Sailing back to UK in a post virus world?

[Tim Good]

So my boat is in Gran Canaria and by September I’d like her to be back in the UK. Las Palmas marina said no one would stop me from leaving Spanish waters even under lockdown since everywhere else is locked down.

The problem will be when lockdowns are lifted and countries impose quarantine rules for people arriving into another country. I believe all countries will do this for a good while.

So assuming I sailed to Galicia in Spain and anchored. They’d likely collar me and say I have to remain aboad for 2 weeks. But technically I could still sail away to France where they would want to quarantine me also... .and so on...

But how would this work? Could they force you to quarantine and prevent you from sailing on until 2 weeks have past. It would be illogical to force a boat to stay when they wanted to move on but I doubt governments will have set rules about cruising yachts and so the authorisites will likely impose rules that relate to people arriving by any other mean like flying.

See where I’m going with this? How do you think it’ll play out?

 

[Greemble]

Your best bet might be to ask the Harbour Master / Authorities at each port you're intending to stop for their interpretations of the rules.
And a few others along the way, just in case you need to make sudden changes to your plans.

 

[Neeves]

Australia has demanded that all entrants to Australia, over about the last 4-6 weeks, are 'held' in 15 day isolation (in the currently empty hotels). These are Australian residents or citizens and costs have been born by the Government. There have been a series of evacuation flights from many parts of the world and all the passengers have been aware that isolation is part of the deal. In order to access these flights some lucky people have had to endure travel from one country to another and have been required on entering the new country (from where the evacuation flight would be based) to enter a 15 day quarantine. They then still need to enter another 15 day quarantine when arriving in Australia. I vaguely recall one couple had endured 60 days of quarantine in total.

I suspect different countries have different rules.

But Australia's policies seems to have worked. Deaths have been around 100 for a population of around 27 million. Even with a low infection and death rate lockdown restrictions are only now being relaxed - and in New South Wales and Victoria (the States make their own decisions) there is still reluctance to ease too quickly.

Jonathan

 

[sailaboutvic]

I too can visualise a time when every country will be in 14 days Quarantine for any one entering a country , it's hard to tell if once you entered a country and your put in quarantine if say after two or three days your leaving that country they will let you or you have to do the 14 days first .
At the moment as you probably know there are some ports open for transit yacht where you can get refuelled and supplies, not quite worked out if you can stay over night or just go in and get the supplies and go .
I understand a few country will let you stay to rest.
This may be the case once the lock down are lifted .
One of the problem is interpretations of the rules by port authority and the police.

 

[syvictoria]

How is it that France seem to be going a slightly different route with this? Aren't they currently stating that visitors from the Schengen Area (and UK) will be exempt from quarantine?

 

[Stemar]

France always does things differently from everyone else. It doesn't necessarily make sense, but it is French

As for sailing back, Would it be more practicable to do it non-stop?

 

[sailaboutvic]

How is it that France seem to be going a slightly different route with this? Aren't they currently stating that visitors from the Schengen Area (and UK) will be exempt from quarantine?

France right now have different rules for north , west and south .
I don't expert that to change any time soon .
Although there so does Italy from region to region .

 

[Tim Good]

France always does things differently from everyone else. It doesn't necessarily make sense, but it is French

As for sailing back, Would it be more practicable to do it non-stop?

Yes probably. But I’ll be singlehanded so I kinda wanted to stop and also enjoy a little bit of anchoring / cruising.

I was going to go Maderia, Azores, Uk but I doubt that’ll be an option. And no point in going right out to the Azores if I can go ashore.

 

[syvictoria]

Yes probably. But I’ll be singlehanded so I kinda wanted to stop and also enjoy a little bit of anchoring / cruising.

I was going to go Maderia, Azores, Uk but I doubt that’ll be an option. And no point in going right out to the Azores if I can go ashore.

So, with no disrespect intended, this thread is really about cruising (AKA holidaying) rather than an urgent need to move a boat...

 

[syvictoria]

So, with no disrespect intended, this thread is really about cruising (AKA holidaying) rather than an urgent need to move a boat...

Sorry, please ignore my previous comment. I have Sky News on in the background and it's putting me in a bad mood...

 

[[70521]]

Might be worth keeping a watch on this web site

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Special Procedures Being Introduced in Ports of Entry Worldwide | Noonsite

At last they are talking about quarantine at airports, who knows what the situation in future will be.

