Some people are back out there – enjoying their boats, embracing the elements, and benefiting from the sense of freedom and the mind-clearing properties a good day out on the water gives you.
“Leisure boating” is now allowed; as of mid-May ”all forms of water sports practiced on open waterways…are allowed”, however the same rules apply as on land – only with members of your own household, or with up to 5 other people, providing you can maintain social distancing – 2m constant distance on a dinghy or even yacht is hard to achieve!
Marinas are re-opening, implementing the social distancing measures and hygiene guidelines set out by government, however, not all their facilities might be up and running yet, such as fuel and pump out stations, toilet facilities etc., so it is vital to plan ahead. Staying overnight on any pleasure boat is still not allowed, but a lot of marinas are now opening up daytime and short stay visitor moorings.
Whilst leisure boating is allowed, the social distancing requirements clearly put a stop to bringing people from different households together on the water, on one vessel. Bringing people together – our forte; on the water – our home. Impossible – for now.
Measures and guidelines are constantly adjusting, recommendations changing and possibilities widening. Here at Solent Events, our team is needless to say closely following every twist and turn, waiting for that moment we can introduce a “new boating normal”, a new form of coming together on the water. Keeping a close eye on scientific evidence and advice, we are busy looking into ways of delivering events safely and “Co-void”.
Fewer people on a boat, everyone wearing facemasks and (sailing) gloves, hand sanitiser and deck-friendly disinfectant spray – to name but a few considerations. On deck, in the wind, might bring the benefit of aerosol transmission of Covid-19 being more unlikely, but what about below decks?
In short, we are looking at it all, trying to find that “New Normal” on the water, trying to get you and your colleagues, you and your guests, back out there, with us.
