'Just because you can, doesn't mean you should'

BOAT users should think carefully before heading out to sea during lockdown, the Guernsey Coastguard and RNLI have warned.

Boat users are being told that just because they can spend their two hours of recreation on the water, it does not mean that they should. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29216821)

People in the Bailiwick can use a pleasure boat, canoe or kayak as part of their permitted two-hour recreation time under lockdown rules, which came into force on 23 January 2021.

But head of the Guernsey Coastguard Captain David Barker said just because you can, does not mean you should.

Gulden Leeuw Dutch schooner moored on the south coast last year. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 29216813)

'We understand why islanders may want to spend their outdoor activity time on the sea, but please remember that if a volunteer lifeboat crew member becomes infected on a rescue, either from a casualty or another crew member, it can mean that the whole crew must isolate.

'This will not only put the crew and their family at risk but jeopardise our ability to crew the lifeboat for future rescues,' he said.

Kayakers enjoying the water before lockdown. (29216844)

'This must be avoided at all costs and we ask that islanders think very carefully before putting to sea.'

Lifeboat operations manager for the St Peter Port RNLI Chris Harvey re-iterated the fact that if one whole crew had to self-isolate as a result of a rescue which could have been prevented, it could compromise their ability to attend other incidents, putting lives at risk.

St Peter Port Lifeboat Station's Atlantic 85 Inshore lifeboat in December. (Picture by Tony Rive, 29216789)

'We fully endorse Guernsey Coastguard’s message of whether pleasure boaters, canoeists or kayakers really need to venture out in local waters or around Bailiwick coastlines currently.'