The RYA has suspended all non-elite organised training and events until 1 March due to the lockdown.
The Department for Transport confirmed: “Boating is allowed as exercise (in England). This covers all sailing boats/yachts as long as they abide by the gathering limits, social distance rules and stay local rules.”
Therefore boating as a form of outdoor exercise is permitted as long as:
- you are able to safely access, launch and recover your boat from a public space;
- you are able to do this without leaving your local area;
- in a single or single household/support bubble crew;
- if the relevant waterway authorities permit recreational boating.
The RYA has taken the decision to once again postpone its directly organised (non-virtual) events and training, to protect participants, volunteers and others, and to reduce the risk of placing an additional burden on the emergency services at what is a hugely testing time.
Sarah Treseder, CEO of the RYA, said: “It is vital that we all play our part in combatting the spread of this virus and we understand the difficult decisions that the government is having to make to keep people and communities safe.
“We will be providing a range of virtual #SailFromHome events and resources to ensure our members can still get their boating fix online and we invite anyone with questions to get in touch through their normal RYA contacts or via ask@rya.org.uk.
“This lockdown will be a further test of our collective resolve, but with the vaccination programme now rolling out to priority groups right across the UK we are confident of a fantastic season of boating activity in 2021.”
www.rya.org.uk
