On behalf of the club I had asked our SM (AM as was) Rhun Ap Iorwerth's office for a letter to be used by our members when driving to and from their yachts in order to carry out the essential work in moving their vessels from the moorings by the end of this month. This is I am afraid what I received which is NOT helful.
How did we get to a point where no one actually knows what the laws mean!
I quote the response:
"Pnawn da Mark Rosenthal,
Schedule 4A of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (Wales) Regulations 2020, as amended, includes a list of “reasonable excuses” to leave a local lockdown area. These should be read in conjunction with the Welsh Government guidance linked below.
The Welsh Government publishes and maintains a consolidated version of the Regulations on its website. The “reasonable excuses” listed are indicative and not intended to be exhaustive (paragraph 3(2) says “a reasonable excuse includes” the examples given). It also states:
… it is not a reasonable excuse for a person to leave, or remain away from, a local health protection area to do anything if it would be reasonably practicable for the person to do that thing within the area.
The Welsh Government has also provided guidance for each of the Local Lockdown areas in the form of FAQs. I have been unable to find any reference to travelling to move or maintain a boat in either the FAQs or the list of reasonable excuses in Schedule 4A.
Ultimately it is for the enforcement authorities to determine how these regulations would apply to individual cases and whether these circumstances would constitute a reasonable excuse. Apologies I cannot provide a definitive answer in relation to this.
Non
Non Dafydd
Rheolwr Swyddfa – Office Manager
1b Stryd yr Eglwys, Llangefni, Ynys Mon LL77 7DU
01248 723599
end"
With the fleet reduced to 2 yachts for this race we agreed, with an Easterly 10 - 13kt wind, on a course of Start, Clipera (P), Bolivar(P), Meath(P), Clipera(S) and finish. However as the yachts arrived close to the start at the 5 minute warning the winds had dropped to 0!
It took more than the remaining time to the start for Passtime, closer to the wall and Flair IV to get over the line.
Just after the start the wind started to fill in from the West as the showers started again and Flair in a slightly better position pulled ahead. Once out of the harbour the wind strength rose rapidly to around 19kt sailing on a downwind leg to Clipera. Before reaching Clipera the winds were now gusting 25 - 29kt and Passtime reefed her jib while flair had to reef her main to avoid rounded up to windward. The leg to Bolivar was a reech and speeds of 7.8kt recorded through the water on Flair. At bolivar Flair IV had a substantial lead as they tacked to return to Meath.
It was evident the with these winds the race was going to be too short so it was agreed that a second visit to Bolivar
On the west side of Anglesey there had been steady winds of around 10kt from 08:00 with wall to wall sunshine. We were looking forward to a great day out as our last long distance race of this year. At Holyhead 4 yachts were getting ready Shearwater, Jaydreamer, Moonraker and Flair IV and the winds were varying between 6 and 10kt.
As race officer on Flair IV I started the class 2 yachts, Shearwater and Moonraker, at their start time of 10:10 giving me an opportunity to get most things organised before starting class 1, Jaydreamer and Flair IV.
These instructions are to be read in conjunction with the General Sailing Instructions, available on this link: General Sailing Instructions
LW Holyhead: 08:27
HT at Holyhead 15:26
All times BST:
Ferry departures/arrivals
Stena: 08:55/12:10
Irish Ferries: 08:15/11:45
Warning Signal Class 2: |
10:05 |
Start: Class 2 |
10:10 |
Warning Signal Class 1 |
10:25 |
Start Class 2 |
10:30 |
Start
Clipera (P)
Eat Mouse to port
Clipera (S)
Finish
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