Some restrictions on pleasure boating and General Aviation to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been relaxed further as the Bailiwick of Guernsey enters Phase 4 of the Exit Strategy from Lockdown measures.
Under the new guidelines effective from 00:01am Saturday 30 May 2020, (local time) boat owners and aircraft pilots are no longer time limited to being out at sea or in local air space.
People permanently residing at the same household and companions not at the same address may now accompany boat skippers on board vessels. Where possible, social distancing of up to 2 metres and cleaning and hand hygiene requirements should be maintained at all times.
Sark and Alderney are now open to recreational boaters. Any swinging moorings around Sark or at Braye Harbour are currently not in use and vessels should not use them until advised by the relevant harbour authority.
All vessels planning to visit Alderney are required to contact the Alderney harbour office in advance by completing this form and emailing harbour@alderney.gov.gg.
At the request of Herm, recreational boaters are not permitted to enter Herm Harbour or land on Rosaire Steps. Access and anchoring in bays across the Island is permitted but it should be noted that Herm continues to have limited amenities and facilities open.
Vessel owners are required to check the latest local notices regularly for updated instructions and changes, before putting to sea, using Guernsey Harbours' website. These are also published on the Guernsey Harbours' Facebook and Twitter accounts.
With controls on pleasure boating being relaxed, Guernsey Harbours are urging boat owners not to consume alcohol if they are going to be in charge of a vessel during a trip out to sea or to other islands of the Bailiwick.
Guernsey's Harbourmaster Captain David Barker said:
"We would urge all boat skippers of pleasure vessels not to drink alcohol and then take to the water to or from Guernsey, Herm, Sark, or Alderney. Guernsey Coastguard has previously had to launch Search and Rescue assets, like the RNLI lifeboats, to deal with a number of incidents where skippers were under the influence of alcohol after a full day's drinking and have been unable to make it safely back to port. I take a very dim view of this, as skippers who are drunk and in charge of a vessel are not only putting their own lives at risk, but their passengers, and other vessels as well. Dealing with incidents like these diverts precious SAR resources from other emergencies or incidents that may also occur around the coast or at sea. I will not hesitate to use available legal powers I have as Harbourmaster if offenders are caught under the influence of alcohol and in charge of a vessel."
All Local Notices to Mariners (LNTM) and Guernsey Coastguard Navigation Warnings currently in force can be found on the Guernsey Harbours website