Latest RYA Advice on Lockdown 2

Recreational boating in England

England will enter a four-week period of lockdown restrictions commencing at 00:01 on Thursday 05 November. Whilst the guidance outlines the Government’s intentions, exactly how the regulations will affect boating in England is still unclear.

National Restrictions from 5 November

From 00:01 on Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, the Government guidance says that in England the public must:

1. Stay at home, except for specific purposes.
2. Avoid meeting people they do not live with, except for specific purposes.
3. Close certain businesses and venues.

Until 00:01 on Thursday 5 November, the relevant Local Covid Alert Level measures will continue to apply in the area where you live.

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. At the end of the period, the government will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

Stay at home

The regulations state that no-one may leave or be outside of the place where they are living without reasonable excuse set out in Regulation 6. The list is not exhaustive but you can exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place – on your own, with the people you live with, with your support bubble or with 1 person from another household.

The guidance states that overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences are not allowed - including holidays in the UK and abroad. This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if you own one, or staying with anyone you do not live with or are in a support bubble with. We believe that this means you cannot stay on your boat overnight unless you are a residential berth holder.

Members may be able to access boats for essential checks and maintenance, however, this will need to be agreed with their club/marina/harbour authority, with individuals taking personal responsibility for meeting Government guidance.

Meeting others safely

In general, you must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.

You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with:

• the people you live with
• your support bubble
• when on your own
• 1 person from another household. (Children under 5, as well as disabled people dependent on round-the-clock care are not counted towards the limit on two people meeting outside).

Outdoor public places include:

• neighbourhood streets, parks, beaches, public waterways and the countryside
• public gardens and grounds (whether or not you pay to enter them)
• allotments
• outdoor playgrounds

You cannot meet people in a private garden, unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.

The regulations do not define what exercise is and therefore recreational boating (all forms of watersports practised on open waterways, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, rowing, kayaking, surfing, paddle-boarding and the use of privately-owned motorised craft) from a public outdoor space may be possible provided the restrictions for meeting people socially are adhered to.

There are no exemptions for organised team sport and school sport can only happen as part of organised school activity.

Businesses and venues

To reduce social contact, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include indoor and outdoor sports centres or amenities, including water sports, stables, shooting and archery venues, golf courses, driving ranges, outdoor gyms, outdoor swimming pools, water parks and aquaparks.

Hospitality venues including club restaurants and bars must close but can still provide takeaway and delivery services.

https://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/coronavirus-advice-and-information-for-recreational-boaters.aspx#1