Have you been into Yarmouth Harbour in the last two weeks?

[Ex-SolentBoy]

If so, did you moor up on the new walk-ashore pontoons in the residents area?
Were you next to a nice dark blue Rustler 44 with a full cockpit tent over it?

If you can answer yes to the above 3 questions, then you are the miserable s**t who has gouged a 4 foot long deep scratch in my hull and not bothered to leave a note.

If you failed to notice that you did it, now is the time to own up. We all get flustered when mooring up, but that still means you are going to have to pay for your mistakes.

If you did it and thought you would get away with it, you wont, as we will be revewing the CCTV (newly installed thanks) to identify the culprit.

 

[[2068]]

We have been there recently, and I did notice that there seemed to be more than the average number of mooring errors due to people not taking account of the current running through the pontoons.

Sorry to hear of your damage: hopefully it will be fixed rapidly.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I know when the plans to marina-ise Yarmouth were revealed there were misgivings about the difficulty of parking in Y's currents. Perhaps the concerns were justified. Maybe the OP should be having a go at the Harbour Commisioners.

 

[Seajet]

SolentBoy,

sorry to hear about this, and hope it is resolved quickly one way or another.

When checking CCTV do try to ID the other boats around as potential witnesses; years ago I was at Poole town quay rafted out, putting long shore lines out.

An idiot not only reversed into my line, but cut it and made off with the bulk of it !

I was told the boat name and club by another boat ( I hadn't been there when it happened or Poole would still be radio-active ) and paid a visit to his club, gaining all the info I required, after a few snotty letters I had my line back and an apology from the co-owner, not ideal but at least I had him squirming and his club knew all about it, hope you get at least that.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I know when the plans to marina-ise Yarmouth were revealed there were misgivings about the difficulty of parking in Y's currents. Perhaps the concerns were justified. Maybe the OP should be having a go at the Harbour Commisioners.

Oh please!

The currents in that area of the harbour are a lot less than they are in the Hamble and lots of places I have been in France as well.

There is not a significant cross- tide component and the berth is very wide.

The problem could just as easily have been caused by a cross- wind. Are you suggesting we don't build marinas where there is wind?

Irrespective of the conditions, there is no excuse for hitting a boat and not owning up to it.

And you wonder why boat insurance is so expensive. Well, the attitude that it is the fault of the marina owner if you hit something may well be contributing!

Get on the program Ken.

 

[Resolution]

Oh please!

The currents in that area of the harbour are a lot less than they are in the Hamble and lots of places I have been in France as well.

There is not a significant cross- tide component and the berth is very wide.

The problem could just as easily have been caused by a cross- wind. Are you suggesting we don't build marinas where there is wind?

Irrespective of the conditions, there is no excuse for hitting a boat and not owning up to it.

And you wonder why boat insurance is so expensive. Well, the attitude that it is the fault of the marina owner if you hit something may well be contributing!

Get on the program Ken.

SolentBoy
First of all condolences on the damage to your Rustler. They are lovely yachts.
But I must take issue with you over the currents in the new Yarmouth walkashore. Like many on this forum, I have been a regular visitor to Yarmouth for several years and am well aware of the strength of the ebb tide. In July this year I was allocated a berth near the outer end of the residents' section during an ebb tide and was a little surprised at the angle of the flow. It was of the order of 45 degrees to the line of the berth, and I must confess that we wound up wedged across two empty berths. However with plenty of manpower and some long mooring lines it was soon staraightened up, with no damage done except to my pride.
Here's the important part: over the next hour, four out of the next five yachts to berth on this stretch of berths also made the same misjudgement.

I think it would be worthwhile if the excellent berthmasters in Yarmouth made a point of reminding visitors of the direction of the current in these conditions.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

SolentBoy
First of all condolences on the damage to your Rustler. They are lovely yachts.
But I must take issue with you over the currents in the new Yarmouth walkashore. Like many on this forum, I have been a regular visitor to Yarmouth for several years and am well aware of the strength of the ebb tide. In July this year I was allocated a berth near the outer end of the residents' section during an ebb tide and was a little surprised at the angle of the flow. It was of the order of 45 degrees to the line of the berth, and I must confess that we wound up wedged across two empty berths. However with plenty of manpower and some long mooring lines it was soon staraightened up, with no damage done except to my pride.
Here's the important part: over the next hour, four out of the next five yachts to berth on this stretch of berths also made the same misjudgement.

I think it would be worthwhile if the excellent berthmasters in Yarmouth made a point of reminding visitors of the direction of the current in these conditions.

That may be the case where you were, but that is not the case on my berth. I know, as I am berthed there.

I am a little astounded at any suggestion that berthmasters should be involved.
Many boats moor up in Yarmouth before and after the berthing masters are on duty.
There are many places in the world wherre there are no staff to help you.

The bottom line is that if you are not capable of assessing a tidal situation before going into a berth, and preparing for it, you should not use that berth. If you do you should be prepared for the unexpected.
If you scratch someone else's boat you should leave a note.
If you hit something and do not realise it should not be in charge of a boat.

