Anchoring!

[photodog]

Every year we seem to have fewer and fewer choices for dropping the hook in the major anchorages... So, talk now is of Starhole bay being off the agenda, Fowey is a no-no, Helford is now very difficult....

I think that major harbours should provide a specific sheltered area that is set aside as a small boat anchorage... instead of craming them full of expensive visitors moorings.

I think we should start a campaign for West Country Anchoring... I propose to call this the Westcountry Anchoring Campain... or WANC for short.

Whose with me!!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jhr]

I would raise my hand but it's, erm a bit busy at the moment............. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[phantomlady]

I agree.
Falmouth does have a specific anchoring area - although they do charge for the pleasure. There is a 'no charge' anchoring spot too but they like to keep quiet about it!

 

[jerryat]

Yep, count me in! I'm bluddy furious about the acceleration of money-grabbing in what, for hundreds of years, were free anchorages, and Falmouth is as bad as the others. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Thank the Lord, this virus hasn't yet spread to Plymouth and her rivers.

 

[Litotes]

[ QUOTE ]
Every year we seem to have fewer and fewer choices for dropping the hook in the major anchorages... So, talk now is of Starhole bay being off the agenda, Fowey is a no-no, Helford is now very difficult....



[/ QUOTE ]

Heartbreaking to think how things in that glorious part of the world have changed (for the worse) I did much of my early sailing in the west country and Brittany and can recall many nights spent at anchor in Fowey, Falmouth, Helford, Salcombe etc. (and hours in the shelter of Gammon Head waiting for the tide over Salcombe bar) No question of paying. In fact I have never paid to anchor in all my sailing career.

This is one great advantage of my current home cruising ground in the east. We don't normally anchor in the confines of harbours, but in sheltered and, generally, uncrowded creeks where there is no question of having to pay. Even where they are more crowded (like the lovely "Secret Water" of Ransome's book, which has been somewhat overrun as a result of the huge increase in marina berths in the Orwell) they are still available for anchoring. We are saved by the inaccessibility of these creeks by land. There are also still plenty of places where you can use a mooring or lie alongside pilings completely free (although in one place I have in mind you might get asked to put some money behind the bar at the pub "for the lads" if you actually offer to pay)

Not so good if you want to go ashore and enjoy the apres sail entertainment, but for the more contemplative soul that's no loss. Alas for the lovely rias and estuaries and the ancient harbours of the west country.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Where's the no charge place then? I have never had a problem in the Helford as I am not overly concerned about ploughing up a bit of eel grass and it's inhabitants as ships have been doing for centuries before me and I now use it in preference to Falmouth, which is a pitty as I like a pint of Bass in the Severn Stars.

 

[TiggerToo]

Count me in: up with the wancers...
Are we going to have a logo? We could ask Csail to make some vinyl stickers!

 

[pollygonforty]

JUst as amatter of interest has anybody ever refused to pay for being at anchor and what was the outcome??the reason for asking this question is that I'm sure there must be some ancient decree giving you the right to claim a safe anchorage free of charge

 

[pollygonforty]

Any way fair winds to the wancers somebody has to make a stand!

 

[NealB]

Yes...I'd like to apply to become a WANCER.

The modern situation is ridiculous, and the only people who have taken any sort of action is Sailing Today.

I 'blacked' Salcombe some years ago because of their money grabbing attitude.

 

[libertyman]

As I recall there was quite a lot written in Sailing Today about 4 or 5 years ago by some QC who was arguing exactly this point and that everybody had the right to anchor free of charge anywhere they liked. Does anybody know what became of that campaign?

 

[Saguday]

I remember that, it was within the last couple of years. Well argued and well written. I'd also like to know what became of the legal case promised.

I'm probably a wancer too, so a member by default

 

[doug748]

Good post.
Whats happening with Starhole Bay then?
St Mawes is another spot on the pay to anchor bandwagon...
We should pool our ideas and produce......a handbook.

 

[rwoofer]

Count me in.

I currently protest by not bringing my custom to any harbour that charges, but we all need to do that for them to get the message.

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
We should pool our ideas and produce......a handbook.

[/ QUOTE ]
No, persuade the tourist board to do it, fight them with there own kind, sort of divide and conquer

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Or maybe YM should produce a guide to free anchorages, and list the charges for those that do so....

 

[Noddy]

Even though I sail on the east coast, I would also like to be considered a wancer!

P

 

[HoratioHB]

Interesting - when the Naval Air Station at Portland was closed some years back the MOD counted on money coming in from the sale. That was until it was pointed out that most of the land was reclaimed and as it had been below the high water mark actually belonged to the Crown. It would seem therefore that the seabed below the high water mark does not actually belong to the people who are charging money for its use. Maybe the Crown should be told!!!!!!!!!

 

[Angele]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe the Crown should be told!!!!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Noooooo !!!

If I recall correctly the legal debate in Sailing Today referred to case referred to by LIBERTYMAN above concerned charges imposed by the Crown Estate Commissioners. If my memory serves me, I think they were some of the worst at seeking to charge for anchoring.

 

[wotayottie]

The MOD belongs to the crown so I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

Anyway, you might or might not have to pay for sticking your anchor in crown mud. But dont forget that harbour dues are a different and additional charge where they apply, and harbours often extend legally far beyond the harbour walls. I believe thats the case with Falmouth - all the anchoring areas there are are within the harbour so you are subject to byelaws and charges

Any idea of freedom to anchor is unrealistic. Even if you could find someone to take the whole thing through the legal system at huge cost, and even if they won, do you think the govt would leave it at that and make up the harbour authorities lost revenuies from general taxation? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif