Helford ok to anchor...Duchy oysters close?

Tintin

Tintin

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I think i read recently that the duchy oyster farm at Helford had closed and that the old anchorage was open again.

Did i dream this, or is it true?

Has Big Ears money making scheme finally stopped?
 
Dunno Comrade, but it's a good question.

I have never anchored there because I have been afraid of dropping my anchor on the oysters. However, given the huge expanse of river, I have long suspected that the warning was a ruse to drive people onto the paying moorings.
 
Comrade Red said:
I think i read recently that the duchy oyster farm at Helford had closed and that the old anchorage was open again.

Did i dream this, or is it true?

Has Big Ears money making scheme finally stopped?
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Uncle Tom Cunliffe mentioned the fact in the current YM when telling of his shakedown trip in his new boat. If, as I suspect its true its good news. Might give it a try this year.
 
rotrax said:
Uncle Tom Cunliffe mentioned the fact in the current YM when telling of his shakedown trip in his new boat. If, as I suspect its true its good news. Might give it a try this year.
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Aaah, that's where I read it.

Woodlouse said:
Here's hoping. I'll be anchoring there this summer regardless.
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That makes me think - what is the "law" that stops us? Is it just a voluntary thing?
 
rotrax said:
Uncle Tom Cunliffe mentioned the fact in the current YM when telling of his shakedown trip in his new boat. If, as I suspect its true its good news. Might give it a try this year.
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Unless it was your job that has gone.

All down to a local chap complaining about the type of oyster they were using, and we wonder why we have unemployment.


Brian
 
Comrade Red said:
That makes me think - what is the "law" that stops us? Is it just a voluntary thing?
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You do wonder but in the end I would not want to damage someone's livelyhood by anchoring in the middle of his oyster beds. Plus of course there is the risk of a vigorous approach by a rust encrusted steel boat with tyres for fenders ( if any) asking "what the *9***& are you doing anchoring here?"

But keeping a bass for dinner at the wrong time of year - well thats different as long as no -one sees you.
 
monkfish24 said:
Not heard this yet and it's my local club, will find out, however until it is confirmed there is still a map of where the anchorages are on the moorings website

http://www.helfordrivermoorings.co.uk/general.htm
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Thanks for that Monkfish.

The harbour info is rather vague though. See the Admiralty chart here:

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/viewchart.asp?chart=681418AC5A6972769

The oyster bed warning (by the Oyster Buoy) is smack in the area where you might want to anchor, have they ever put oysters in this deep water? What about the deep pool further up river? There is also good water off the mouth of Frenchman's Creek.
 
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When we wanted to anchor in the Helford River, further in, we put the hook down between the last moorings and the sign requesting 'no anchoring' (i.e. BEFORE the oyster area but admittedly closer than usual) slightly south of the middle of the river.

We had plenty of swinging room and a quiet night apart from the boatman shouting at us saying "we coudn't anchor there" because of the oysters but the oyster boatman ignored us.

I just checked on Google about the Oyster Farm. It seems to be, in some way, part of the Duchy of Cornwall's interests but is shown as owned by the Wright Brothers. When I rang the telephone number, nobody replied, nor answer phone etc. So I was not able to clarify the issue for myself.

We do not get charged for anchoring off Durgan or Posenance(?spelling?) but if you slung your hook in Charlie's bit, would a revenue cutter be alongside in a flash? Like in St Mawes?
 
I think the pool SW of oyster buoy is fine to anchor in, I would be surprised to hear there are beds there as Gweek houses some rather large oil platforms, the depth under the water of the beds would therefore be unknown, prohibiting the movement of the platfroms and tugs.

The oyster chap is very pleasant, however, the river patrol is a complete tool and is up his self with trumped up importance. The moorings officer is also very friendly and will let you know where you can go during high season.
 
I would be very disappointed if anchoring were allowed in this area; for two reasons:

it's a very beautiful area and, while a well populated anchorage has its charms, I would like to see an area of the river which isn't taken over by moored/anchored boats. In other words, enough is enough; and

it's a glorious sailing dinghy playground, and I don't want it to become an obstacle course.

Or to put it another way: please, PLEASE can Helford not go the way of Salcombe.
 
IMHO the moorings in the Helford are already dense enough, and they are denser than they were a couple of years ago. The noise on the streets is that Wingnut is a money grabbing greedy sod!
 
Anchored for one night last year just to get an early start and was gobsmacked at the density of boats further in-the car traffic/parking/dinghymotoring must make it hel-on-water in high season. :( Yeeuk
 
Blueboatman said:
Anchored for one night last year just to get an early start and was gobsmacked at the density of boats further in-the car traffic/parking/dinghymotoring must make it hel-on-water in high season. :( Yeeuk
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Thats why I will be there this week.
Was in Salcombe last week and it was so empty the harbour master let us stay overnight on his pontoon outside the office.

July and August in the UK have rubbish weather. Move your annual hols and get the best of British sailing.
 
From what I've found out, it isn't actually the beds in the Helford that have been taken up, there were some beds in Porthallow bay, just to the S of the Helford Entrance. These have not been used for a while and are breaking up apparently.

Hope this helps but will keep you updated when I hear more definite answers.
 
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