this, albeit sympathetic to sailing, but obviously having consulted legal professionals.
They highlight a difference between the law and guidance.
Coronavirus - advice and information for recreational boaters | News | News & Events | RYA - Royal Yachting Association

Teachers are about to go back into schools, without PPE, spending all day with 15 primary school kids.
Golf and a wide range of other activities such as Kayaking are permissible.
Yet Brazil is in meltdown and we have the highest deathrate per capita... er... bar none.

It is very confusing.

None of this will help me if a uniformed officer of the law is writing out a fine for me.
So I guess I have to, reluctantly, adhere to the "guidance".

 

[stu9000]

There is no River Authority as such. Maldon has a Water Baliff and Maldon has Maldon Harbour Improvements Commissioners. The Harbour area starts just upriver of the Heybridge Lock. West Mersea has no harbour authority but is 'run' by a cooperative (i.e. setting up and paying for the buoyage and lights).

So there is no 'directions' about the Blackwater as such. You would have to ring Bradwell marina. As to West Mersea, there are plenty of spare moorings at the moment but to get ashore you need a dinghy. The Club launch cannot pick up visiting yachtsmen or women at the moment. The issue is to ensure social distance on the launch, only 4 members a time can be facilitated so it is already a difficult operation. If you bring a tender to come ashore there are some rules about the use of the Hammerhead and causeway (social distance, right of way) which could be added.

Nice anchorage at Osea, nice anchorage in Thirstlet Creek, nice just inside Lawling Creek, nice just below Southey Creek

Brilliant Tillergirl. Thanks a s always.

 

[Concerto]

stu9000 might I suggest what you could do. Sail into the Thames and go round Shivering Sands Towers and return to anchor in Stangate Creek. The following day sail over to Southend and back to Red Sands Towers and back to your mooring. Not quite the same as going to a particular place, but still challenging enough distances to blow out a few cobwebs. I do know a number of boats have been anchoring in Stangate without any problems. Remaining close to your home berth would certainly seem more sensible than trying to flout the intension of the law by visiting a distant anchorage.

 

[PeterWright]

The RYA cover this, albeit sympathetic to sailing, but obviously having consulted legal professionals.
They highlight a difference between the law and guidance.
Coronavirus - advice and information for recreational boaters | News | News & Events | RYA - Royal Yachting Association

Interesting. While there is an important difference between law and guidance, my understanding (I'm not a lawyer) has always been that if you fail to follow guidance issued by a statutory authority, it is up to you to demonstrate that what you have done is as good or better than following the guidance. Our law makes extensive use of the word "reasonable", then issues guidance which they deem to be reasonable, leaving citizens free to adopt other approaches which can deliver an equivalent outcome to the guidance. Seen in that light, guidance has rather more weight than the word alone would suggest.

Of course, I would hope that something like a passage across the estuary for a night at anchor would never end up in court for this to be tested. Nonetheless, our government, like others, is clearly struggling hard to manage the effects of this pandemic so, personally, I prefer to follow the guidance issued rather than start arguing "that's not law" which, if widespread, will only result in the government putting more into law.

Peter.

 

[GlennG]

Plod have got enough on their hands than dealing with some maritime curtain twitcher.

Sailing's confinement is over. Next stop get everyone back to work to earn their taxes to pay for the 2020 spring holiday.