Important COVID-19 update

Update 3rd December

Seasons greetings to all

We continue to work hard at the marina to provide a relaxed and most importantly safe environment for you to unwind and enjoy, and we continue to adapt to the new regulations as best we can.

In response to the Government’s new rules to manage the spread of Covid and the Omicron variant, please be aware that we will be asking you to wear face masks in the communal areas and when visiting the marina reception.

All of our previous Covid precautions remain in place including:
• Provision of hand sanitising stations and Perspex screens in our offices.
• Continuing with our thorough toilet, shower, laundry and office cleaning regimes as well as interim wipe downs of frequently touched surfaces.
• We will continue to offer the NHS track and trace check-ins at the marina reception and each bridgehead.
• You may notice additional specific measures in place to continue to help prevent the spread of the virus; if so, please do co-operate with staff.

The safety and well-being of our berth holders, visitors and the team at Plymouth Yacht Haven remain our utmost priority so please be considerate and aware of other berth holders and the team's requirement to stay safe.

We continue to ask that if you have tested positive you do not visit your boat or use the marina as a location to ‘self isolate’, we can carry out any required boat checks on your behalf.

We very much look forward to seeing everyone over the festive season and thank you all for working with us through 2021 to navigate our way through the ever changing regulations.

Update - 19th July 2021

From today, the rules around Covid relax and we return to the normal we have all been waiting for.

We have worked hard at the Yacht Haven to provide a relaxed and, most importantly, safe environment for you to unwind and enjoy, and we will continue to adapt to the new regulations as best we can.

The safety and well-being of our berth holders, visitors and the team at Plymouth Yacht Haven is our utmost priority and as restrictions relax we need to continue keeping you and our team safe. The new guidance is encouraging people to take back their liberties gradually and people will ease out of lockdown at different paces, so please be considerate and aware of other berth holders and the team's requirement to stay safe.

We will not be requiring face coverings in indoor public areas, but we strongly encourage you to use them out of respect of other berth holders and our staff. We will continue to encourage communications by remote channels rather than visiting the office, and we will keep screens at our reception.

We will continue to offer the NHS track and trace check-ins at the marina reception and each bridgehead, along with providing hand sanitiser. We ask that if you have tested positive or someone you have been in close contact with has tested positive in the last 10 days you do not visit your boat or use the marina as a location to ‘self isolate’, we can carry out any required boat checks on your behalf.

We are all hugely looking forward to seeing everyone over the summer and must thank you all for working with us to navigate our way through the constantly changing regulations.

The sun is out and the Westcountry is looking stunning at the moment, we look forward to seeing you all out on the water.

Update - Spring 2021

Following the Prime Minister’s recent roadmap out of the current lockdown for England, we now have a clearer idea of what we can expect over the coming months and how this allows us all to begin planning our time on the water.

We encourage all berth holders to keep an eye on the latest Government guidance here, and we are pleased to share a summary of the roadmap:

8^th March – Step 1 – Stay at Home (or Stay Local for permitted activity) – Private boats can be used for sport or recreation by a single household (or support bubble), or with 1 other person where participants remain outside except to access toilets, for safety reasons or to navigate. Essential maintenance can be undertaken to ensure vessels are safe to use (seaworthy).

29^th March – Step 1 – Minimise Travel – Boat owners are permitted to perform general boat maintenance and privately owned boats can be used by groups of up to 6 people or 2 households, where participants remain outside except to access toilets, for safety reasons or to navigate.

12^th April – Step 2 – Minimise Travel – Overnight stays on boats will be permitted for single households (or support bubbles). The Bridge at Mount Batten and Galley Kitchen can reopen with an outdoor-only service, and non-essential shops can reopen.

17^th May – Step 3 – All privately owned boats can be used by groups of up to 6 people or 2 households both inside and outside, and overnight stays on boats will be permitted within the rule of 6 or 2 households. The Bridge Bar & Restaurant and Galley Kitchen can reopen their indoor social and dining areas.

No earlier than 21^st June – Step 4 – The Government hopes to lift all restrictions on social contact.

For the full guidance, please see these guides from the RYA, British Marine and The Yacht Harbour Association.

