PROBLEMS WITH SEA VOYAGES IN THE DAYS OF COVID
In the modern world, everything without any exception is related to Covid 19 and the restrictive regimes associated with it. All measures against the viral phenomenon can be observed both on land and at sea.
It is well-known, that the most popular countries, renowned like famous yachting destinations, are usually the poorest ones. Naturally, they are the last to receive vaccines, and a lot of problems occurred with the vaccination. This usually means that you actually are heading to countries, that initially have problems with health care and enough supply of medicines. Probably In 2022, many of the above-mentioned problems may be largely under control and the risk will be much lower.
It turns out, that some regions remain virtually out of normal limits: most of the South Pacific is either closed to newcomers, or fully occupied. Sometimes it can be both. Even yachts that have reached Australia or New Zealand have faced breathtaking quarantine regimes, regarding the movement of vessels and their admission to ports. It may be better for you to change your travel plans to a certain country mainly to reduce the potential risk. If you plan to embark on the seas with a yacht during Covid 19, this seems to be more than an important decision.
The experience, gained in the past 2020 in crossing the Atlantic, and in cruises with a route along the southern tip of the Caribbean Sea, speaks for itself. We all are witnessing how the situation there was changed daily, and the requirements for the all arriving vessels - weekly. So, it may be a bright decision to choose a large country (or two) where you’d like to go, and spend most of your time there. Our advice is to keep traveling, but do not move too far from the port.
It has been observed also, that people get tired of the endless changes in requirements and finally just grab their luggage and head to the most wanted destination. They are trying to adjust their plans and schedules only when they arrive, and that's not always a smart idea.
Usually, if four-five, or six boats show up without warning, governments feel disrespected, and produced more and more demands on them, despite their efforts to do the right thing.
The need to cross the Strait of Mozambique non-stop, was not the only impact Covid 19 had on most world travelers. Jannecke and Witze also spent 11 weeks at the peak of the pandemic anchored in the Maldives: “Kindness and compassion are at the core of the cruising community: we must all work to ensure that this is going to continue for the next traveling generations.
“The most rewarding thing we did was buy a lot of information in the Maldives,” Janneke recalls. “It was 40 ° C every day, with high humidity. We were not allowed ashore. The presence of a large amount of the Internet makes your brain busy: you can explore possible options, develop plans A, B, C ... "
They also used it for WhatsApp groups at anchorages so that cruisers could quickly share information.
Joshua Shankle, who spent three months on an uninhabited Pacific atoll at the pick of the pandemic, agrees:
“After Covid left us in such isolation in 2020, we have a new respect for cellular and satellite networks. Thank God, we had a GarminInReach on board, which was useful for communicating and receiving news updates when we were offline.
“The most rewarding thing we did was buy a lot of information in the Maldives,” Janneke recalls. “It was 40 ° C every day, with high humidity. We were not allowed ashore. A large amount of the Internet makes your brain busy: you can explore possible options, develop plans A, B, C ... "