From Colregs to Covregs?

While giving my little Drascombe some (more) TLC the other day, I found myself wondering when she would ever venture forth again? Doubtless many of your readers will feel the same about their own boats.

Then I began to muse about social distancing after we have all been allowed out of lockdown. Perhaps it’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but maybe those of us who sail already have a ready-made code of conduct that would help matters – Colregs. It would be easy to imagine a set of similar rules to apply to pedestrians:

Someone crossing with another person on their right-hand side keeps clear and avoids crossing ahead.

Overtaking person keeps clear.

Windward person keeps clear (and must not cough?).

People approaching from opposite directions must pass left-hand-to-left-hand, at a safe distance.

Anyone being crowded into a hazard has the right to request ‘room to turn’.

Perhaps those who have been tested for COVID-19 must fly a yellow Q flag to show they are healthy. Might others need W, if they require medical assistance? Perhaps we even need to display nav lights at night, to help those who are out on the town?

Should someone pushing a supermarket trolley display ‘ball, diamond, ball’ to indicate that they are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre? Perish the thought that we adopt racing rules, and start to argue about the ‘three-people-length’ rule!

Anyway, the list could go on... I’m sure other readers could have fun by adding to it, given the opportunity in these days of enforced non-sailing.