Covid-19 – Will we be able to Navigate in the South of France from May 11, 2020?
6 May 2020
Following the announcement of the national deconfinement plan made by the French Prime Minister Mr. Édouard PHILIPPE on April 27, 2020, we learned that the possibility of “practicing outdoors individual sports activities” will be restored from May 11th.
All of the boating professionals, associations and federations in France have therefore embarked on the mission whose objective is to gradually release recreational boating from May 11, 2020.
- Recreational boating is considered an outdoor sporting activity, but it was strictly prohibited on the Mediterranean coast as part of the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic virus since March 16, while professional yachting activities are authorized since March 20.
- After May 11, it will also be possible to gather up to 10 people and it will be allowed to travel within a radius of 100km from your home.
- Finally, all the Regions and Departments of the Mediterranean coast of France are classified as “green” by the Ministry of Health, which means that the circulation of the virus is relatively weak.
Of course, all these permissions do not exempt boaters from respecting barrier gestures and the necessary social distancing.
Can we sail after May 11?
The answer is Yes, if we believe the publications of the main French boating and yachting associations and confederations, there is no doubt that boating should be released on May 11, 2020.
We also observe in various publications from Maritime Prefectures that there are no indications against the freedom of navigation as long as health precautions (barrier gestures and social distancing) are taken by all those involved in the sector (ports, boaters, professionals …).
Who will be able to sail after May 11?
This suggests the possibility of sailing for all those who do not live too far from their boats (less than 100km) for day-trips and perhaps even coastal cruises when a maximum of 10 people are onboard the boat. This is already very good news!
Who will have to wait until June 2 to hope to sail?
For all those, living more than 100km away from their home port, it will be necessary to wait for the next phase of deconfinement which will start on June 2, and which will be revealed about 15 days before.
We invite you to stay tuned for more information on the resumption of boating activities in the south of France, in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic.