 

[[3889]]

My belief is that it will depend on luck as to whether you encounter an obstructive or helpful official. There's little rationality to many of the rules, e.g. forcing crews to leave boats to quarantine ashore. Not a criticism as things have had to be done quickly and niche activities cannot be considered.
There's a couple in Spain trapped in the Mar Menor who can sail around unimpeded, shop, etc. The only reason they can't leave is that the bridge to the open sea is closed. This video gives a detailed account of arriving at French territory.

 

[nortada]

So my boat is in Gran Canaria and by September I’d like her to be back in the UK. Las Palmas marina said no one would stop me from leaving Spanish waters even under lockdown since everywhere else is locked down.

The problem will be when lockdowns are lifted and countries impose quarantine rules for people arriving into another country. I believe all countries will do this for a good while.

So assuming I sailed to Galicia in Spain and anchored. They’d likely collar me and say I have to remain aboad for 2 weeks. But technically I could still sail away to France where they would want to quarantine me also... .and so on...

But how would this work? Could they force you to quarantine and prevent you from sailing on until 2 weeks have past. It would be illogical to force a boat to stay when they wanted to move on but I doubt governments will have set rules about cruising yachts and so the authorisites will likely impose rules that relate to people arriving by any other mean like flying.

See where I’m going with this? How do you think it’ll play out?

Portugal | Noonsite.

Portugal has announced ports of refuge for vessels in transit.

Four of them are Lagos, Cascais, Lisbon and Nazere. Currently, Portugal is not allowing boats into Portuguese Waters so not sure what the arrangements will be.

Understand the ban on vessels entering Portuguese Waters will be lifted by the middle of May.

 

[Tim Good]

Might be worth keeping a watch on this web site

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Special Procedures Being Introduced in Ports of Entry Worldwide | Noonsite

At last they are talking about quarantine at airports, who knows what the situation in future will be.

Thanks. Of course the other option is to stock up well beforehand and make landfall in remote anchorages and stick only to remote anchorages. I have a water maker and a 1000l fuel tank so I should easily be able to be self sufficient for over a month. Then if someone does come along and ask me to quarantine then I will. This way I’m not harming anyone or blatantly disregarding any rules.

 

[syvictoria]

....or blatantly disregarding any rules.

 

[capnsensible]

It will be interesting to see when the Canary Islands allow international flights in and what the quarantine procedure will be.

 

[RJJ]

I don't think there is or will be much sympathy with the argument that after X days at sea you are already quarantined. Quarantine traditions go back to the days when entire crews were carrying rats, smallpox, whatever other nasty.

Afraid you may tend to get fuel, food and F off.

 

[Tim Good]

It will be interesting to see when the Canary Islands allow international flights in and what the quarantine procedure will be.

Well this is true... and at the end of the day all my plans will be for nothing unless I can actually get there! I have a flight booked for the 30th but not confident it will actually go.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I too can visualise a time when every country will be in 14 days Quarantine for any one entering a country ...

I can see that being the case in some cases and for long distance travel (Warren Buffet has sold every airline share he owned) but it's hard to see how it would work in the EU, where cross border travel is often unremarkably routine. I have a cousin living in the extreme SW of Germany; when he goes shopping he normally cycles to France but if he just needs milk he cycles to Switzerland (not, EU, I know). Britains who haven't see it often don't realise what a non event borders are over there, and reintroducing them will cause huge disruption. And does it make sense that my cousin can now drive freely the 500 miles to Hamburg if he wishes but not the 5 miles to his usual épicerie.

If - and it's a big if - restrictions need to be retained long-term I suspect that it will have to be on a distance-from-your-residence basis, coordinated across the whole EU, and not depend on national borders. Same in the UK: it doesn;t makes sense to force people from Eyemouth to travel to Edinburgh for services they could have had in Berwick, or to separate Gretna and Longtown.

 

[nortada]

I don't think there is or will be much sympathy with the argument that after X days at sea you are already quarantined. Quarantine traditions go back to the days when entire crews were carrying rats, smallpox, whatever other nasty.

Afraid you may tend to get fuel, food and F off.

Boat arriving in Lisbon (a port of refuge) from Gibraltar was placed in 14 days quarantine from the date it departed Gib so transit time was taken into account.