The stark, red-letter quarantine warning pictured above is a sign of the times. And the times are getting scary.
In Newport, Rhode Island, the harbormaster is ordering all vessels arriving from out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days. The governor of Florida just issued stay-at-home orders for 30 days. The governor of Maryland basically prohibited recreational boating there. Washington state closed all recreational fishing and closed the parks. Many marinas in Washington are closed to transients; most fuel docks are still open because they’re considered essential to commercial activity. The U.S.-Canada border is closed for recreational boats.
Across the country, the situation is fluid, as governors and even local counties adopt new laws and orders to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The changing rules and regulations make it particularly difficult and confusing for people who are currently cruising far from home, but they also pose problems for people who live in, and want to use their boats in, the affected areas.
Boat shows, owners’ rendezvous, regattas, fishing tournaments and many other normal boating activities have already been cancelled. The Norfolk, Virginia, Harborfest, an annual event since 1976, has been cancelled. Boat factories have shut down, or reduced their hours, sending workers home. The Panama Canal is still open, but the Canal Authority just sent more than 3,000 workers home for the duration because of reduced traffic.
The biggest news came from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who just issued a stay-at-home order for 30 days. The order says that “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”
It then said that the “essential activities” include “Participating in recreational activities (consistent with social distancing guidelines) such as walking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, or swimming.” Fishing is permitted. Cruising? Well, stay tuned.
In North Carolina, Gov. Ray Cooper issued a stay-at-home order but said that “hunting, fishing, boating” can continue as long as people maintain social distancing and no more than ten people gather at the same place at the same time. But he ended with this warning: “Failure to comply WILL LEAD TO CLOSURES of boating and fishing access areas. (The capitals are his.)
The immediate future of cruising in the Chesapeake is somewhat up in the air. Maryland, Delaware and Virginia have all issued stay-at-home orders. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued stringent orders with an open expiration date and fines up to $5,000 and a one-year jail sentence. The state’s Department of Natural Resources said that recreational boating there is “prohibited until the governor lifts the executive order or until the State of Emergency has ended.”
In Maryland, you can still go boating if you’re fishing for food for your family, and liveaboards can continue to stay on their boats. Kayaking and paddle boarding are permitted; they’re considered a form of exercise.
For an up-to-date listing of marinas and boating services that are open or closed, go to:
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