Did anybody?

[Lucky Duck]

Enter the 'raffle' for five nights free berthing at Ramsgate Marina at LIBS?

 

[Kilter]

Is the second prize 10 nights?

 

[PaulGooch]

Is the second prize 10 nights?

 

[ditchcrawler]

I actually said that(2nd prize 10 nights) to the lady on the stand.She did laugh.They gave me a good pack of goodies including biros,keyring and handwarmer.

 

[xyachtdave]

As you may have noticed on the 'Ramsgate it's the dogs' thread we enjoy visiting the place.......

However we sailed down from The Medway on the Tuesday after Christmas, the only half decent weather/wind day to go. Despite being headed by the forecast 'southerly' (!) a decent sail down.

At daybreak the next day we noticed the bird **** that was covering every square inch of the pontoon to a depth of what felt like 2 inches was now all over the boat inside and out. A decision to move the boat was scuppered by the fact that we were aground (1.5 hours after low water).

Weather and tide to get back were a bit sad, so left the boat in the inner harbour, as a holiday home for January, rather than frighten wife and daughter off with stiff trip back.

£410 for a month winter rate?!! Even MDL Chatham who charge £37.50 for one night in summer are doing winter month for £240.

So when the lady on the stand at LIBS asked whether we were interested in visiting...... I think the expression is, I gave her 'both barrels'

 

[nigelm]

you're not really painting a rosy picture of ramsgit are you !

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

That sums it up perfectly for me.

Ramsgate has loads of potential to be a really good marina, especially given its strategic location...

... somewhat spoilt by indifference and lack of commercial savvy.....

 

[wingdiver]

That sums it up perfectly for me.

Ramsgate has loads of potential to be a really good marina, especially given its strategic location...

... somewhat spoilt by indifference and lack of commercial savvy.....

It was also spoilt for us last summer with inconsiderate commercial vessels belting in and out past the visitors pontoon without a care for any craft moored alongside bashing up and down or rafted ones into each other.
I shant be visiting again in a hurry.
It's a shame because we have had decent stops there in the past and there are several nice eateries around.
I don't understand why there is a need to speed into the harbour. Also, the powers that be must condone that sort of behaviour as the port control has full view of the area and is manned at all times.

 

[PeterGibbs]

That sums it up perfectly for me.

Ramsgate has loads of potential to be a really good marina, especially given its strategic location...

... somewhat spoilt by indifference and lack of commercial savvy.....

Don't you just love all the signs that tell you how many people can stand on this and that part of the gangways? Isn't this the most "everything at your own risk" marina in existence - I swear it. Jobsworths in heavy evidence!

And the total lack of charisma from the staff as they take your money at the funny little shack along the mole..wonderful. Unique. And much more with every passing season!

Just loved the situation a couple of years ago when a line of Frenchy sailors at 0800 hrs stood patiently outside the shower block waiting to get in - the cleaners had turned up and insisted on doing their thing there and then, whatever the consequences, banishing our EU cousins with their pressing natural needs au grande air....! Classic.

Love the guano all over the docks ("not worth our while cleaning it, Mate, they'll all be back tomorrow!") Oh, and mind where you sail your boat - there's no money for dredging: the place should be shut on H & S grounds - unfit for purpose.

It's run by that dynamic and forward thinking organisation that's run Ramsgate town into the ground over the years. If you ever needed a taste of what life would be like in Blighty under the heel of state controlled everything, call in at Ramsgate. And they found money to go to LIBS !!! Why oh why not spend a little doing the day job properly? "Er, that's another department, mate - Product development and Public Asset marketing. We're Estates, Asset management and waste disposal Dept and our budget is fully committed, oh yer"

PWG

 

[Lucky Duck]

Don't you just love all the signs that tell you how many people can stand on this and that part of the gangways? Isn't this the most "everything at your own risk" marina in existence - I swear it. Jobsworths in heavy evidence!

And the total lack of charisma from the staff as they take your money at the funny little shack along the mole..wonderful. Unique. And much more with every passing season!

Just loved the situation a couple of years ago when a line of Frenchy sailors at 0800 hrs stood patiently outside the shower block waiting to get in - the cleaners had turned up and insisted on doing their thing there and then, whatever the consequences, banishing our EU cousins with their pressing natural needs au grande air....! Classic.

Love the guano all over the docks ("not worth our while cleaning it, Mate, they'll all be back tomorrow!") Oh, and mind where you sail your boat - there's no money for dredging: the place should be shut on H & S grounds - unfit for purpose.