You can read more about the lifting of restrictions and the specific steps and criteria for England to move on to the next step at gov.uk/coronavirus.

Boatyard Services
We’re sure that you’ll be keen to get out on the water as soon as the weather improves and lockdown is eased. If you have already booked a lift out or are expecting your boat to go back in during the coming weeks, this will go ahead as scheduled. Where possible, we kindly ask you do not attend your boat lift or launch until you can do so safely within current Government guidance; we are on hand to tow or arrange a delivery so that you can continue to receive the service while remaining at home.

We’re happy to remind you that if there’s any work you need doing in preparation for the season, one of our many reputable tenants or a local marine business of your choice should be able to help you – Take a look at the businesses listed on our online Marine Directory.

Thank you for your continued support through the most recent lockdown. We are all looking forward to a summer of boating, more so than ever after a winter of confinement.

Update 5th January 2021

England enters full lockdown

From Tuesday 5th January, England has entered a full lockdown due to the increasing spread of the Coronavirus.

At this time of national emergency, we strongly urge you to follow the strict rules of the lockdown to protect your families and communities, as well as ensuring the NHS has the capacity to provide treatment to those who require it. We are following the advice of the government and we kindly ask our berth holders to do the same by staying at home and only travelling for essential purposes.

As always, our Haven Team are on-site 24 hours a day to watch over your boat and help in any way we can.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if there’s something specific you’d like us to check on your boat on your behalf. Our team are happy to check dehumidifiers, check batteries, place extra lines or fenders on your boat, re-furl any loose sails and tow your boat to the hoist dock for your winter haul out.

Please contact us by phone on 01752 404231 or email plymouth@yachthavens.com. For extra peace of mind, we can even send you a picture of your boat although you might like to look at our new marina webcams. We are here to support you and take care of your boat during these unprecedented times.

You can read the specific restrictions regarding the new lockdown at the gov.uk website. At the moment, this lockdown is expected to last until mid-February at the earliest when England will revert to the tiered system which has been in place since late-2020.

We have no doubt that, in time, we will all be enjoying our boating again and we look forward to an enjoyable 2021 season on the water.

Steve Kitchen,
Marina Director

Update 30th December

Devon moves to Tier 3

From 31st December, Devon will be subject to Tier 3 measures under the Government’s COVID-19 restrictions.

As always, our Haven Team are on-hand 7 days a week to watch over your boat. If you are visiting the marina in the coming weeks, please take time to familiarize yourself with the latest government guidelines and how they apply to boating:

• All forms of recreational boating are permitted within the legal limits for meeting others.
• For those living in Tier 1-3 restrictions, you are allowed to socialise in groups of up to 6 people from different households, but only in outdoor settings.
• You should avoid staying onboard overnight if possible.
• If you live in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area, you should minimise your travel and follow your local restrictions from your home Tier at all times.
• If you live in a Tier 4 region, you should not leave your area except for exceptional circumstances.

Before deciding whether or not to visit your boat at Plymouth Yacht Haven, please take the time to read the full guidance from the RYA and to decide whether or not is it appropriate for you to travel.

The Bridge Bar & Restaurant  and the Galley Kitchen are both closed until further notice.

If you have a new cough, feel unwell or have lost your sense of taste or smell, please do not visit the Yacht Haven. Follow government advice to quarantine and seek a Covid-19 test.

Please remember to wear face coverings in all indoor areas around the Yacht Haven, and complete the NHS Track & Trace registrations found on-site.

Please continue to communicate with us remotely wherever possible by calling us on 01752 404231or by email to plymouth@yachthavens.com.

Update 30th November

ENTERING TIER 2

From Wednesday 2nd December, Plymouth will be subject to Tier 2 measures under the Government's new COVID-19 restrictions.

As always, our Haven Team are on-hand 24/7 to watch over your boat. If you are visiting the marina in the coming weeks, please take time to familiarize yourself with the latest government guidelines and how they apply to boating:

• All forms of recreational boating are permitted.
• You are allowed to socialise in groups of up to 6 people from different households in outdoor settings.
• You can stay onboard if it is with those in your household or support bubbles.
• If you live in a Tier 3 area (such as Bristol, South Gloucestershire or North Somerset) you must continue to abide by your local Tier 3 restrictions even when travelling to other areas and the advice is that you should not stay overnight somewhere outside of your local area.
• Read the full guidance from the RYA
• Further restrictions apply at food & drink outlets. Read the guidance from The Bridge.

Please remember to wear face coverings in all indoor areas around the Yacht Haven, and complete the NHS Track & Trace registrations found on-site.

We reassure you our helpful Haven Team are on-site 24/7 to support you in any way we can as well as being on the pontoons, checking lines and keeping an eye on everything. Rest assured, your boat remains safe in our care.

Please continue to communicate with us remotely wherever possible by calling us on 01752 404231 or by email to plymouth@yachthavens.com.

Update 6th November

RULES FOR NOVEMBER LOCKDOWN

Thank you for your patience while we awaited guidance from the Government and marine trade associations to try and understand what restrictions are in place for this November lockdown and how they effect us all.

The Government guidance to us all is clear:

• We must stay at home as much as possible, except for specific essential circumstances
• We must avoid meeting people we do not live with
• We must follow these rules to protect our families, employees, communities, customers and the NHS.
• Read the full guidance

Our Haven Team will remain on-site 24/7
The Yacht Haven will remain open and our Haven Team are here to provide any additional checks on your boat that you might need during this lockdown. Our team are on-site 24/7 and we’re happy to follow up any checks with an email or photos for complete peace of mind.

Boatyard Operations
Our boatyard operations can continue and this includes boat lifting/launching, mast steps and other jobs. If your boat is due to be lifted this month, please advise us if you are ready for lifting with headsails removed. Our team can conduct lifts without you being present, but should you wish to attend please ensure you social distance from our staff.

• Ullman Sails are offering 25% off to Yacht Haven customers to remove main and foresails, and 10% off service and laundry charges. For sails they have removed/service, they also offer free storage for the winter.
• Hemisphere Rigging are continuing their operations and can provide additional support if you’re unable to visit your boat.

Going boating for exercise
Sport England have confirmed that boaters in England can continue to exercise on the open waterways (which includes coastal waters) so long as you are doing so:

• on your own
• with the people you live with
• with your support bubble
• Or on your own and with one person from another household.

We strongly urge you to read these rules closely and decide whether it is appropriate for you to take to the water.

Organised races through the local yacht clubs are not permitted to go ahead.

Staying Onboard Overnight
You are not permitted to stay onboard your boat unless it is your home residence. Furthermore, please do not use the marina as a place to self-isolate as this puts our staff and others at risk. Please stay at home and follow the guidance accordingly.

Marine Businesses On-Site
On-site businesses at Plymouth Yacht Haven are also continuing their operations under strict regulations. If you have work booked in with any marine trade company, or you need work undertaking this month, we encourage you to contact them directly to understand their limitations and restrictions. You can still source your boating items from Mount Batten Boat House but only by their Call & Collect service.

Food & Drink
The Bridge Bar & Restaurant and the Galley Kitchen both closed on Thursday with the hope of reopening in early December once permitted. At this time, neither outlet is offering takeaways but we will share updates if this changes.

As mentioned, our Haven Team are here on-site 24/7 to help support you in any way we can. We will be maintaining security and taking care of your boats, as well as being on the pontoons, checking lines and keeping an eye on everything. Rest assured, your boat remains safe in our care.

Please continue to communicate with us remotely wherever possible by calling us on 01752 404231 or by email to plymouth@yachthavens.com. If you need to visit the office or use the facilities, please remember to where a face mask.

Steve Kitchen,
Marina Director

Update 2nd November

NEW LOCKDOWN RULES FROM 5TH NOVEMBER

As you will no doubt be aware, new restrictions will come into effect from 00:01 on Thursday 5th November.

As always, safety is paramount and our top priority is to ensure our Yacht Haven is a safe environment for you, your boat, our visitors and our staff.

At this time, we remain open and we will continue with all our boatyard operations. However, we are seeking further guidance on how the new restrictions will affect the Yacht Haven and you, in terms of visiting your boat.

Please be assured that the team will remain on-site 7 days a week to keep a watchful eye on your boat. We are closely monitoring Government guidance and liaising with British Marine, TYHA and the RYA. We will update you by email as soon as possible.

