Floating shop in Salcombe

[tome]

We called into Salcombe after a 5 year self-imposed exile last year to find it's still the same rip off, and the fuel barge prices just add insults to injury.

Surprised that visitor numbers are falling? It used to be one of our favourite destinations many years ago, but the high costs and lack of facilities means there's simply no value to the place

 

[Goldie]

IF we stop at Salcombe - and that's very rare now - we don't go ashore unles there is a specific need. A place best seen from the water these days which is a shame. Prices are horrendous (seen the fuel prices?), useful shops limited although there are any number of 'lifestyle' shops and I really object to paying swingeing prices for swinging to my own tackle. Sorry, but for me, Salcombe has missed the boat.

 

[duncan]

have to agree with everything said here - and add that even when you do go ashore there's nothing really left of 'Old Salcombe' other than the Old bits. The shop fronts remain but the shops are long gone to be replaced by 'tourist shops' - which have no relevance to visiting mariners!

If I was to cite a suitable comparison it would be Yarmouth - a thriving community of pubs, bars, restaraunts, chandlers, deli's, cafes, and a couple of tourist shops!

 

[ccscott49]

Dartmouth is rapidly going the same way as Salcombe, they city burghers there dont care, they are happy that the place dies in the winter, after the regatta the place just shuts up shop until new year, when it comes alive for 3-4 days, then goes back to sleep! I've never seen so many art, gift, antique shops in a town as small as Dartmouth, horrendous and the prices of beer and food??? Forget it. Its very expensive in summer and all they care about is peace and quiet, well the old farts can have it, give me France, Spain anywhere but there!

 

[simon_sluggett]

[ QUOTE ]
The report recommending this to the Harbour Board is online here. You'll note it has all the important terms included - stakeholders, risk assessment, FOI, even "Core Principals"! And interestingly, just to show how well they understand visiting yachtsmen, they include the observation "Vessels have traditionally used ship’s chandlers to provision for a voyage or passage."

[/ QUOTE ]

Reading the harbour board's report, bottom of page 2 it says:-

7.Value for money. "Delivering Value for Money is one of the Harbour Board’s Core Principals"

I guess you could say they are rotten to the core then?

 

[davies]

If they really mis-spell "principles" they are obviously ripe for hanging.

 

[Boathook]

I have always liked Fowey and surrounding area. Does help having family friends in area but HM + staff is good as well as marine engineer, as we found out last year. Still has proper shops for provisions but these seem to be struggling as possibly not much trade in the winter.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I gave them a fiver last time I anchored there (2003) and told them to B off! They did.

 

[Chris_Robb]

They try and charge for anchoring as well same as for mooring (2003)

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
I gave them a fiver last time I anchored there (2003) and told them to B off! They did.

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Love it!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Perhaps we should refuse to pay anything for anchoring there (and elsewhere) and see what they do.

I'm really amazed that, judging from others posts above, the hassling and total lack of facilities still exists. Are the powers-that-be genuinely so stupid that they can't see the obvious? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

And it isn't just about a couple of months in the summer; many of us cruise during several months each year and, but for the rip-offs, would make Salcombe a regular stop, so the overall loss of revenue must be huge. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Captain_Chaos]

[ QUOTE ]
They try and charge for anchoring as well same as for mooring (2003)

[/ QUOTE ]

Did they ask how long you were planning on staying? What if you had just gone in to wait for the tide to turn?

 

[andy_wilson]

I take it you didn't use the navigation marks on the way in, the dinghy pontoon, the refuse disposal facilities, and didn't take on water either then?

 

[andy_wilson]

tide to turn

Anchoring in the course of navigation usually means just that.

You don't need to cross the bar, there is a perfectly well sheltered bay beyond the harbour limits in which to anchor FOC.

 

[doug748]

Re: tide to turn

Starhole Bay? It always seems a bit tight and creepy to me, tho I have anchored there overnight. Can be spoiled rather by speed boats etc during the day.

 

[Barr Avel]

[ QUOTE ]
I take it you didn't use the navigation marks on the way in, the dinghy pontoon, the refuse disposal facilities, and didn't take on water either then?

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem is that these things should partly be paid for by the increased trade that yachtsmen bring to the town and the resulting increase revenue in local taxes etc. That is how it works in France. In the case of Salcombe greed has taken over... After all you don't pay for pedestrian paths, signposts, bins, toilets, although maybe I'm wrong, maybe the HM rushes up to pedestrians too to get his dues!

Marc.

 

[andy_wilson]

Floaters in Salcombe

Don't get me wrong, I'm a yachtsman who happens to enjoy Salcombe. I'd love it to have better facilities and be cheaper too.

Not that there would be any room left, it's packed enough as it is during the season.

Meanwhile, who says the French system works best? If you do some research you will find that Northern France is about as popular as Sunderland and priced accordingly. Meanwhile on the Med. coast of France, the charges make Salcombe and the Solent look like they are priced for peasants.

There is no facility for any UK local authority to make funds available for commercial ventures. The monies they recieve from central government and rate payers is for essential services only If memory serves, the LA got into trouble over the development of Pwyhelli marina.

 

[andy_wilson]

Floaters in Salcombe

But it's free, surely thats what half the posters want.

Or rather think they want.

Put it another way (as I have before). Make Salcombe free and then see if you (I mean anyone) will enjoy visiting. Of course there will be no rubbish collectons, buoyage, moorings, pontoons, taxi's.

Plenty of anarchy however. Bit like the speedboats spoiling arSthole bay!!

I have often wondered if you would get insurance if you stuck your own mooring down in a totally unregulated haven.

Doubt it!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Floaters in Salcombe

I don't think many really want a free mooring, with no facilities..... what we object to is very very expensive moorings, with poor facilities, which is what we have now...

A fair and reasonable charge would cause little or no concern at all....

 

[Rabbie]

30 years ago, before I owned a boat, I visited Salcombe by car and found it to be an over-priced and anti-visitor, (unless well-heeled) but beautiful resort. We didn't even stop for a beer. It seems not much has changed. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[whisper]

Re. landing by tender - why can't you tie up at the back of Normandy Pontoon - should be no problem at all?

Yes there will be at least a charge of Harbour Dues when you anchor - summat to do with the Duchy of Cornwall, I believe. This happens at a number of harbours in the S.W., I think you'll find that the Dart is similar.