Beaucette Marina website

Hi Piers
Think I'm losing the plot. I can't find either of the two "mistakes" that I thought I saw earlier. It's the medication!!
Obviously your proof reading was done properly.
Punctuation could be improved though:)
New Rating now 9.5/10
 
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whisper said:
Hi Piers
Think I'm losing the plot. I can't find either of the two "mistakes" that I thought I saw earlier. It's the medication!!
Obviously your proof reading was done properly.
Punctuation could be improved though:)
New Rating now 9.5/10
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Most gracious whisper! I now have two tasks - first, I must return to specsavers; second, I need to retake English language O level (oops, that shows my age).

Do knock on Play d'eau if you come to Beaucette. It would be great to meet and have a beer or several.
 
petem said:
Piers, can the marina accessed in all weathers (winds and sea states)?
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Hi Petem,

No is the straight answer. Specifically, when the wind is strong from the NE a swell can develop in the entrance which can be a nuisance, especially if it's at an angle.

However, let me put that into context. In 18 years of regularly using Beaucette, and over the last few years when Beaucette has been my home port, there's only been one occasion when I wish I'd known better.

I'd come up from Jersey at the end of the season on the second highest spring tide of the year. At Jersey it was a NE4, forecast to freshen. A nasty out of tune duet. We knew we shouldn't have gone, but we had a wedding to go to and the pressure was on. We cast off - should have know better.

By Guernsey, the wind had freshened to a NE6 and there was a pronounced swell.

The trip up the Little Russel was horrid. I now know the inside route so that shouldn't effect me so much now, but at the time it was horrid.

We entered Beaucette's fairway at HW plus 2.5hrs. There was a swell and the tide was running across the entrance. But we made it, unscathed, just exhausted.

Lessons learned? Prat decision 1 was to let the pressure override the decision to stay safe and sound in Jersey. No 2 was to go past St Peter Port.

On the plus side, even with horrible conditions Beaucette's entrance was OK. In a strange way, that's a comfort factor.

Since that time, I made a point of understanding the entrance properly, and that's why you'll see the comments about the dog leg a couple of hundred metres off the entrance (http://www.beaucettemarina.com/navigation/marina-entrance/). Get this bit understood and it's a far easier straight in approach. So much easier. Wish I'd know that at the time.

However, as I say, it's only been once in almost 20 years of using the marina, and even then I shouldn't have been out. So the real point - I made an error of judgement.

No damage except to my pride.

Coming back to your qn, if in a motorboat, I'd see what it's like if its NE / E F5+ and been blowing for some time. Certainly, I'd call Ch80 or the mobile number for advice. It's the NE/E that does it.

99% of the time the entrance in fine. It just looks a challenge given the high-rise cliffs either side. But it's 15m wide at 3m water over the sill.

Apologies for the ramble, but I felt I needed to answer from a personal viewpoint.

Has that helped, so to speak?

PS - we made the wedding.
 
Thepipdoc said:
Here a pic Piers kindly took and later email to me.
It looks quite threatening but it's a doddle really! (Not!!)
Thanks Piers - Interesting thread.
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Good to hear from you. Pleased you liked the pic. You left at quite a low tide so it wasn't as wide as it can be - it always looks far worse than it really is doesn't it?

Happy Christmas.
 
Well done Piers, what a great site. Interesting to read about the 60m depth and all the equipment down there - maybe worth adding that to the webpage? Hope all's well with you and Play D'eau, still pleased with the results of the re-fit?
Happy Christmas and hope to finally bump into you next year.
 
Hi LJS,

Good question about the Play d'eau refit. In the New Year I'll be posting about some of the areas that 'went wrong', 'are going wrong', or 'needing good weather to correct'.

Re the kit at the bottom of the quarry? I'm told by one of the harbour divers that at about 12m, you suddenly enter a layer of almost pitch black murk. Apart from ground obstacles and buildings, there are many chains that hang down under the pontoons keeping them in place. Chains are used because it's simply too deep to have pilings.

In other words, not a diver friendly place. On the other hand, a great challenge! Must be some wonderful relics down there.
 