If your boat is due to be lifted out between now and Christmas, we encourage you to take the opportunity this week to ensure she is ready to come ashore with headsails removed. If you're unable to visit your boat, rest assured we are here to help.

As soon as we have more information we will be in touch. But of course, in the meantime, if there’s anything you need us to check on your behalf, don’t hesitate to ask us. We're happy to follow up with a call and, if requested, photos.

In the meantime, keep safe and we will see you soon.

Steve Kitchen,
Director, Plymouth Yacht Haven

Update 24^th September

With Autumn upon us, getting on the water when the weather allows gains greater importance for our social, mental and physical well-being. If you are therefore visiting the Yacht Haven in the near future, there are several new laws that have come into effect that you need to be aware of.

Effective immediately, all visitors to the Marina Office and the site must complete a Track & Trace registration. This can be completed in three easy ways:

1. Download the NHS COVID-10 Contact Tracing App and scan the unique QR code to ‘check in’ which we display at the Marina Office and around our site.
2. Complete a handwritten form found at the Marina Office. Data that we collect will be stored securely for a minimum of 21 days and shared with NHS Track & Trace if requested.
3. Use your berth holder fob – all fobs are assigned to an individual boat owner and, if requested, we’ll be able to extract data via this system.

If you are visiting as part of a group, we only require one person to complete the Track & Trace process.

In addition to these new tracing laws, all visitors must now wear a face covering when using any indoor facility at the Yacht Haven including the washrooms, laundry and when visiting the Marina Office. For the protection of our staff and customers, this law also applies to all Yacht Haven staff.

We must all continue to comply with social distancing restrictions as well as measures specific to boating:

• Maintaining a 2m distance with others at all times
• Only go boating with a maximum of 6 persons, unless in exceptions as explained in this RYA guidance published on 10th September.
• If you have a new cough, feel unwell or have lost your sense of taste or smell, please do not visit the Yacht Haven. Follow government advice to quarantine and seek a Covid-19 test.
• Please wash your hands thoroughly, use our hand santizer stations on-site, and maintain high levels of hygiene at all times.

There are various changes to services at The Bridge At Mount Batten including a new 10pm closing time. You can read more about their new opening hours and safety measures here.

Please remember, if you would like us to check anything on your boat then do not hesitate to ask us, we can follow up all checks with a phone call and photos, if requested.

We remain hopeful of a long Indian Summer and plenty more days on the water, and we wish you and your loved ones good health in the weeks to come.

Steve Kitchen,
Marina Director

Update 14th September

In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement on 9th September, there are new rules regarding social interactions that impact boating and berth holders visiting their boats.

Social gatherings of more than six people are not allowed in law. The new rule applies to indoor and outdoor settings. One exception to this ‘rule of 6’ is if your household contains more than 6 people.

Organised team sports are exempt from this ‘rule of 6’. The RYA’s guidance, published on 10^th September, states that club on-water activities constitute as an organized team sport and, thus, the ‘rule of 6’ does not apply.

We are seeking guidance on how this ‘rule of 6’ applies to general leisure boating.

If you have a new cough, feel unwell or have lost your sense of taste or smell, please do not visit the Yacht Haven. Follow government advice to quarantine and seek a Covid-19 test.

We must all take responsibility to help stop the spread of Covid-19 by following these rules. Please wash your hands thoroughly, use our hand santizer stations on-site, uphold social distancing with others and maintain high levels of hygiene at all times.

Boating still remains firmly on the agenda and, following the shortened season, we share your desire to make the most of boating while the weather is mild, while hoping for a long Indian Summer.

Updated 24th June 2020 

Updated 5th June 2020

It has been great to see so many of you enjoying your boats again. There's a real air of positivity around the marina and we're all in a very fortunate position to be allowed on the water once again.

We'd like to remind you of the current restrictions that remain in place for boaters:

• For the time-being, boating can only be undertaken with members of your immediate household, or up to 5 people from outside your household as long as they are following social distancing guidelines.
• You must return to your primary residence each night. The government guidelines still restrict overnight stays at any place other than your primary home. This includes being at anchor away from a marina. To spice up your day sailing, we've thought of five great activities to make the most of your day sailing trips. Read them here
• Social distancing remains in place throughout the Yacht Haven and should continue when out on the water.
• Please avoid gathering in groups on the pontoon.

