Capt Popeye
Well-Known Member
Yep, not ignoring your early post on this subject, had it in mind when I posted, but thought you were spot on then .
cherish your harbour master - a rant!
- Thread starter Birdseye
- Start date
Yep, not ignoring your early post on this subject, had it in mind when I posted, but thought you were spot on then .
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
I think that is the crux of it Nick, they have a responsibility to consult with "stakeholders" and providing they have some process of consultation with representatives for the broad range of harbour users, once they have gone through that consultative process the harbour authority are free to do as they wish within the statutes laid down for their harbour. The harbour are only accountable to the commissioners themselves, not the harbour users.
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Ah, that explains it. I've been away for most of the last year so didn't hear about the recent Viking invasion of Falmouth.
Capt Popeye
Well-Known Member
Yep, think that you are correct here; down in SW it appears that the HA are attempting to grab more than was originally within their remit, like moorings up to the Mean HW mark being specified in original regulations. Well one might have thought /expected this limit to have been marked and agreed with owners of the river banks and fore shore, but apparently not, so tis a sore point with some boat owners when they leave a dinghy for instance on the fore shore and return only to find that the HA have impounded it (allegedly) and wanted to charge for its return. It all makes for uncomfortable existence between the HA and local Councils and boat owners, luckily one particular stretch of fore shore at Shaldon steward ship has been passed over to the Parish Council, so far good news, but we will wait and see how it all progresses over time.
Triassic
Well-Known Member
I'm a bit new to all this so forgive me if I'm being incredibly naive, but that is absolutely ridiculous. If someone asked me for £15 after I had dropped the anchor I would pull it straight back up and go somewhere else. What exactly are they going to provide me with for that fee? I can understand if you are asking to use some facility such as a marina where they have invested heavily in infrastructure, or even a small fee if I want to pick up a buoy that someone has taken the trouble to install and maintain, but surely not to anchor? Just how far would one have to go to escape the clutches of these people?
prv
Well-Known Member
Sadly it's endemic in the West Country. I think Fowey may have done it originally in an attempt to keep visitors out of the way of the shipping (it's a relatively small place which has some surprisingly big ships passing through on their way to the china clay port upriver) - by charging the same for anchoring as for a mooring they got everyone to use the moorings which were laid out of the way of traffic. But then everywhere else saw an opportunity to cash in and followed suit.
I think most of the West Country rivers charge for anchoring - I don't think it's fair but (as statutory harbour authorities) they generally have the legal right to do so
Pete
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
not that far as it happens.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
It isn't only Falmouth Harbour that charges to lie to your own anchor. The 26 thieves ,according to their panphlet, who run "The Port of Truro" charge £5 a night, but only to non-local boats. That stinks IMHO.
It's your choice; Cornwall to be fleeced or head for France, for a pleasant welcome and decent food to boot.
It's your choice; Cornwall to be fleeced or head for France, for a pleasant welcome and decent food to boot.
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Triassic
Well-Known Member
Oh well, I guess forewarned is forearmed... I'm planning quite a bit of time down that way this coming year so I guess I'll have to be a bit adventurous with where I anchor. I really don't mind paying for services but I point blank refuse to be fleeced simply for stopping somewhere quiet for the night. Perhaps I've been spoilt or just lucky on the East coast over the last couple of years.
prv
Well-Known Member
You're ok most places, it's just the West Country.
I don't think I've ever paid to anchor here in the Solent, for instance; Yarmouth claim they'll charge you but I've never had any desire to anchor there anyway as it's just an open roadstead. Beaulieu publish a fee but never come and ask for it. I can't think of anywhere else.
Pete
SailingVet
Active Member
The East Coast isn't totally immune.
Some odd attitudes at Wells Next The Sea - resident leisure boats a LONG way down the list of priorities even to the point that only visiting yachtsmen are allowed to use the harbour office toilet/shower facilities.
We were there for two years and don't miss it at all. They're still clinging to the notion of the place being a thriving "commercial" port and sadly neglecting the leisure spend, I guess time will tell if they're right.
Some odd attitudes at Wells Next The Sea - resident leisure boats a LONG way down the list of priorities even to the point that only visiting yachtsmen are allowed to use the harbour office toilet/shower facilities.
We were there for two years and don't miss it at all. They're still clinging to the notion of the place being a thriving "commercial" port and sadly neglecting the leisure spend, I guess time will tell if they're right.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
doug748
Well-Known Member
On that theme:
You should not be troubled on the Exe.
In Dartmouth and Salcombe you will be charged for anchoring (Harbour dues they call it) in all the key spots though you may escape if you can go into shallow/drying spots out of the way.
There is little room on the Yealm tho you may be lucky above the moorings and if you dry. They have made it clear that they could charge at the mouth, off Cellers Beach, but don't. In Plymouth you are fine.
In Fowey they will not allow anchoring in the key areas. Above Wisemans you can find a spot but the times are changing in Fowey as well, what the future holds who knows.
Falmouth we know about, stay away from the designated anchorage and you should be ok, for now. I have never been approached for payment in the wider harbour Mylor, Restronguet etc. Above Turnaware there is a regular patrol from Truro, already mentioned. St Mawes is a separate set up, I have never been approached for payment but they claim jurisdiction and have a published anchoring charge.
There seems to be no charge in the lower Helford river. I have never anchored above the moorings where the alleged oyster beds are - someone may have local knowledge.
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No anchoring allowed east of Misery Point in the Yealm so that excludes the entire river except at the mouth in Cellars Bay.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Haven't the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners basically done exactly what you want to happen at Newport? Whack the charges up, keep out the scruffs, attract the wealthy and pump money into the local economy.
doug748
Well-Known Member
There is very little room in deep water and if you find any I am sure the Harbourmaster would be after you. Elsewhere I have never been asked or reproached - see post 112 in: Own pik floating caravan dried out shots, please add yours, thread.
dom
Well-Known Member
The scruffs have rights, as do the unfortunate non-elective scruffs who want a job to improve their lot.
Seajet
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Pete,
I've seen the dory at Beaulieu go for people at anchor as if they'd kidnapped their daughter ( ' do you charge your customers ? ' ) !
Mind that was a while ago, I became so disgusted with the whole set-up I haven't visited for years; I'm told they no longer jump into cockpits at 08:00 and try to open hatches, so maybe they've relaxed on charging for anchoring too; doesn't sound like their boss's ethos though...
alahol2
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately the Beaulieu pirates are still roving and caught us 2 or 3 times last season. I hesitate to mention that the three visitor buoys near Needs Oar cost the same as anchoring.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Yep, I understand its because Lord Montagu owns the river bed, not the Crown Estates, so he can get away with it.
The National Trust used to charge for anchoring in Newtown Creek. Now they come alongside and say "we don't charge a fee but you are welcome to make a donation". I once gave them all the change in my pocket - 22p.