For one reason or another, I had never got to Beaucette until this year. Can't wait to go back again as it's such a beautiful place.

Being Jersey born, I've been to St. PP by boat, ferry or plane, a million times - doesn't really feel like I've been anywhere so I tend to miss Guernsey and go elsewhere these days. But Beaucette is so different from St PP and anywhere else for that matter!

Perfect weather when we went in July, so peaceful & quiet in the evening. Had a lovely walk along the north coast bays and it was also nice to meet one of the liveaboards, the owner of Blue Finch, the only sister vessel to mine that I'm aware of.

Shame I missed out on the warm welcome when I arrived - my only sensible option was to go alongside a big Dutch yacht but the skipper claimed "it was not possible". Got the "leaving early" BS etc etc. Couldn't get the staff to sort it out as the young lad who I'm told was on duty had buggered off early to go out on the lash it seemed! We showed cloggie it certainly was possible by sticking 2 boats outside of him anyway and no, he didn't leave early!

My only other criticisms of the place are too much light pollution from the flood lights in the car park. Also the shower block, although nice and modern and clean, were absolutely crawling with cockroaches!

Re the website - excellent job, huge improvement over the old one. Couldn't find any prices though? Also if it were possible to keep an up to date fuel price, that would be nice to see.

A couple of minor typos I spotted:
Fuel page - top line - I think it should say "...is on the hammerhead of pontoon B"
Quarry to Marina under the heading Beaucette Quarry in 1965 - "the quarry had ceased to used" - not quite Queen's English!

Sorry, feel an arse for pointing these things out when I'm hardly one to talk!
 
JSYmartini said:
For one reason or another, I had never got to Beaucette until this year. Can't wait to go back again as it's such a beautiful place.

Being Jersey born, I've been to St. PP by boat, ferry or plane, a million times - doesn't really feel like I've been anywhere so I tend to miss Guernsey and go elsewhere these days. But Beaucette is so different from St PP and anywhere else for that matter!

Perfect weather when we went in July, so peaceful & quiet in the evening. Had a lovely walk along the north coast bays and it was also nice to meet one of the liveaboards, the owner of Blue Finch, the only sister vessel to mine that I'm aware of.

Shame I missed out on the warm welcome when I arrived - my only sensible option was to go alongside a big Dutch yacht but the skipper claimed "it was not possible". Got the "leaving early" BS etc etc. Couldn't get the staff to sort it out as the young lad who I'm told was on duty had buggered off early to go out on the lash it seemed! We showed cloggie it certainly was possible by sticking 2 boats outside of him anyway and no, he didn't leave early!

My only other criticisms of the place are too much light pollution from the flood lights in the car park. Also the shower block, although nice and modern and clean, were absolutely crawling with cockroaches!

Re the website - excellent job, huge improvement over the old one. Couldn't find any prices though? Also if it were possible to keep an up to date fuel price, that would be nice to see.

A couple of minor typos I spotted:
Fuel page - top line - I think it should say "...is on the hammerhead of pontoon B"
Quarry to Marina under the heading Beaucette Quarry in 1965 - "the quarry had ceased to used" - not quite Queen's English!

Sorry, feel an arse for pointing these things out when I'm hardly one to talk!
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Don't apologise! Typos corrected. Light pollution? Hadn't thought about it but on reflection (excuse the pun) I think you have a point which I will take up with Ricky.

Re the prices, I've been asked not to publish them, but I'll ask again.

Re Fuel, prices are always competitive in Guernsey, so it's always best to call Ricky with the amount you need and you'll get a good price.

Re the shower block, I have to say that in the 9 months we've been resident here, I haven't seen one - thankfully, since I loathe them. Shower blocks are cleaned every morning.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Always useful.

BTW, my father was born and bred in Jersey (but don't tell anyone here) and the Société Jersiaise has traced his forebears back to 1460!
 
Piers said:
Don't apologise! Typos corrected. Light pollution? Hadn't thought about it but on reflection (excuse the pun) I think you have a point which I will take up with Ricky.

