Winterlude

Following a frustratingly short summer season, how can you extend your sailing adventures? Sam Fortescue explores some of the options available

- Sam Fortescue

Coronavirus has played havoc with every aspect of our lives this year, including our ability to get out on the water. Though we had access to our boats from mid-June, it wasn’t until the first weeks of July that cruising could start again as restrictions on overnight stays were relaxed. Not surprisingly, marinas have reported “exceptionally high use” for berth holders desperate to get back on the water and make the most of their boats.

But despite the fine weather midsummer, it is still a drastically curtailed sailing season. So rather than getting the boat hauled out in October, many sailors are reportedly looking to extend their boating activities. Marinas have been quick to spot the trend, and many are offering discounts and promotions to those who keep their boats in the water this winter. The offers range from cut-price scrub-offs to pay-as-you-go berthing.

“Boating is a great outdoor activity that can be safely enjoyed while maintaining social distancing,” says Hannah Wagstaff of Yacht Havens. “Now that boating is firmly back on the agenda, there’s a general feeling that people will sail longer into the autumn this year, if the weather is mild and settled.”

Rebecca Moll of Fox’s Marina on the River Orwell in Ipswich also says they are expecting berth holders to stay in as long as the weather allows. “A number of the boats we have launched were specifically heading out with the intention of making self-isolating easier,” she adds.