RYA leads call for immediate access to marinas

[RJJ]

Light aircraft have legally required checks to maintain their airworthiness certificate. Boats don't.

This isn't that sort of country. We don't sit around doing only what the law permits; we do what is responsible and reasonable. Thank goodness we don't have seaworthiness tests for small pleasure craft; despite which, it's my responsibility to keep the boat seaworthy for my crew and for other seagoers.

 

[James_Calvert]

http://news.rya.org.uk/interface/external_view_email.php?AJ932889908882218210541133555218&varId=

Just received my emailed members' copy

 

[Lucky Duck]

I followed the link to general advice, the sentence highlighted in bold in the marina charges section was interesting.

Marina Charges

We have also seen a surge in calls and emails from people who are suddenly facing significant price increases from some marina operators even though they cannot access their boats. Many who have been on winter contracts are being told that fees will be increased to summer rates from 1 April. Some who were due to move their boats have been told they will move to a daily rate until they do so.

This issue has been raised with TYHA who have coordinated discussion within the industry and it is understood that many marina operators are now in dialogue with berth holders and taking a reasonable approach. The RYA advises boat owners to monitor the website of the marina where their boat is kept and to enter into dialogue with the marina manager. Any members needing further help on this issue should email cruising@rya.org.uk.

Edit - the section by the RYA's tame insurer reference gradual ingress of water type exclusions isn't particularly reassuring

As mentioned, insurers are always concerned when boats are left unattended for long periods of time and most insurance policies will include conditions relating to “keeping the boat in a seaworthy condition” and exclusions relating to “lack of maintenance” and “gradual ingress of water”. In the current lockdown, the majority of us will be unable to visit our boats for long periods and there is an obvious risk that losses may occur which would usually be preventable through regular attendance and maintenance. With this in mind, Bishop Skinner Marine is currently speaking with insurers about how they will react to these types of claims and we will try our hardest to ensure our clients are not penalised for claims that result from factors over which they had little control due to the restrictions in place

 

[Simon__]

I followed the link to general advice, the sentence highlighted in bold in the marina charges section was interesting.

Very interesting. I’m currently in that situation at Kip marina but they’re taking a more pragmatic approach by charging the winter rate pro rata for April & May. However, they’ve mentioned this is unlikely to continue into June as it’s unsustainable for them.

 

[chrisharris]

I followed the link to general advice, the sentence highlighted in bold in the marina charges section was interesting.



Edit - the section by the RYA's tame insurer rather gradual ingress of water type exclusions isn't particularly reassuring

Yes I thought the same re the insurance. I am always nervous if insurance companies say its up to the underwriters (at the point of a claim....)

 

[Aja]

Very interesting. I’m currently in that situation at Kip marina but they’re taking a more pragmatic approach by charging the winter rate pro rata for April & May. However, they’ve mentioned this is unlikely to continue into June as it’s unsustainable for them.

If you were only contracted to be there on the hard for the winter they will have to give you the option to launch and leave.

Where you will go to is another question though.

Donald

 

[lw395]

Which apparently doesn't apply to the owners of light aircraft, among others

Some of those 'private' aircraft are doing trips that the late lamented Flybe might normally have done.
Some others are people travelling for business who might normally use the train.
Mate of mine has been quite busy doing private charters.

I don't know how widespread this is.

 

[Simon__]

If you were only contracted to be there on the hard for the winter they will have to give you the option to launch and leave.

Where you will go to is another question though.

Donald

I’m afloat so could potentially leave but whether I should leave (risk I’m potentially putting others under if an accident occurs - and they’re called accidents because we don’t expect them to happen) is another question altogether. As you say, where would I even go? A swinging mooring was my plan but that was on the assumption I could check on it every week, not leave it there for months on end.

 

[awol]

Very interesting. I’m currently in that situation at Kip marina but they’re taking a more pragmatic approach by charging the winter rate pro rata for April & May. However, they’ve mentioned this is unlikely to continue into June as it’s unsustainable for them.

You're lucky - if old man Holt was still in charge you would be on the summer day rate!

