Afloat again after lifting of restrictions
Sailing was among the first activities to return in May after almost six weeks of lockdown, and amid growing concern for the wellbeing of many wooden boats still on the hard in the unusually hot weather.
The RYA said that maintenance and checking of boats had become “critical" for owners and warned there were also potential insurance issues, while chairman of the Guernsey Boat Owners Association Nick Guillemette said: “With the weather having been good over the spring, a lot of old wooden boats have opened up in the sun and it won’t be doing them any good.”
Guernsey led the way out of lockdown, after a Notice to Mariners on 2 May gave owners on the island permission to sail for two hours a day as part of their allotted daily exercise. Many owners still could not launch, as they were not allowed to work on boats on the hard, an anomaly later lifted after lobbying by the Guernsey Boat Owners Association. England followed suit after the PM’s 10 May statement on 10 May, with the RYA urging a “considerate and cautious” return to the water. The RYA had been part of a steering group comprising representatives of different sports, lobbying ministers for a safe lifting of restrictions.
Sarah Treseder, RYA Chief Executive, said that “for our sport to be specifically included in the first wave of the Government’s path out of