Before visiting your boat, please read our 'Safe Boating' advice to ensure you, your family, your fellow berth holders and our staff all remain safe at the Yacht Haven. Click on the poster below to enlarge it.

For the time being, our Marina Office remains closed to berth holders. Please use the intercom system on the stairwell if you require assistance, and follow the one-way system through the main building. Our team remain on-site 24/7 and are happy to provide assistance if you require.

We understand everyone wants to use the water, and we’re loath to be killjoys, however we are seeing lots of paddleboarders (SUPs) and kayakers coming in to the marina. This is not allowed, and is potentially dangerous, as big boat movements are continual at the moment. We are taking measures to prevent this, but as berth holders, please set a good example by not using watersports craft in the marina confines.

Finally, thank you to so many of you who have sent messages and tokens of thanks for the continued efforts of my team, including our cleaners, who have kept our doors open and carried out boat checking throughout the pandemic. There are literally too many for me to reply to individually, and we are all very touched by your support.

We can’t wait to see everyone back safely soon - a long summer has been ordered!

Updated 18th May 2020

In addition to our 'Safe Boating with Yacht Havens' advice published on 13th May (which you can read further below on this page), we're pleased to provide further guidance to berth holders to help you visit the Yacht Haven and go boating with confidence.

Welcome Back to Boating - Updated 13th May 2020

I would like to sincerely thank you all for adhering to government advice since the start of the lockdown, being patient and only visiting your boats for essential safety and security purposes.

Following further clarification from the government, I am very pleased to confirm that from today you will be able to once again enjoy your boats on the Sound and beyond. All forms of water sports practiced on open waterways, including sailing and the use of privately owned motorized craft, are now permitted provided they are undertaken within social distancing measures and only with members of the same household.

There are no restrictions on how far you can travel to get to the marina. However, you cannot stay overnight at a holiday home or second home which we are taking will apply to boats also. This means that for now boating is limited to day trips where you can return to the marina and then home afterwards.

We all appreciate how important it is for us all to stop the spread of Covid-19 and following a few simple suggestions will improve your safety and the safety of others and help everyone enjoy boating responsibly.

Take a look at our new safe boating guidelines to familiarise yourself before heading down to the marina: 

Our boat lifting operations have resumed and we are working through the backlog of boats that were due to be launched and lifted last month. If you’d like to discuss being lifted out or being launched off, please call us on 01752 404231 or email viki@plymouthyachthaven.com

Just being back out on the water is going to be a great relief to many of us and a perfect tonic for this period of lockdown, but we must all play within the rules and have thoughts for the frontline workers who are still battling this virus.

Please continue to stay alert and follow all the advice from the government and from our Haven Team on-site.

Looking forward to welcoming you back to your Yacht Heaven!

Steve Kitchen
Marina Director

Updated 11th May 2020

We welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement last night during which he stated that from this Wednesday, 13th May 2020, unlimited outdoor activity will be permitted in England. We understand that this will include a return to water sports.

Many measures that the Government have previously announced are still in force and this includes staying at home as much as possible, maintaining social distancing, and continuing to adhere to high levels of hygiene. The major change that is of particular interest to us all is the change in restrictions to outdoor activity allowing the potential for boating to resume.

From Wednesday, we will be very happy to welcome you back to the marina to visit your boat. Over the past few weeks we have been working hard to prepare our Yacht Haven for a controlled reopening. However, we are not yet clear on whether the government and statutory harbour authorities will allow you to head out onto The Sound, and, if we are allowed, what restrictions there might be in place.

We will be reviewing the detailed Government guidance published today (11th May) together with the further guidance to keep employees safe in the workplace, which we understand will be published tomorrow (12th May). The guidance is expected to contain a level of detail that will enable us to validate our planned procedures and consider whether any additional safeguards are needed

Please bear with us during this transitional period as it is important that we do make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep our customers and staff safe. Further updates will follow in the next few days.

Steve Kitchen
Marina Director