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ex-Gladys

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Visited Ipswich Haven once and Burnham YH twice this season, is life getting tough for Marina Ops? Last weekend I counted 64 empty berths on D&E pontoons at BYH...ALso thought £29.50 had got a little steep for 10.4 m for a night inc lecky...
 
I was in Burnham YH this last weekend and talking to an old salt, he was saying that in his opinion Burnham was dying, with fewer entrants to all races and no new blood in the clubs.

Is it just Burnham or the state of the economy or whatever. Being selfish, we enjoyed having a little more space around us. It was really nice in the upper reaches of the Crouch on Sunday afternoon, although given the weather, I suspect that it was nice in most places.
 
Sadly, numbers at BoC have been in decline for 25+ years. I believe I am correct in saying that the numbers for Burnham Week will support this. Or, do they? Probably, but there may be a reason.

Several new classes have emerged in recent years about which I know very little. Perhaps these new classes have attracted sailors from older, more established classes that would normally have taken part in Burnham Week but are now attending other events around the country. Perhaps the number of sailors has not declined but appears to have done so due to a change in demographics.

Just a thought.
 
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With increasing numbers of empty marina berths, I continue to wonder what's happened to the boats. Generally speaking, anyone paying marina berthing fees isn't sailing a complete wreck. So do they go off to swinging moorings? But swinging moorings aren't that plentiful. Of course, maybe some boats at the end of their lives are scrapped, freeing up space, but it's actually quite difficult to dispose of an old boat, so what's happened to them?
 
pvb said:
With increasing numbers of empty marina berths, I continue to wonder what's happened to the boats. Generally speaking, anyone paying marina berthing fees isn't sailing a complete wreck. So do they go off to swinging moorings? But swinging moorings aren't that plentiful. Of course, maybe some boats at the end of their lives are scrapped, freeing up space, but it's actually quite difficult to dispose of an old boat, so what's happened to them?
Click to expand...

Andy Seedhouse rehomes them.
 
There are not many spaces at Bradwell. Perhaps sensible pricing has helped them. No rise for 3 years then 2% this year. There still seem to be a lot of boats on the hard.

Has N. Fambridge put in the facilities on the south bank yet?
 
Foxs is full to bursting at the mo.....rafted up everywhere.
Although that may also be to do with boats coming in for work, being worked on and still being there after being worked on as opposed to berth holders.
 
philiphurst said:
Sadly, numbers at BoC have been in decline for 25+ years. I believe I am correct in saying that the numbers for Burnham Week will support this. Or, do they? Probably, but there may be a reason..
Click to expand...

What is BoC? I noticed that Burnham week has declined over the years, and about two years ago I asked why? of this forum. Somebody pointed out to me that having at least part of your annual leave at Burnham, which might be wet, is not as attractive a proposition as going away to almost guaranteed sun, especially as there are now many cheap flights abroad, so blame Mr O'Leary
 
I paused from competing in Burnham Week for a variety of reasons
1/ I got older and couldn't party so well.
2/ Fewer big boats came because of more competition from other events. = less "buzz"
3/ The clubs started charging evening entrance fees, so the younger element couldn't afford to trawl the clubs; = less "buzz" in the evenings.
4/ Committee boat starts instead of Pile House = less "buzz"
5/ the crew I'd bred and trained got poached to sail on better boats = more work for me.
6/ generally so little "buzz" didn't make it so attractive.

The dinghy scene seems to be on the up though, grand daughters very much into that.
 
DanTribe said:
I paused from competing in Burnham Week for a variety of reasons
1/ I got older and couldn't party so well.
2/ Fewer big boats came because of more competition from other events. = less "buzz"
3/ The clubs started charging evening entrance fees, so the younger element couldn't afford to trawl the clubs; = less "buzz" in the evenings.
4/ Committee boat starts instead of Pile House = less "buzz"
5/ the crew I'd bred and trained got poached to sail on better boats = more work for me.
6/ generally so little "buzz" didn't make it so attractive.

The dinghy scene seems to be on the up though, grand daughters very much into that.
Click to expand...

7) failure to recognise the increase in potential in Class 6 white sails cruisers, then treating them very second class. No buzz at all.
 
Oh yeah, and another thing.
Got beaten by Full Circle, still with his dodgers on.
You might, at least, have pretended you were trying!:D
 
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