Cost of Sailing

[Poignard]

Ahem!

I'll just drop this in here:



That includes 10 lifts in/out, membership of Passeport Escales which offers free stays in many marinas, a ride on a Petite Train and admission to a nearby chateau.

 

[Sailfree]

Ahem!

I'll just drop this in here:

View attachment 125972

That includes 10 lifts in/out, membership of Passeport Escales which offers free stays in many marinas, a ride on a Petite Train and admission to a nearby chateau.

Am I reading this correctly its for a 8.6m boat?

Is there a maximum size they will do?

Useful info thanks.

 

[Poignard]

Am I reading this correctly its for a 8.6m boat?

Is there a maximum size they will do?

Useful info thanks.

Yes, 8.6m (28').

I think draught is the limiting factor because the tractor and trailer has to ascend a short steep slope into the boatyard and a keel that's too deep will ground.

They don't take bilge keelers because of the nature of the Parklev trailer

 

[dslittle]

Yes, 8.6m (28').

I think draught is the limiting factor because the tractor and trailer has to ascend a short steep slope into the boatyard and a keel that's too deep will ground.

They don't take bilge keelers because of the nature of the Parklev trailer

I’m assuming La Roche Bernard? If so, they did kind of offer me a place there last year (13.7m, 4.4m, 2.1m and 12 tonnes) as they said that their new incoming tractor would take it…

As it goes I stayed at Arzal for my €3000 pa but I will never use all of my lifts (although an additional lift was handy a couple of years ago when I wanted to come out to do my bow thruster for a week)

Arghhhh, I told you not to tell them!!!

 

[rib]

I agree there must be lots of better places. I merely spoke about, with my factual knowledge ,of cost. Just want to float an alternative thought especially with flights currently at the ridiculous price of £4.99!

We live here as found the Silver coast a great place with great social life and much cheaper cost of living. 5 to 10 deg C warmer than UK but rarely exceeds 30 deg C. Suits us as a retired couple with limited income but not for everyone.

Can believe how good the Autumns have been in recent years (ended up sunny all day today and 19degC not the forecast 17 deg C) with mostly (if any) overnight shower but recent Springs have been wet with more rain in February than UK but that's why its agricultural here and green. Its also why I do a 35 night cruise to the Caribbean in January/February! Another thing we enjoy it but again not for everyone.

If we all liked the same you would all be after my wife!!

PS the Mk1 wife is still available!! Will someone please save me the maintenance payments!! Please!!

Can she go down below ?

 

[Bobc]

I’m assuming La Roche Bernard? If so, they did kind of offer me a place there last year (13.7m, 4.4m, 2.1m and 12 tonnes) as they said that their new incoming tractor would take it…

As it goes I stayed at Arzal for my €3000 pa but I will never use all of my lifts (although an additional lift was handy a couple of years ago when I wanted to come out to do my bow thruster for a week)

Arghhhh, I told you not to tell them!!!

Shhh. Don't tell everyone or they'll all want to come.

 

[Poignard]

Shhh. Don't tell everyone or they'll all want to come.

 

[Bobc]

What's special about the Solent which drives the prices up, is the long season of high-end racing.

That's certainly one part of the puzzle, but there are many more.

The Solent is easily accessible from London and the Home Counties (which has a huge population and lots of wealth). It also is the perfect destination for day sailing/weekending (which is what most working people do), as the ports are only a couple of hours sailing apart.

For the same reasons, it's also ideal for charter companies and sailing schools.

Sight-based navigation also has a big draw, as there are a lot of people (not hardened old salts like us) who don't like being out of sight of land.

There are many reasons why the Solent is so popular, and as a result, so expensive, but when it comes to value, I know a lot of people who keep their boat there and get great value out of them, even paying MDL's rates.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Another "when I was in the RN" story:

When I was in HMS Gambia the ship's laundry was run by one "Tug" Wilson. He was on the books as an Electrical Mechanic but volunteered to run the laundry as it gave him opportunities to make a few quid on the side and to escape from doing electrical work under the beady eye of his chief.

One of the officers liked his shirts starched, and was always complaining to Tug about his shirts not being starched enough.

Tug eventually got fed up with this and made up a 'saturated solution' of starch and water in which he soaked the officer's shirts before folding and pressing them on the steam press.

The officer had a batch of immaculately white shirts delivered to his cabin which, when he tried to unfold one, could not be prised apart.

He never complained again

Sorry to digress but I have often wondered about the epithet "tug" as applied to men with the surname Wilson particularly those with a navy background. Is it down to some personal habit?

 

[Poignard]

Sorry to digress but I have often wondered about the epithet "tug" as applied to men with the surname Wilson particularly those with a navy background. Is it down to some personal habit?

I don't think so, otherwise everyone would be named Tug, wouldn't they?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I don't think so, otherwise everyone would be named Tug, wouldn't they?

Yes I thought of that but it is a strange one I also thought of how you expressed it one tug Wilson was there only one or was he one of many or did it only take one tug.
One of life's mysteries I suppose.

 

[Poignard]

There was only one Tug Wilson aboard HMS Gambia.

I doubt those charged with maintaining good order and naval discipline could have coped with more.


Another of his exploits concerned food.

