Cork Harbour Reader Robin Bateman questions the continuation of the 'no recreational use of the water' advisory issued by the Coastguard and the RNLI
Sir,
It seems to me that Irish Sailing is in a bind regarding its “return to sailing plan”. The government-permitted radius for exercise is at present 5km. We are cautioned to avoid unnecessary journeys which I take to mean anything other than work, medical need or shopping. I suppose it’s reasonable to define checking on your craft as a necessary journey but I’m not sure that as worded it can be extended to actually using your ship. There is little doubt in my mind that exercise on the water for our more performance-orientated sailors could legitimately be considered as essential but we still have the “request” in place from the RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard not to use the water. In fact, the Irish Coast Guard was particularly specific in its Facebook post of the 30th of April when it said;
“Surfing, kite surfing, snorkelling, diving, windsurfing, sailing, are not essential”
I emailed both the RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard on Monday last (the 4th of May) enquiring as to when we might see this “request” lifted. In fairness, the RNLI came back by return and said they would find out for me. The Irish Coast Guard, however, asked me to email the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport press office. I did as suggested but am still awaiting a reply.
Subsequently, the RNLI emailed me again and said;
“The Government have now published a roadmap which details the easing of restrictions over the weeks ahead and which will see people begin to resume their day to day activities while observing the necessary measures in keeping the virus suppressed. We would ask that people adhere to that advice and when they resume any water-based activity, they take the necessary water safety guidance.”
Which seems pretty reasonable of them. So it seems to this County Cork resident (and parent of competitive Laser and Optimist sailors) who has a large body of estuarine water within a 2km radius of his house that the biggest bar to getting out on the water is not the ongoing delay of Irish Sailing to publish their much-mentioned plan for a return to sailing, but the fact that the Irish Coast Guard needs to remember (or be reminded) that the water is not its to control. With government restrictions now being lifted, the Irish Coast Guard needs to rescind or revise its earlier pronouncements.
After all, the lake and river anglers who have been specifically mentioned in Dáil discussion are back on the water albeit within the existing distance limitations. Perhaps I can attach a fishing reel onto our tiller extensions and claim we’re going angling?
Other agencies and public sector employees have had to alter their methodologies of working to cope with the threat of this virus. Considering the significant amount of commercial traffic still at sea that may require assistance it seems that working on safe methods of patient transfer is imperative if adequate cover is to continue. It follows that if you can cope safely with a commercial emergency, it should be feasible to cope with a recreational emergency.
Sadly, the virus is not going away any time soon. Hiding behind an instruction for no recreational use of the water merely kicks the problem further down the line.
Perhaps it is time for the Irish Coast Guard to recognise this and get on with it?
Yours etc.
Rob Bateman
Passage West
Cork
The letter writer supplied the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/IrishSailingAssociation/posts/2916763111725583
https://www.facebook.com/IrishSailingAssociation/photos/a.131190283616227/2959077580827469/?type=1&theater
https://www.thejournal.ie/covid-fishing-5088840-Apr2020/
https://www.thejournal.ie/anglers-can-fish-5km-home-5092635-May2020/
