Uncharted waters

So, what’s the situation on the Broadwater or Moreton Bay? How are the so-called rules being interpreted?

Brett James, General Manager of the Southport Yacht Club confirms there is not a lot of sailing activity going on – and what is happening is mainly in dinghies and small cats with a few crew. He confirmed some SYC members were coming down to work on their boats as the marina and hardstand remain open. He emphasised all activities were taking place within social distancing guidelines.

Bum’s Bay, the well-known stopover on the Broadwater for cruising yachts heading further up the Queensland is crowded, with an estimated 50 boats in the protected anchorage.

The Gold Coast Water Police are keeping a close eye on the Seaway and intercepting any new arrivals. At least four to six yachts are apparently moored in front of their Southport base, riding out their 14-day quarantine periods.

Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, a popular stopping-off point for wintering yachties has also adapted its operations to the new realities of COVID-19 operations, with extra precautions for all work undertaken. Lifts and refits are still taking place with special provisions and arrangements for crew complying with isolation requirements.

Meanwhile, tough new border restrictions brought in from 12.01 am today, Friday, only allow Queensland residents and those considered an ‘exempt person’ to cross the border. It applies to all ports of entry, including seaports.

There are exemptions and they can apparently be sought through Maritime Safety Queensland in conjunction with the Queensland Water Police.

For yachts currently at sea, the advice gleaned from various calls is to contact the marina you are heading to, and MSQ, to work out arrival arrangements.

At the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly, members can still access the marina, their vessels, ramps, fuel and the slipway, but in accordance with the latest social distancing requirements.

Interestingly, logging on to Vessel Finder at around 1.30pm revealed at least ten sailing vessels (the purple triangles) out on Moreton Bay. It’s unknown if they received prior official approval for their trips.

Normally at this time of year marinas and charter operations in the Whitsundays would be processing bookings in anticipation of the busy winter season.

The region’s premier marina operation, Coral Sea Marina is open and able to welcome visiting yachts, according to Marina General Manager Kate Purdie.

“Our fuel wharf is open 24/7 and our local businesses are still operating,” she told Sails. “We are offering provisioning and delivery services. We also have courtesy cars available for guests who require transportation.

“We continue to welcome all vessels who require a safe haven or a place from which to access essential services,” she added.

The rules and restrictions regarding heading out on the water are varying considerably from State to State. Victoria, for example has stopped all recreational boating.

In a post on the Transport for NSW Facebook Page ahead of the weekend sailors were informed they could go out on their boat as sailing could be regarded as exercise and therefore was “a reasonable excuse” not be at home.

In terms of “crew” the advice from Transport for NSW is: “You should only be on your boat alone, or with no more than one other person; or with family who ordinarily live in the same household as you.”

It’s understood water police and maritime authorities in both states will be keeping a close eye on who is out and what they are doing.

We’ll see if nautical common sense is observed.

msq.qld.com.au