Coronavirus: impatience of sea lovers

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

Prime Minister Édouard Philippe ruled out opening access to the beaches before June 2 during his last speech on the terms of the deconfinement from May 11. Voices are raised against this decision.

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For several days, calls have multiplied to free up the beaches and for reasoned access to the coast of France. Petitions have even been launched so that the practice of sports activities is authorized individually as for cyclists or those who run. Access to the beaches is prohibited until June 2.

"  I did not understand this ban as silly as the limited slots for sports in big cities ," said Michel Desjoyeaux, double winner of the Vendée Globe, on his Twitter account. Leaving large open spaces that are freely accessible means allowing walks with greater distance  ”.

Physical activity for a fixed period without grouping

A petition has been launched for the four prefects on the Atlantic coast of France. It calls for a reopening of the beaches of the coast for surfers, swimmers, joggers, walkers and any other person practicing a physical activity for a determined period without regrouping.

The French navigator, sporty and lifeguard at sea Anne Quéméré calls for common sense for a reopening of access to the beaches. “ To go lay your towel right now in Brittany, you have to be very motivated, we had good days but that is no longer the case. [..] We are in the process of completely disempowering ourselves. Which means that yes, we have attitudes that will go in the opposite direction because we have the impression of being deprived of everything and in a totally unjustified manner. And it bothers me. If there is a movement to free our beaches, I will be part of it, I will be at the head of the procession, ”she reacted in the columns of Ouest France .

Tanning no, activity yes

At the initiative of Liliana Tanguy, MP for Finistère, member of La République en Marche, and of Bertrand Sorre, also member of the presidential party, MP for La Manche, sixty parliamentarians wrote to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports, request the reopening of the beaches in two stages for sports such as surfing, kitesurfing, sea kayaking, sailing or even swimming. Without forgetting also leisure activities such as walks or fishing on foot.

The idea, until the beginning of June, is to set up a “dynamic beach” system while avoiding a sedentary lifestyle on the sand. You don't settle with your towel for sunbathing, but on the other hand, it makes other physical activities possible. "  Surfing is in the nails for a resumption of activity from May 11 while waiting for the reopening of the beaches,  " said Jean-Luc Arassus, president of the French Surfing Federation who defended this transitional solution to give the access to the ocean for a sporting activity.

Surf like in Tahiti

Saturday, May 2, in full containment, three surfers were sailing near the beach of Trez Goarem in Esquibien in Finistère. Two of them took off to avoid control of the gendarmerie. In difficulty, they had to be rescued by the National Society for Sea Rescue.

The French Sailing Federation has just started an awareness campaign with practitioners so that they do not wait until the end of confinement before resuming their license and their membership fees from their clubs. An essential solidarity gesture to allow clubs to clear their horizons and allow the good organization of nautical activities at the time of deconfinement. As for professional navigators, they will be able to go out to sea for the day, from May 11, taking into account all the barrier measures.  

Meanwhile, in Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia, on April 29, we returned to surfing after a very long wait, thanks to the reduction in containment measures on the South Pacific side, which enabled surfers to reconnect with their vital element.

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