Tinkering instead of sailing: How YACHT readers saved themselves from the corona bans

The past few weeks have not been easy. For a long time, there were no clear announcements from the state governments as to when sailing would be possible again - and under what conditions. While there were never any strict bans in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, the areas in the south and north were in an artificial coma for a long time.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania only opened its harbours after Easter, at least for locals. From Monday, Schleswig-Holstein will also allow water sports again. And by Ascension Day, it is hoped that it may be possible to set sail again throughout Germany.

However, the late start also had something good for some. Gardens have never been tidier, dogs and masters fitter, the place tidier. And because most of the owners didn't even get to their boats to get them ready for the season, or didn't get to the jetties to cast off, many escaped the dreariness of sitting on dry land by doing something else. The results are worthy of all honour - from tactical training with salt dough optis, terrace refits and garden pond conversions to a veritable 1:12 model of a 505.

Here is the gallery of our readers' methadone programmes. Spoiler alert: one of them got through without a sailing ban!