Summer sailing and Corona

[5monkeys]

I had been planning to go get my boat from Southern MD and bringing it to my house in Northern VA (by way of a DIY car wash) on this coming Saturday, so that I could do some Spring Projects, like bottom painting.

Today the Governors of VA and MD issued mandatory "stay at home orders"

"Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has issued a ?stay at home? order, directing Virginians to stay home except for getting food, supplies, medical care, to go to work and to get fresh air and exercise. Northam?s order follows a similar directive from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan."


So, can this qualify as getting fresh air and exercise? Or am I reaching?

FWIW,  my wife and I have been staying at home (including the 5 monkeys) ..3 weeks now so I'm not just poo-pooing the whole thing.

what do you all think?

[slode]

I'd say as long as you're staying away from everyone else what's the difference.  Technically, you are getting supplies and medical care (the very important mental type) too.  I do a lot of self psychological treatment while both working on, and sailing my boat!

[brackish]

I'll answer with a question.  Are you a sensible individual?  Do you have reasonable common sense? Then go for it, stay away from people, take your lunch for the trip, cause no one distress by your activity, and allow no one to cause you distress. 

I think of this the way I think of mandatory evacuation orders for hurricanes.  If you live well off beach in a sound structure with thirty feet of elevation no trees over it to blow across your house, have plenty of water, food and emergency power then you would be a fool to join the traffic log jam fleeing from the monster that can't hurt you. I remember the number of people who died of heart attacks in those Katrina evac logjams and would suggest that they would have been just fine at home. 

Of course in this case it depends on the level of enforcement.  Do the Govs. intend to have the highway patrol pull over every vehicle to check their status.  You might have to convince them your boat is actually your home.

[philb Junkie19]

Went down to our nearby harbor today. When we walk there this time of year we often don't see anyone as it's off the beaten track and the docks and most of the fishing boats haven't gone in yet. We were surprised to find cones blocking the road with a sign "commercial fishermen only". While we will miss walking or parking and just sitting there we figured the town made the right decision as our very small fishing fleet needs to be able to work and make their living without added risk to their health.

Later in the day we found a 'stay at home order' was put in place for Maine to start Thursday. Retired, it's not a hardship as for so many others. The upside for us is we that talk much more frequently to our kids already in 'stay at home' states.

Bob, on the beer bread, I learned that unlike most beer Guinness uses nitrogen (air?) for carbonation and, apparently like other beers, it also produces CO2. Don't know if that will affect the bread's rising. I suspect most of that comes from the baking powder. 

[Bob23]

Phil: I'll do some in-kitchen research on the Guinness bread and get back to you. I'm definitely trying this bread either way...but can you believe I'm out of PBR? Horrors!!
   
  We've still been working. Here in NJ, construction projects are deemed essential but we're closing down for a week starting next week. I'll get some work done on the boat, for sure! I hope NJ doesn't issue a "stay at home" order. I've never been good at following rules and walks on the beach are good for the soul...and no one is out there anyway!

  Cheers!
Bob23

[Mas]

Well was already at our boat's marina preparing Interlude to be left alone fo some time when the governor of Virginia issued the new order. It was kinda surreal being there knowing what was coming down the pike and that sailing was gunna take a hit this year. Middlesex county, where the marina is located, has zero known cases of Covid so far but you can tell everyone is uneasy given the nature of a small coastal community with the potential for many "out of towners" (read myself) bringing themselves and potential infections to them. One older couple with some underlying health issues and a world voyaging boat (it was their home for 18 years) were down provisioning to head to a good storm hole, drop the hook, and stay the next weeks or so. They also live down there.

Out of respect for the community there we didn't need an executive order to stay away. We won't see interlude again for quite awhile.

On a lighter note: Bob, being out of PBR could be a turning point in your life!

[ChasRN]

In the greater scheme of things, this seems a very petty complaint, but it's looking more and more likely that my new (to me) Sun Cat will be sitting on her trailer for much, if not all of this season.