Re the prices, I've been asked not to publish them, but I'll ask again.

Re Fuel, prices are always competitive in Guernsey, so it's always best to call Ricky with the amount you need and you'll get a good price.

Re the shower block, I have to say that in the 9 months we've been resident here, I haven't seen one - thankfully, since I loathe them. Shower blocks are cleaned every morning.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Always useful.

BTW, my father was born and bred in Jersey (but don't tell anyone here) and the Société Jersiaise has traced his forebears back to 1460!
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Thinking back, I don't think the flood lights affect the marina so much, at least not way over at the visitors pontoon. More so up top and particularly if you're trying to walk around to the north of the main building. Everyone's different, I find it unnecessary, a waste of energy and it stops me being able to stare up at the heavens on a starry night. Sark at the moment are boasting about their "Dark Sky Island" status: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-12323505
With Beaucette's unique remote location I think they're missing a trick.

Toby mentioned your Jersey roots when I purchased my 'berg A-02 a while back, you're more of a Bean than I am! I spotted you in La Collette earlier this year actually, my attention was drawn to a rather loud "I am going astern" signal, you don't need much of an excuse to hit that button clearly :)
 
JSYmartini said:
Thinking back, I don't think the flood lights affect the marina so much, at least not way over at the visitors pontoon. More so up top and particularly if you're trying to walk around to the north of the main building. Everyone's different, I find it unnecessary, a waste of energy and it stops me being able to stare up at the heavens on a starry night. Sark at the moment are boasting about their "Dark Sky Island" status: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-12323505
With Beaucette's unique remote location I think they're missing a trick.

Toby mentioned your Jersey roots when I purchased my 'berg A-02 a while back, you're more of a Bean than I am! I spotted you in La Collette earlier this year actually, my attention was drawn to a rather loud "I am going astern" signal, you don't need much of an excuse to hit that button clearly :)
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In Collette? Indeed. I arrived on a very low tide and had to wait in Collette because of the dragon racing(?) in the harbour.

And you're right, it's great blowing those horns. Toby's trying to upgrade me to a triple. Must say, I LOVE the sound of the D-4A, T-4 and Q-4 Air Horns at the bottom of this page (you can click to hear them): http://www.kahlenberg.co.uk/marine-sound-signals/yacht-and-motorboat/9-chimetone-yacht-horns but the compressor needed to drive them would take the whole of my engine room - well, almost!
 
Some more feedback.

Prices - this is essential, I've always been brought up that if I can not see the price or you even have to ask ( normally Jewelry Shops etc) then its well out of my price league and I will just go somewhere else. This may be the marinas Business model trying to discourage the 'riff -raff', which I don't think is the case as Reeds 2014 gives the price of 2.25/m

Visitor - Information - Telephone - Is there a pay phone local ?

Buses - I found the Bus link under places to visit, which is logical, but I had been expecting it also in the Visitor information section.


Regards


Chris
 
chriswesterman said:
Some more feedback.

Prices - this is essential, I've always been brought up that if I can not see the price or you even have to ask ( normally Jewelry Shops etc) then its well out of my price league and I will just go somewhere else. This may be the marinas Business model trying to discourage the 'riff -raff', which I don't think is the case as Reeds 2014 gives the price of 2.25/m

Visitor - Information - Telephone - Is there a pay phone local ?

Buses - I found the Bus link under places to visit, which is logical, but I had been expecting it also in the Visitor information section.


Regards


Chris
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Hi Chris. Noted. Will amend as much as I can.

14:46 - Busses rearranged, payphone info added (such as no payphone), and will check again for being publish berthing detail. If it's in Reeds etc, it should really be on the site. Agreed. I'll ask.
 
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Piers said:
Hi Chris. Noted. Will amend as much as I can.

14:46 - Busses rearranged, payphone info added (such as no payphone), and will check again for being publish berthing detail. If it's in Reeds etc, it should really be on the site. Agreed. I'll ask.
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I'm intrigued. The Guernsey agent for Reeds covers Guernsey, the Little Russel, and Herm - excluding Beaucette marina. So who covers Beaucette?
 
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