In those halcyon days there were two varieties of cooks in the Royal Navy: officers' cooks, and ordinary cooks tasked with spoiling the food provided for us ratings.

I was lucky to be in the same messeck as Tug Wilson and he contracted with the officer's cooks to provide, in secret and for our delectation only, food from the wardroom galley in exchange for free laundry services.

To avoid detection, this had to be smuggled down to our mess deck while the officers were dining (they had their dinners later than we proles did).

 

[Wing Mark]

That's certainly one part of the puzzle, but there are many more.

The Solent is easily accessible from London and the Home Counties (which has a huge population and lots of wealth). It also is the perfect destination for day sailing/weekending (which is what most working people do), as the ports are only a couple of hours sailing apart.

For the same reasons, it's also ideal for charter companies and sailing schools.

Sight-based navigation also has a big draw, as there are a lot of people (not hardened old salts like us) who don't like being out of sight of land.

There are many reasons why the Solent is so popular, and as a result, so expensive, but when it comes to value, I know a lot of people who keep their boat there and get great value out of them, even paying MDL's rates.

It's also a good base for a cruising boat.
France or CI's in a day, Poole and Weymouth good for a weekend, ship traffic less of an issue than further East.
A long weekend to stock up on wine was easy pre covid.
You can see a good amount of Devon and Cornwall from there in a fortnight.
Many locals who are based there avoid the 'hotspots' at the Weekend and/or in Summer.

I suspect the people who feel the need to knock the place at every opportunity have only seen a fraction of what it has to offer.
A lot of nice places to go on a short late season day.
A lot of clubs where you can go to race or just meet up for a meal and a drink.

I have a lot of sympathy with the view that the biggest problem is, heading East beyond Chichester, there's not much of any merit until you get to Holland, which is not quick or easy if the weather is contrary.
If you want a family fortnight cruise to Holland, then I'd look for a different base.
At least going West or South, you can reasonably hope for fair winds to get home.
Which of course helps a lot with things like cross channel racing.

Of course many places are not what they were 40 years ago when I started cruiser sailing and not all change has been for the better.
But I think people moaned about the same things then?

 

[asteven221]

I'll admit I was being a little facetious. I keep my boat on a mooring, which I own outright. Three times I've chosen to take a winter berth (no local discount, and yes it's a proper marina with full shelter, electricity, etc). I think the last time cost me £50/m for six months.
It's amazing how much cheaper things get when you venture north of Oban...

It's about £6250 per annum for a 44 footer at Kip Marina and I am sure Largs Marina is a bit more. Electricity is about £7 standing charge and metered thereafter. Fee includes storage on the hard when needed including a cradle. Haul out and relaunch costs just under £600 combined.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have a lot of sympathy with the view that the biggest problem is, heading East beyond Chichester, there's not much of any merit until you get to Holland, which is not quick or easy if the weather is contrary.

Boulogne, Dunkirk, Ostende,( in particular) Blankeburg,??????

 

[Wing Mark]

Boulogne, Dunkirk, Ostende,( in particular) Blankeburg,??????

Blankeburg? wear the fox hat?

Boulogne, Dunkirk and Ostende don't do much for me personally

 

[Daydream believer]

Blankeburg? wear the fox hat?

Boulogne, Dunkirk and Ostende don't do much for me personally

OK Now edited thank you
There is a lot to do in Ostende at certain times of the year. I have taken people & they have not realised. I often spend 3 weeks or more at a time. My family have rented a flat there a few times. Dunkirk, granted but it breaks the journey for a day & the museum is Ok. Our club always look forward to Boulogne as a 5 day cruise so it cannot be that bad
Ostend has been an east coast sailor's destination for years. Reasons have changed over the years ( loved it in my 20s & never missed an EAORA or Stella race there if I could help it), but at least I can now take my family
But to each his own & if it not for you, then so be it. I have avoided the Solent like the plague for years.

 

[Wing Mark]

OK Now edited thank you
There is a lot to do in Ostende at certain times of the year. I have taken people & they have not realised. I often spend 3 weeks or more at a time. My family have rented a flat there a few times. Dunkirk, granted but it breaks the journey for a day & the museum is Ok. Our club always look forward to Boulogne as a 5 day cruise so it cannot be that bad
....

I'm seeing that as reinforcing the idea that the Solent is not a bad place to start from.
Now I don't live near there, it's not somewhere I'd sail to, except to visit friends etc.
Some places are better as bases than destinations?

There is a lot of the East Coast of England which I have no urge to sail to, but if I happened to live near there, I'd keep a boat there.

 

[roblpm]

It's about £6250 per annum for a 44 footer at Kip Marina and I am sure Largs Marina is a bit more. Electricity is about £7 standing charge and metered thereafter. Fee includes storage on the hard when needed including a cradle. Haul out and relaunch costs just under £600 combined.

Well Kip don't seem to be charging enough to get a functioning website working. Thought I would look at Craobh and they seem to have the same WordPress error!

Dunstaffnage seems a bit cheaper but is 2 Hours 40 from Edinburgh where I live. Rhu or Kip 90 minutes.

So I suppose as with everything in life you pay for convenience. I'm glad you posted that though as was getting carried away with boat size and you have brought me back to pauper reality!