All things considered, I'm incredibly fortunate. As a recent retiree, I don't have to worry about loosing my job. More importantly, I'm healthy, but have both Medicare and good, though not inexpensive, supplemental insurance coverage to fall back on if needed. Though the various bicycle tours I do each summer have been cancelled or rescheduled, there are far fewer cars on the road, making solo riding much safer and more enjoyable. We have a good supply of food on hand and can easily supplement that via a local restaurant supply operation who will deliver. My local homebrew supply store got a waiver to sell via curbside delivery, so I can continue to brew and supply my family and the neighbors with custom craft beer. Our 9-month old Welshie bitch couldn't be happier having both her human parents around 24/7.

As far as sailing, at least there's You Tube . . .

[kickingbug1]

    at this point we only have a couple of ramps open on Carlyle lake in Illinois. I took my bass boat up for a test run wednsday and the ramp was unusually busy. a combination of people not working and cheap gas. this is not the best situation for launching for a day sail. we are used to sailing during the week and encountering no crowds at all. guess ill just have to adapt or not sail at all. and that aint happening. still hoping the rendezvous is going on as planned. stay safe sail on

[bruce]

That's about what we're seeing in RI. Most of the ramps we use are owned by the state. The Governor saw the increase in gatherings at state parks and beaches as the weather warmed so she closed the access roads and parking lots. Pedestrian use is still allowed, for now. Most towns followed her lead. We have a lot of commercial shell fishermen who work out of small boats that we'd see when we launch, also on quiet weekdays. We hoped they'd keep the ramps open for them, but I suspect they figured the policy would be abused, and didn't have the staff to enforce it. RI residents can use marina services, including slips and moorings, but out of state residents and transients can't. Overall, anyone from out of state, traveling to RI for non-commercial reasons, has to quarantine for 14 days.

[Mas]

Hmmm....sailing season on "The Bay" is looking less than wonderful with new restrictions. Maryland is now banning all recreational boating.

https://chesapeakebaymagazine.com/md-clarifies-no-recreational-boating-order/

With Interlude staying on the hard down on the bay until events say go, I found myself sitting in Mas, who lives in an outbuilding here, having a beer and feeling grateful for what we do have and can do. That can do list jus got a bit shorter as the National Park Service recently closed the 215,000 acres that is our backyard, the Shenandoah National Park. Why you may ask? Folks thinking that avoiding gatherings of 10 or more, being in close proximity, and generally being poor stewards of the park was just fine. As usual the idiots ruin it for those trying to be responsible.

I fear boating restrictions may also be happening as many non boaters have an image of boaters being uncaring party animals...Ok you power boaters, you know who you are!

[Bob23]

So far our illustrious guvna has not banned recreational boating...and I hope he does not because then I'll be a criminal. I plan to sail and as I mostly sail solo I pose no threat to anyone. So in a month or so, Koinonia will be launched and I'll be found once again plying the waters of Barnegat Bay. No mask, no gloves, no Lysol. Newfy's Screetch rum will disinfect just fine.
  This is quietly becoming less like virus containment and more like government control of the citizens it pretends to protect. 'Nuff said about that!!
Cheers!
Bob23

[Jim in TC]

From the good news (for us) department, our wait for a seasonal slip has ended with the offer of a downtown-marina slip. I am confident that it was the shutdown that got us to the top of the list, which has rarely in the past shifted this close to boating season. Some launch sites have closed but most have not; "power boats" have been banned, as I understand it, for now but it is unclear whether a sailboat with an auxiliary qualifies. The marina facilities will only open as restrictions are eased, but would not open until later in May in any event. We are an easy bike ride or modest walk from the marina, and I expect that crowding will not be an issue at least early in the season. And the biggest event of the summer - the National Cherry Festival - drawing ~ 1/2 million (!) people to our little city has been cancelled.

[Tim Gardner]

Well, Rick,  You should okay as long as you drag a lure off your stern.  I recommend a PBR beercan float with a white tail jig suspended underneath.

[Jim in TC]

Well, Rick,  You should okay as long as you drag a lure off your stern.  I recommend a PBR beercan float with a white tail jig suspended underneath.

You are suggesting trolling for Com-Pac owners?

[Mas]

Tim, you are such a Redneck!!!