Staying safe
Due to a combination of great weather, and an increase in people who might otherwise have travelled overseas instead enjoying boating in the UK, this summer has proved to be one of the busiest ever for the UK’s coastguard and rescue services. In response, the RNLI and RYA have recently launched a series of 'how to' safety videos, available online.
On top of this increase in numbers has come further concern about how to operate safely in a new world in which an invisible menace constantly threatens to further undermine activities, both afloat and ashore.
Despite the challenges, more people than ever before have spent more time on the water than in previous summers. Yacht brokers across the country have been doing a brisk trade and, with many marinas requiring pre-booking and banning rafting, even anchorages that are usually quiet have been full on weekends. At the same time, many of those whose main activity is racing have been forced to reappraise their objectives of how they spend time on the water with the result that many have enjoyed formats they might not have
