Restrictions: What you need to know about the start of the season under Corona

The start of the season is fast approaching and it is still far from clear under what conditions it can take place. Under lock-down conditions, a first crew moored in Großenbrode at the weekend in a harbour that is not their permanent berth and were promptly checked by the water police. After it became clear that the owner did not have a mooring there, they had to leave again. The crew and the harbour operator were threatened with a fine of 2,000 euros.

What at first glance sounds like a somewhat naïve attempt to circumvent the lockdown, however, has a serious background: the craning of yachts from winter storage on the coast and inland is gradually beginning, which is also legal if the distance and assembly rules are observed, or, for example, if a service company carries out the craning.

The problem for the owner is that if the berth is elsewhere, he must sail directly to the harbour that is also the permanent berth. On the way, it is not allowed to stop in any other harbour in Schleswig-Holstein or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as this falls under the accommodation ban of the lockdown. In both states, this applies until 22 March, when the federal and state ministers meet again to discuss further steps. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, nobody is even allowed to enter the state for tourism purposes until further notice. Only owners can travel to their boat for winter work.

Although Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Günther has publicly stated that he believes an Easter holiday on the coast could be possible, these are of course nothing more than non-binding statements. At present, owners are only allowed to leave the harbour of their permanent berth, sail on the Baltic Sea and then return there.

This means that not only owners are waiting to see if and how the season will really start for them, but also charter crews. "Our season actually starts in the first week of April, but it is currently unclear whether we will have to cancel these customers," says Dirk Kadach from the Heiligenhafen Charter Centre. "The harbour is closed for tourist use and we are not allowed to let people on the boats." The Heiligenhafen centre is currently in the process of bringing its ships from winter storage to the bases. Fortunately, nothing stands in the way as this is being done by their own employees. The bases will therefore be ready to go at Easter; whether the lockdown will allow this remains to be seen.

The situation for charter crews in the Mediterranean is also still unclear. In some countries, such as Italy (with the exception of Sardinia) or France, the incidence figures are currently high, at over 200. France, Italy, Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands), Croatia (except Istria), Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Turkey are currently on the RKI's risk country list, and are therefore subject to a ten-day quarantine on return, from which you can only be released after five days. In some areas, lockdowns are also currently in force, for example in Greece or Italy (by region), which last until at least the end of the month. In addition, when returning from such countries, you must complete the digital entry declaration and provide proof of a test no later than 48 hours after entering the country. Anyone travelling from Sweden or Slovenia even needs a negative test before crossing the border, as these two countries are currently on the list of high-risk areas.