Anchorage or mooring?...

[Channel Ribs]

If a boat owner were to drop an over-sized anchor in an apropriate and safe spot and then disconnect the chain from the bow and attach it to a mooring buoy, would that be a mooring?

Also, in open water which is designated as an anchorage, who would be the contolling organisation?

 

[wotayottie]

In what sense do you use the word "mooring". If its a legal definition you want then you need a lawyer. From a practical point of view, people often used to lay not one but two anchors, joined by a chain, then using a riser etc to make a mooring for the season.

To my mind the difference is that a boat at anchor remains attached to the anchor and lifts it when it moves. A mooring is an anchor or set of anchors that you leave behind when you sail off and recover on your return. But thats my view - a courts view could well be totally different if you are having an argument with some local authority / landowner etc.

 

[Krusty]

We occasionally lay our (twin) bower anchors on twin chains, join them, and pay out more chain: that is secure when pulled from any direction and the boat could be left without crew for a while in (relative) safety: it is a 'temporary mooring' and is not normaly subject to attention by the authorities, e.g. Crown Estates Commisioners. We have occasionally gone day-sailing from such a mooring, with only my kedge anchors on board.
However, when I used over-sized anchors and chains, with swivels, to lay such a mooring as my 'home mooring', with a boy to support the riser and left for a month's cruising it would probably have been regarded as a 'permanent mooring' (without authorisation!)
In practice, and perhaps in official and legal terms, the difference is whether the whole thing is assembled from what could recognised/accepted as a yacht's normal ground tackle by custom and practice.
The ground tackle some yachts carry is impressive in weight and quantity, but a reliable all-seasons permanent mooring would probably not be credible as nornal ground tackle for even the most seriously adventurous cruising!
Like yourself, I would be interested in an authoritative answer from someone who really knows the various Authorities' position on this, and any legal definitions!

 

[Dalliance]

This remains a lgal nightmare and was extensively covered a couple of years ago in Sailing Today when a High Court judge decided to review the as as it pertains to mooring rights and charges by harbour authorities.

 

[Slow_boat]

I think that a mooring is something that is permanently or semi-permanently attatched to the sea bed and is left in situ when the boat leaves.

 

[srp]

[ QUOTE ]
This remains a legal nightmare and was extensively covered a couple of years ago in Sailing Today

[/ QUOTE ] Absolutely right - the Sailing Today coverage was extensive, and they had the help of a 'tame' legal expert. Apparently a judge made a silly interpretation of the law and effectively took away the centuries old right of being able to lay to ones own ground tackle without charge. The result is now complete confusion, with all the unscrupulous harbour authorities/owners taking full advantage. Some, however, are doing it correctly - the National Trust at Newtown for instance - they used to charge for anchoring but the warden now says that payment is not necessary but contributions are welcome. This honest approach probably leads to them collecting as much or more in 'contributions' and leaves everyone feeling happy. Beaulieu still charge for anchoring (some say this is legally dubious, but Beaulieu is a bit of a special case I think, because of some historical royal charter to do with HenryVIII having a nightmare).
As far as I know from what I've read, the age-old right to lay to ones' own ground tackle has seafarers safety at its heart, shelter from the storm and all that. As a result there are a number of sheltered spots where boats are moored for free, coming and going from the bouys as they please. The ground tackle can be anything- anchor, concrete block, rusty Lister diesel engine etc.