Forum involvement in Finding Sanctuary ?

[sarabande]

We seem to be developing a consensus out of the heat of the last few days that Something Should Be Done about the MCZs, and - perhaps - the Studland issue in particular.

I wonder if the time is ripe to see what is the strength of feeling and commitment among the membership to

1 seek representation on an appropriate body to contribute to their work
2 co-ordinate the presentation of evidence or experienced opinion to the MCZ debate.

We sail or motor all round these islands, which are due to be affected by these MCZs, and are an international body of people committed to the medium on which we use our boats. There is a wealth of experience, which may not be fully represented by boating's principal formal body, the RYA. I suspect that the Forum harbours many who not belong to the RYA by reason of conviction or purse (it is, I believe, the latter category especially who may need a vehicle to make their views heard.)

I am putting forward, therefore, a poll to gauge the strength of feeling. It is a somewhat clumsy and simplistic one - please forgive me for that - constrained by the operational structures of the forum software.

 

[Babylon]

Looks like we're (almost) all wringing our hands over this.

As at 8:44 this evening, this thread had been viewed 62 times (over about three hours since first being posted) but only 6 people had bothered to complete the poll.

Why?

 

[Alcyone]

I'd prefer to make my own mind up on each individual case. If I join a body, and that body decides to vote for (or against) an MCZ, and the majority opinion was not my opinion, I wouldn't be happy.

Simple as that.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I'm afraid I got confused by the poll. I think there should be an organisation informing, motivating and co-ordinating individual people to make their opinion count by the individuals themselves contacting "Finding Sanctuary" directly with their opinions so wasn't sure which button to press.

This forum achieved that admirably within the Studland thread. I have attempted to register with Finding Sanctuary and am awaiting an email. The RYA have done b****r all to communicate this as far as I can tell (I'm not a member) and I'm disappointed there hasn't been been anything obvious explaining how to contact Finding Sanctuary in IPC or any of the other yachting press. Lots about the Targa this and the Elan that but nothing about something that will impact almost their entire readership. Did I miss it?

I will also tell anybody I can find who's interested about the whole thing and give them links to the Finding Sanctuary web-site (who the hell came up with that name?). If anyone's a member of a local sailing club maybe they could put something in their newsletter or on the notice board or just mention it in the bar. Maybe IPC could put something prominent on the home page? Could we get Poole Harbour Commission, QHM Portsmouth and their peers around the UK to put something on their web-sites? Something in Reed's, Wiley's maybe?

 

[Heckler]

We seem to be developing a consensus out of the heat of the last few days that Something Should Be Done about the MCZs, and - perhaps - the Studland issue in particular.

I wonder if the time is ripe to see what is the strength of feeling and commitment among the membership to

1 seek representation on an appropriate body to contribute to their work
2 co-ordinate the presentation of evidence or experienced opinion to the MCZ debate.

We sail or motor all round these islands, which are due to be affected by these MCZs, and are an international body of people committed to the medium on which we use our boats. There is a wealth of experience, which may not be fully represented by boating's principal formal body, the RYA. I suspect that the Forum harbours many who not belong to the RYA by reason of conviction or purse (it is, I believe, the latter category especially who may need a vehicle to make their views heard.)

I am putting forward, therefore, a poll to gauge the strength of feeling. It is a somewhat clumsy and simplistic one - please forgive me for that - constrained by the operational structures of the forum software.

Well i fekked that one up! too complicated!
Stu

 

[KristiferColumbus]

I am confused by all this...the Title "Forum involvement in finding sanctuary" & all the references to the RYA but I voted yes to the top one because I think particularly in the Studland case if "yachtsmens" views ar'nt taken into consideration it could well jeapodise lives.Simalarly with regard to these proposed marine conservation areas we also have a vested interest as sailing obviously involves sailing to areas outside our postcode references.
I think grumpy o g's suggestions about publicity via the Queens Harbour Masters offices & Reeds etc is also brilliant.

 

[dulcibella]

There is also the point that many yotties are concerned conservationists who would wish to have it recognised that not all of us are anti-regulation backwoodsmen. We should see consulting yachtsmen as an opportunity to contribute to policy-making.