A little question about Moorings

J

jessiewantstosail

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Hi there,
I was wondering when you go on holiday as a yacht owner, sailing down the coast to another city for a week for example, how far in advance do you normally rent a mooring? does it take a lot of time to find the right berth or swing mooring? are there any problems that regularly come up?
Thanks very much!
 
There are very many variables but I would start by suggesting a couple of days. Locally there are normally a few empty swinging moorings and I think the marinas all have a few spare berths. You must use common sense when it comes to busy times of the year, especially if there are events occurring. As for city to city I think you need to be more specific.
Just phone in advance and ask.
 
Welcome to the Forum.

Most yachts use visitor moorings. The rules about using a private mooring will differ from area to area.
 
You mostly just turn up and contact the harbour master or marina.
Only very busy harbours like Yarmouth IoW require, or even allow you to book ahead at peak times.
 
First come, first served in most places. But I've never arrived at a marina and found there was no place in the inn, so to speak! The only regular exception I'm aware of round the Clyde is Tarbert during the Scottish Series, but everyone knws that one and doesn't go there unless involved in the racing. Visitor moorings are definitely first come, first served, but most places there's space to anchor if a mooring isn't available.
 
good advice given above.
I would just add that another consideration is if that port is having it's regatta.
On the English South Coast this starts at say Penzance and IIRC moves East , sort of a week at atime.

At other times I would echo the advice already given.
Rare you will not find anywhere.
I once moored alongside the rubbish skip in the Bag at Salcombe cos it was the only place left , then someone else raftyed up to me !
 
The idea of booking ahead seems wrong to me, though I can't put my finger on why.

Exceptions are when you're visiting as a large group of boats (club rallies etc) or for a specific event that will be very busy.

Pete
 
prv said:
The idea of booking ahead seems wrong to me, though I can't put my finger on why.

Exceptions are when you're visiting as a large group of boats (club rallies etc) or for a specific event that will be very busy.

Pete
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I think the wrongness stems from a feeling that it is tempting fate to make such hard and fast plans in advance :)
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I think the wrongness stems from a feeling that it is tempting fate to make such hard and fast plans in advance :)
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I think it's more because it feels like it's encouraging those who would marinarise everywhere, so that sailing only ever consists of pre-planned hops between officially-designated boat parks with staff on-hand and full facilities.

Pete
 
It all depends on how long you intend to stay put in one place. If you are planning to leave your boat for a week or so, definitely worth ringing ahead to make sure a berth is likely to be available for the period. Odd days/nights you shouldn't ever need to book (except possibly on popular weekends). Peoples' plans are generally weather dependent. If the weather's good for you to move on to your next port, some people already there will probably be moving on themselves to make space for you. But if the weather's generally bad, you can expect people to pile up towards the end of a week's holiday in the same place of shelter eg St Peter Port can get very busy during a westerly blow, as more and more people arrive there to await a break in the weather to get back to the English south coast. But no-one has ever been turned away, even if they have to raft you up temporarily on ferry jetties.

Of course if you are travelling in a rally, generally worthwhile the rally organisers making early contact with the places to be visited, so as to avoid any conflict with other rallies and of course to take advantage of any discounts available.
 
Another point no-one has mentioned is that there are many, many places where at weekends and/or the height of the season, you need to plan on arriving quite early in the day to be sure of getting a mooring for the night.
 
I have found this thread astonishing. I sail mainly on the West Coast of Scotland, where although more yacht facilities are appearing, most boats are happy to rely on their own anchors. For that reason, we have no need to book ahead, but have complete freedom to explore and use the hundreds of natural sheltered anchorages that we are blessed with. Thanks to the perception of bad weather and midges, we don't have the population pressures of some areas. Long may it continue.
 
NormanS said:
I have found this thread astonishing. I sail mainly on the West Coast of Scotland, where although more yacht facilities are appearing, most boats are happy to rely on their own anchors. For that reason, we have no need to book ahead, but have complete freedom to explore and use the hundreds of natural sheltered anchorages that we are blessed with. Thanks to the perception of bad weather and midges, we don't have the population pressures of some areas. Long may it continue.
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We are indeed lucky. I was amazed to read an article on anchoring in one of the magazines recently which said, in effect, "You may have to do this in an emergency some time so why not try it for a couple of hours on a nice day as practice". Not that I have anything against marinas, you understand, but only using them would mean missing so much.
 
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