 

[SteveGorst]

Now that numbers are falling in Wales at least the first Minister has said that they will be looking at allowing activities based on the balance of risk and benefit. Sailing is an outdoor activity and early evidence of transmission of the Virus is that it is extremely unlikely to be transmitted from one person to another outdoors. Like 99% of the people on the forum I'm not an expert so rather than explain it I'd just like to put a link to the article. I realise it hasn't been peer reviewed yet but this is early days, Outdoor transmission of COVID . I'm not saying we should all rush out now but I do think its worth the RYA lobbying to make sure that sailing is one of the earlier activities to be allowed again.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Which presumably can be allowed to lapse and then re-apply at a future date which would no doubt cost but align with staying at home and saving lives or alternatively extend the certificate in the same way as MOTs

Can you imagine the Daily Mail headline if some vulnerably member of society had died having become infected due to somebody making a trip to their toy plane?

Or alternatively consider the risk to the police, fire, ambulance and members of the public otherwise minding their own business if the plane crashes during one of these 'test flights''

Not in all cases. Some aircraft require specific action to be taken to "winterise" if they do not fly within a certain timeframe. That "only" requires a visit to the aircraft though, not an actual flight. There may be one or two obscure cases where the work needs to be done by a maintenance outfit and, if so a ferry flight is permitted. It would obviously be a one-way trip as the aircraft couldn't be flown after being mothballed. CAA guidance is quite specific and calls out flights only for mandated maintenance and gives further restrictions. If the flight can wait it waits and there won't be many cases where it can't except those aircraft that need to keep flying (air ambulances, etc.) . You can't just decide your aircraft needs a flight and go and fly it. The Governments published guidance is that it's not actually necessary to ban VFR flying as you can't travel to the airfield anyway so it's not worth it. That makes sense as some flying is essential and the wording of the law would need to be fairly specific.

The maintenance regime of an aircraft is quite tightly proscribed by either airframe or engine hours, t/o and landings or by time elapsed and, in some ca. It bears no resemblance to yacht maintenance. The CAA have actually said that pilot licences will be extended if they were due to expire during lockdown but that's very different from aircraft airworthiness. A lack of maintenance could lead to an aircraft not being safe after flying resumes post-lockdown. I think the RYA are kind of after the same exemption for boats which is reasonable. The big difference is that it is clearly documented what maintenance an aircraft needs.

 

[yotter]

Now that numbers are falling in Wales at least the first Minister has said that they will be looking at allowing activities based on the balance of risk and benefit. Sailing is an outdoor activity and early evidence of transmission of the Virus is that it is extremely likely to be transmitted from one person to another outdoors. Like 99% of the people on the forum I'm not an expert so rather than explain it I'd just like to put a link to the article. I realise it hasn't been peer reviewed yet but this is early days, Outdoor transmission of COVID . I'm not saying we should all rush out now but I do think its worth the RYA lobbying to make sure that sailing is one of the earlier activities to be allowed again.

I have just had a look at the article, and it seems to state the opposite to your post. The reference states that it is more likely to be spread indoors (which makes more sense to me). Or do I misunderstand.
Angus

 

[SteveGorst]

I have just had a look at the article, and it seems to state the opposite to your post. The reference states that it is more likely to be spread indoors (which makes more sense to me). Or do I misunderstand.
Angus

oops typo you are exactly right, thanks for spotting I've put that right now. It was a test of course to make sure you were paying attention

 

[Barnacle Bill]

My yacht is in Waterford - about 50 minutes on the motorway - and I've been checking it every week, as normal. Access, fortunately, isn't a problem. I may get stopped by the police (Garda) but haven't so far - thank you for the RYA article, I hadn't seen it, but I will certainly use it in my defence if I get a ticket (which I won't pay).

 

[DipperToo]

the five years I've been in Brixham Marina, I've never seen anyone on the boat next to me. And that goes for a lot of boats in many of the Marinas I have been in.

I moved my boat from Suffolk to Brixham several years ago. Yes, there are several boats with a HUGE amount of weed and fouling, but as a location, we try to get down every month for 10 days or so.
Problem this year is that the scheduled annual lift/maintenance was for the first week of April. Boat now gathering copious amounts of weed and the thin anodes on the folding prop and thruster probably disappearing rapidly after a year.
I guess all the local yards will be fully booked up by the residents after the lock down eases so I will have to find a gentle beach somewhere to dry out and change anodes/clean prop etc.
I do understand about difficulties with showers facilities etc, but it seems extreme for no access whatsoever except for commercial maintenance companies.
Anyone know a good, hard sandy beach in Torbay where one could dry out for a couple of hours without breaking any bylaws?