Friday 19 March 2021

A WELCOME RETURN TO SPRING 2021 BOATING IN SCOTLAND FROM 26TH APRIL

 

West Coast Marina
North West Marine replacing the ground Chain on 'B' Trot this week

ALL being well customers will be permitted to stay on their boats from Monday 26th April following this week’s announcement on ‘the route out of lockdown’ from the Scottish Government. 

That is when the current travel restrictions within Scotland, are expected to be lifted, and single households will be permitted to stay away from home.   

The announcement also stated that ‘restrictions on journeys between Scotland and the other parts of the UK could also be lifted, if not on 26th April, then as soon as possible thereafter.’

At the same time Scottish Canals have confirmed that both the Crinan and Caledonian Canals are expected to open sometime between 26th April and 1st May at the latest, depending on completion of on-going works.

With retail outlets in Scotland also permitted to reopen from this date, we also aim to fully open the chandlery at this time. However, for the moment we will continue to offer our ‘click and collect’ service for essential items and from 5th April any item will be available for local collection. If you would like cleaning products, antifouling, anodes, engine spares or other chandlery items putting aside for collection now or for reserving for you from 26th April onwards, please contact the chandlery on 01852 500247 from Monday to Friday or email office@ardfernyacht.co.uk .

The ‘stay-at-home’ requirements will be lifted in Scotland on the 2nd April, allowing local customers to come and work on their boats as well as to continue to go boating as a form of exercise. At this point, while our showers must remain shut, we will reopen the customer toilets during working hours. 

As per the latest update from RYA Scotland, it has been confirmed by the Scottish Government that customers are allowed to travel outside their local authority area to their boats for essential maintenance purposes, in line with guidance for owners of second homes in Scotland. However, essential maintenance is defined as ‘only work, which if not undertaken would cause failure or become an imminent safety issue’. In addition boat owners are advised by the RYA, that they should not stay longer than the length of time required to check the boat and undertake the essential maintenance.

Rather than setting out an exhaustive list of every reasonable problem, the RYA added that ‘it must be left to individuals to make a judgement as to whether a purpose is essential or not’ and further stressed that ‘this is for essential maintenance only and not for cosmetic improvements or general spring preparatory work,’ which can be undertaken from 26th April onwards.

If you have any concerns about your vessel with us please do not hesitate to contact the workshop to get us to complete safety checks on board for you, including checking bilges, batteries, seacocks or anodes etc. The workshop team can be contacted by phoning Bob or James on 01852 500247 or by emailing workshop@ardfernyacht.co.uk 

We very much look forward to being able to welcome you all back to Ardfern as normality gradually resumes and you can once again enjoy all the late spring and summer sailing season has to offer in Argyll.  


Andrew and Joanna Ashton and all the team at Ardfern.


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