It's run by that dynamic and forward thinking organisation that's run Ramsgate town into the ground over the years. If you ever needed a taste of what life would be like in Blighty under the heel of state controlled everything, call in at Ramsgate. And they found money to go to LIBS !!! Why oh why not spend a little doing the day job properly? "Er, that's another department, mate - Product development and Public Asset marketing. We're Estates, Asset management and waste disposal Dept and our budget is fully committed, oh yer"

PWG

I had assumed the paranoia about the number of people on gangways resulted from the collapse of one in the main port back in 1994 which lead to fatalities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Quantpole/Sandbox

My main gripe with Ramsgate is that they have no system for recording when permanent berth holders are away so thier berth can be allocated to visitors and instead usually direct most boats to the anarchy on pontoons F&G which are all too small for most modern boats. Making the inner harbour open to visitors when the harbour is grossly overcrowded would help to.

Anyway no doubt somebody will be along soon to tell us not to be so miserable

 

[xyachtdave]

Love the guano all over the docks ("not worth our while cleaning it, Mate, they'll all be back tomorrow!")



Well, I was given that BS too. It takes about 3 months to get to that level of filth!

If I worked there, I would run the jet wash around once a week, even if I had to do it in my lunch hour. With a bit of determination I reckon 2 hours tops to buzz the pontoons clean, which would be a step in the right direction to being proud of the port you work in.

Sadly the 'It's the management/council/someone else's fault,' mentality that the public sector and very large private companies seem to have an abundance of. Honestly, these people would last 5 minutes over in self employed land........

Sometimes you need to get on with what you haven't got and maybe, when your efforts are noticed, the investment will come. Nothing is going to change moping about doing the bare minimum to avoid getting sacked, whilst hiding in the dock office.

 

[PeterGibbs]

I had assumed the paranoia about the number of people on gangways resulted from the collapse of one in the main port back in 1994 which lead to fatalities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Quantpole/Sandbox

My main gripe with Ramsgate is that they have no system for recording when permanent berth holders are away so thier berth can be allocated to visitors and instead usually direct most boats to the anarchy on pontoons F&G which are all too small for most modern boats. Making the inner harbour open to visitors when the harbour is grossly overcrowded would help to.

Anyway no doubt somebody will be along soon to tell us not to be so miserable

The gangway collapse took place in the ferry port - another piece of under-invested Ramsgate estate, but there has been no such incident in the marina. But please don't jump on the gangways to test them out.....there'll be a jobsworth about to take your name...

It never pays to ask the surleys in the cabin where to park. You grab a spot and make it your own. Not a civilised way to proceed but then the option as you correctly describe it is not enticing, and certainly not worth the money they demand.

In Dover, it's all organised and you can be sure of your berth (and it's cheaper - or was!) But that's a massive 15 miles away - too far to expect the wombles that run Ramsgate to go to experience "best practice".

With the cutbacks this year, we can expect even less for even more at Ramsgate where the councillors' attitide to seafaring is contemptuous, even mendacious. Shame.

One factor typifies Ramsgate and it makes my lip curl: we are required to call up for entry and exit - as if the place were as busy as Dover! Only half the story - all arrivals and departures are logged and reported to the council's finance office for verificiation and invoice, if by chance a sailor leaves early hours and the laggards in the office haven't billed the whole stay! Doubt me? Try it for yourself. Some things they can get organised.

Such a pity, I love the feel of the place from the sea. It's really part of our heritage. One day, Ramsgate, one day....

PWG

 

[Seakindly]

Alas poor Ramsgut

Thank goodness I'm not alone. It's not so much that the grumblers are miserable. Ramsgut is miserable. And being inclined to the left, it makes my lip curl too to see a town with such potential let it go so sadly. Reminds me of a London town-hall where I was working for two days last week. I cut my finger and an official clutching a green first-aid box explained he couldn't give me a plaster for fear I was allergic to plastic...I would know that, wouldn't I? A small business or co-operative could work wonders in Ramsgut Harbour, preferably in partnership with a decent council. Dredge, clean and repair facilities, plonk a warm and welcoming yachties bar/club-house near the facilities and plant 500 trees around the harbour. Do something about the average-white-drunk 'night-economy' that makes the place a little scary at times and revive the ferry service so continental owners can get to their boats and spend dosh in the town. What would you do?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Exactly....

add...

Get a local baker to do deliveries of fresh bread on a Saturday morning, put in some benches for visitors to sit on a enjoy the view, organise a few events that aren't all about boisterous racing fleets (for example, we were in a French marina that hired a young lad for the day to gather all the kids off the boats and run a crab catching competition.. along the way he educated them about the different sorts of crabs, what they ate, etc... kids loved it, parents loved it)... create a small welcome pack introducing visitors to the town, support the local businesses... arrange a discount with the local cinema for wet evenings, etc

There is so much that could be done besides just tidying the place up, that would make it feel welcoming and friendly.... and encourage repeat visits.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I fear the problem is that they don't have to try and encourage visitors. Ramsgate still gets grossly over crowded at times in the season and from my perspective things would have to get very bad before, for example, choosing to punch a foul tide all the way down to Dover.

The survey at LIBS wasn't at all interested in visitor's views which probably sums how the place can feel.