So we sailors have to suffer constraints on anchoring put in place by so called experts, with no real knowledge of boats, who rely on other so called experts research. As nothing is published, they conclude there is a problem that must be solved. Oldharry has also mentioned that in the early 1930's the eelgrass in most of Europe was almost wiped out by a disease and some research was published in the mid 1930's - this is only a survey by a few students under the direction of a naturalist lecturer and did a quick survey of Studland. Photographic evidence is not acceptable, even though this goes back over 60 years. Talk about blinkered vision by MMO and NE.The key thing that the consos won't accept is that even if there is damage from anchoring the grass grows again quickly. This is a characteristic of eel grass as opposed to the fragile seagrass, and is central to the argument. But as oldharry has said many times, the lack of any "published/expert" research or opinion means NE does not accept this - even though all the local observational evidence confirms this to be the case.
Unfortunately the RYA start from the position of acceptance that anchoring is doing appreciable damage to the eelgrass. Perhaps they should provide evidence? I used to anchor in Studland Bay with a CQR anchor which did drag sometimes and may have caused some damage. However over the last 4 or 5 years I have used a Manson Supreme and have had no dragging incidents. I believe modern anchors cause minimal damage to the eelgrass and this has never been taken into account.
Yes this is a fundamental shift of attitude by the RYA in very recent years. I worked quite closely with them on these issues in 2010 - 2015 leading to the production fo the first 'Anchoring with care' leaflet, the latest version of which has been so diluted down as to be pretty well useless. At that point their view was that anchoring caused at worse minor disturbance and would quote the evidence BORG listed in support of that view. They fully endorsed and supported BORG's view and stand. Nowadays all I get is a polite but dismissive 'thank you for your views'.Unfortunately the RYA start from the position of acceptance that anchoring is doing appreciable damage to the eelgrass. Perhaps they should provide evidence? I used to anchor in Studland Bay with a CQR anchor which did drag sometimes and may have caused some damage. However over the last 4 or 5 years I have used a Manson Supreme and have had no dragging incidents. I believe modern anchors cause minimal damage to the eelgrass and this has never been taken into account.
Go to the top ? There's a letter I wrote to Sarah Treseder with email address on another thread. Too difficult to find and paste a link using the mobile but not hard to find on a full fat deviceSo eddystone and mainsail1 have you emailed the RYA (eg Stuart Carruthers) to express your views?
They can only represent their members if their members inform them of their views.
And I am absolutely certain that the RYA Cruising team’s response to Studland is not influenced by “Olympic funding”, as people wrongly but repeatedly state, which comes through very different routes.
So eddystone and mainsail1 have you emailed the RYA (eg Stuart Carruthers) to express your views?
They can only represent their members if their members inform them of their views.
And I am absolutely certain that the RYA Cruising team’s response to Studland is not influenced by “Olympic funding”, as people wrongly but repeatedly state, which comes through very different routes.
Yes I will tonightSo eddystone and mainsail1 have you emailed the RYA (eg Stuart Carruthers) to express your views?
They can only represent their members if their members inform them of their views.
And I am absolutely certain that the RYA Cruising team’s response to Studland is not influenced by “Olympic funding”, as people wrongly but repeatedly state, which comes through very different routes.
Think RYA position will be carefully calibrated so as to a) not appear to be dangerously out of line with "correct thinking" (that sounds very Chinese doesn't it!) in the corridors of government, b) avoid creating any hostility to RYA in government/quasi government bodies when it comes to handing out grants, especially Olympic funding, c) "appear" to represent its members, of which cruising yachties, particularly those that venture outside the marina to marina bus routes, are a minority. I don't see RYA going out on a limb over Studland. I needed to be a member for many years as my daughter was going through the RYA training squad system, but I'm not so sure now.