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Coronavirus and Boating
English Canal Boats Eligible for COVID Restart Grants, British Marine Says
British Marine has said recent guidance issued by the UK Government confirms that canal boats and other vessels in England are, in its view, eligible for COVID-19 recovery grants. The Restart Grants were announced earlier this month by Britain’s Chancellor…
RYA & British Marine Welcome UK’s Extension to Returned Goods Relief Grace Period
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Marine have welcomed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announcement of a six-month extension to the one-year grace period for Returned Goods Relief (RGR) previously put in place by the British Government. The news…
File image of a ship docked at Dublin Port
The Department of Transport has confirmed limited exemptions for maritime crews from mandatory hotel quarantine for those entering the State from high-risk countries, which comes into effect from tomorrow, Friday 26 March. As detailed in Marine Notice No 16 of…
RYANI Gives Statement on Easing of Restrictions in Northern Ireland From 1 April
The RYANI has broadly welcomed the news of easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland from 1 April, as announced last week by First Minister Arlene Foster. The sailing and boating body saidL: “This is very welcome news and follows…
Domestic Tourism Proves a Boost for British Boating Industry, New Figures Show
Demand for boats and other watercraft has grown during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, according to industry body British Marine. The rebound last summer — following a dramatic 40% sales slump between March and May 2020 as the first lockdowns…
P&O Cruises’ Britannia will run a series of short breaks from Southampton for vaccinated UK guests this summer
P&O Cruises says British passengers on two of its cruise liners this summer will need be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before joining any voyage. According to Marine Industry News, it is the cruise line’s “strong expressed preference” that British guests…
The newly-restored 1969 Nich 43 Hunza being sailed by Andrew Wilkes in Arrecife Harbour in the Canaries
A busy ship, the old saying goes, is a happy ship. And a sailor in enforced idleness can be – at the very least - one decidedly grumpy so-and-so. Thus the multiple limitations of pandemic lockdowns have posed a challenge…
Aarhus in Denmark will now host the X-Yachts Gold Cup in late August
Taking stock of the current situation around COVID-19 and gatherings for large events, X-Yachts and Sailing Aarhus have agreed to postpone the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2021 from May to August. Seventy X-Yachts are now registered for the event from 26-29…
MV Armorique of Brittany Ferries at Rosslare Europort last month
The Department of Transport confirmed today (Friday 5 March) that the French Government will no longer require proof of a negative COVID test result from hauliers travelling on direct maritime routes from Ireland to France. French legislation has been amended…
A matrix (downloadable below) has been produced, and approved by Government, detailing how British Marine members should interpret the guidance
Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Monday 22 February outlining the roadmap of when restrictions are likely to be eased across England, British Marine met with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to clarify the guidance specific…
Yacht racing on Dublin Bay in the  DBSC Summer Series is due to begin on April 24th
It's March 1st and depending on who you talk to there is either tremendous optimism that the 2021 Irish summer sailing season can get underway as scheduled or alternatively, the ongoing pandemic will force us to navigate a stop-start season…
Ameria's Cup racing will not occur before at least Wednesday 10th March
In light of the latest Auckland COVID-19 Level 3 lockdown put in place by the Government from 6 am this morning for the next seven days, America’s Cup Event Ltd has postponed the first weekend of racing on Saturday 6th…
Yachts race downwind during the 2019 edition of Antigua Sailing Week
The 2021 edition of Antigua Sailing Week (ASW), including the Round Antigua Race, scheduled for April 24 – 30 has been due to COVID-19. The timing of this decision for the cancellation was taken after in-depth consideration of the obligations…
Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu
Brittany Ferries has called for a “re-think on travel corridors” between the UK and mainland Europe as figures suggest a high take-up of COVID vaccines by the lucrative summer months. As reported by Marine Industry News this week, the chief…
Jubilee Sailing Trust’s SV Tenacious at the Cowes Small Ships Race in 2018
While plans are in the offing for a phased restart of tall ship sail training and other outdoor learning activities in the UK after Easter, the sector remains on a “knife edge”. That’s the message from Andy Robinson, chief executive…
No ‘Essential Worker’ Exemptions for Foreign Crews Delivering Boats to Ireland, Transport Says
There is no “essential worker” exemption for foreign crews delivering boats to Ireland amid the current pandemic restrictions. Irish Marine Federation chairman Paal Janson received the official line from the Department of Transport, following suggestions by UK delivery skippers that…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Irish Sailing & Boating

Since restrictions began in March 2020, the Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs, rowing clubs angling and diving clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The hope is that a COVID-19 restrictions might be eased by May 5th as Sport Ireland has asked national governing bodies for information on the challenges they face. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.

You may need to either:

You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Read advice for people in at-risk groups

Read advice about cocooning.

Restricted movements

Everybody in Ireland has been asked to stay at home. You should only go out for a few reasons, such as shopping for food.

But you need to restrict your movements further if you: 

  • live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, but you feel well
  • are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus
  • have returned to Ireland from another country

You need to restrict your movements for at least 14 days.

But if the person you live with has had a test and it is negative, you don't need to wait 14 days. You should still follow the advice for everyone - stay at home as much as possible.

Close contact

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

  • spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person
  • living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

How to restrict your movements 

Follow the advice for everybody - stay at home.