 

[savageseadog]

CCTV images are restricted to the authorised operator under the data protection act, best not tell them!

 

[Resolution]

I am a little astounded at any suggestion that berthmasters should be involved.
Many boats moor up in Yarmouth before and after the berthing masters are on duty.
There are many places in the world wherre there are no staff to help you.

The bottom line is that if you are not capable of assessing a tidal situation before going into a berth, and preparing for it, you should not use that berth. QUOTE]

To clarify: My suggestion was specific to the times when the berthmaster has allocated a particular berth to you, which is what mostly seems to happen during the daytime at Yarmouth. Of course one should still assess the berth etc, but it would be dead easy for the b/m to add to his "berth 10B, starboard side to" a bit more like "watch out for current from left to right".

(And I was pretty impressed to see him up at 0530 next morning, checking on which boats had paid. I think he caught a couple who were trying to slip away for free.)

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

CCTV images are restricted to the authorised operator under the data protection act, best not tell them!

Not true. Full guidance here:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/docume...iled_specialist_guides/ico_cctvfinal_2301.pdf

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[lustyd]

(And I was pretty impressed to see him up at 0530 next morning, checking on which boats had paid. I think he caught a couple who were trying to slip away for free.)

Why would that impress you. I get the impression that grabbing the cash is all Yarmouth are interested in. Contrast this with Berthon who wouldn't even take my money when I went into the office to try and pay! I guess some marinas assume you'll pay because they are worth it, and some assume you'll do a runner because you found no value there...

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

CCTV images are restricted to the authorised operator under the data protection act, best not tell them!

Yes, and the authorised user is the harbour authority who investigate such matters using their CCTV!

 

[lustyd]

Solentboy, do you have a picture you can post? May jog people's memory. I was there a few days ago but don't recall seeing any incidents.

 

[savageseadog]

Not true. Full guidance here:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/docume...iled_specialist_guides/ico_cctvfinal_2301.pdf

Cheers
Jimmy

That may be the case but you will notice there are many caveats and many operators won't release footage without a court order in any case.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

So I go to the boat this afternoon to hang some fenders on the side of the boat. A bit "after the horse has bolted" I know, but may be worth the effort.

Anyway, a chap comes running up to me and says "I am sorry I damaged your boat".

I thanked him for his honesty and said how I had started this thread and had he read it. Turned out he had not, but he then started to tell me how his accident happened. I was puzzled as what he explained could not possibly have caused the long scratch.

All was soon made clear as it turns out he had hit the OTHER side of the boat and I hadn't noticed the bent guard-rail.

Perhaps my insurers will give me discount for claiming in bulk!

One down, but the guilty party is still out there.

 

[Flying Penguin]

So I go to the boat this afternoon to hang some fenders on the side of the boat. A bit "after the horse has bolted" I know, but may be worth the effort.

Anyway, a chap comes running up to me and says "I am sorry I damaged your boat".

I thanked him for his honesty and said how I had started this thread and had he read it. Turned out he had not, but he then started to tell me how his accident happened. I was puzzled as what he explained could not possibly have caused the long scratch.

All was soon made clear as it turns out he had hit the OTHER side of the boat and I hadn't noticed the bent guard-rail.

Perhaps my insurers will give me discount for claiming in bulk!

One down, but the guilty party is still out there.

Not your week really...

Hope you find the bugger.

Jamie

 

[Seajet]

So I go to the boat this afternoon to hang some fenders on the side of the boat. A bit "after the horse has bolted" I know, but may be worth the effort.

SolentBoy,

a boat like that and you don't leave fenders out ?!

I know it's no excuse for damaging her and not owning up, but even with my little boat I leave everything short of a force-field out if in an area with traffic coming and going..

I once had a lot of trouble with a berk who placed a new mooring far too close to my established one, and wouldn't act even when I showed a photo of the boats hitting.

My response was ' well if there's no problem, you won't mind me fitting steel spikes around the sides then ! '

He caught on I wasn't joking and cleared off, though Yarmouth might frown a bit on this tactic.

 

[duncan]

I was there Wed/Thu this last week and it wasn't me.

I can't picture where you were (are) from your description, but whilst we were on the walk ashore pontoon we never touched nuffink.

 

[Seven Spades]

I am so sorry to hear of the incidents involving your boat, it always looks lovely in the harbour. I hope that you can get it "invisibly repaired", I guess you will now have to get a fender mat and some large fenders or find a finger berth somewhere.

Bad Luck.

 

[DJE]

The bottom line is that if you are not capable of assessing a tidal situation before going into a berth, and preparing for it, you should not use that berth. If you do you should be prepared for the unexpected.
If you scratch someone else's boat you should leave a note.
If you hit something and do not realise it should not be in charge of a boat.

Very sorry to hear about the damage. I'd be livid too.

But I get the impression that Yarmouth attracts more than its fair share of less experienced charterers who probably either aren't aware of or aren't interested in the unwritten rules of good seamanship that you have outlined above. Plenty of fenders would seem to be a good idea.

Do the harbour office have any records of which boat was in which berth?