Lock Chaos Again

graham

graham

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Tried to lock in around lunchtime today ,what a total shambles with people barging in small race boats sneaking around the back of the dolphins etc etc.On my own with a long keel and outboard motor it was just a tiny bit stressfull.


I must say that some people were really good such as the crew on a large blue race yacht that took my lines so I could lie alongside them while waiting.Much appreciated thanks.

I think its only a matter of time before someone gets badly hurt in a collision. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I cant see why at busy times the Barrage control cant allocate people a lock space then call them in by boat name in an orderly way.It would probably be quicker that way ,certainly less dangerous.
 
i can see you coming down west wales where you can have a stress free envoirement all for less than £80 per year inc somwhere to lock your dingy away /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
very tempting but I like being only 15 minutes up the road from the boat. as I dont often sail at busy times Im lucky enough not to have to put up with it often. I feel sorry for people who can only sail at weekends.
 
This is an ongoing problem gray, we have posted on here about this a few times this year,a few of us emailed Barrage control and got a stock reply to the effect of "tuff luck", but i agree a total free for all and no order at all.
 
I agree Graham. The ribs barged in to the front of the queue again, but the behaviour of some CBYC members in the race fleet was no better and left a lot to be desired.

Whatever happened to the British tradition of waiting your turn? You might have thought we were in Italy or France.
 
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i can see you coming down west wales where you can have a stress free envoirement all for less than £80 per year inc somwhere to lock your dingy away /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

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Great idea. Can have the stress free experience of driving on British roads for 3 hours to get there.
 
when was the last time you drove to west wales even the tractors stop to let you pass /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif 112 miles 2 hrs max /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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when was the last time you drove to west wales even the tractors stop to let you pass /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif 112 miles 2 hrs max /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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er, not in St Davids at 9am this morning they didn't, and I was stuck in me camper towing a RIB,
 
It seems to be a lottery. I brought Cobby girl back from Ilfracombe yesterday. When I arrived barrage control where saying to everyone, "come into the outer harbour and we will try and fit you in". When I went in lock 2 opened and everyone went it, I called the control and said I would wait. As it was near high tide, the next lock was only a little later. I was with just three other boats boats, all perfectly behaved. The guy on control was good enough to say "please allow Cobby girl to enter the lock first, which they did. It was definatly worth the wait. There seemed to be a problem using locks 1 and 3, possibly due to the tide. It would be interesting to know at what level this happens?
Allan
 
Hi Guys & Gals, did you know that No 3 lock is out of commission, it's full of scaffholding, probably because it's being serviced and No 1 lock is'nt as deep as the other two locks, I think I'm correct on this, which prevents it being used at some low water lockings, perhaps this has a bearing on some of the probs you've been experiencing, personally I don't have an issue... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE FIND IT IF YOU CAN, OFTEN FOUND IN WOMEN, SELDOM IN A MAN !!!
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have seen the outside cill on lock one at low tide. Last night there seemed to a problem using it at high tide. I wondered if water outside was higher than the bay? As the lock only took a few minutes I was too busy to notice yesterday.
Allan
 
It is a lottery Allan. Some of the lock operators are very helpful and some clearly resent their customers. But the biggest issue is the users, particularly when the race fleet is going through. The old british concept of queuing is replaced by weakest to the wall - its just like behaviour at a turning mark. If you can beat someone you do. And you soon learn that your normal politeness merely gets you to the back of the queue.

And of course the ribs and fishermen join in.
 
I dont think its fair to single out fishing boats or ribs.Whenever lots of boats are waiting it turns into a free for all,partly because its obviously impossible to form an orderly que in boats drifting around .
 
I agree, but if I drift in front of another boat that was there before me in the queue, I make a point of waving him past me.

It seems others just say B***x and push past.

Matelot is correct, normal politeness gets you pushed to the back.

Both Sneddon and I have been amazed by others pushing past us.

The only place I have seen this happen is Cardiff barrage.
 
It should be simple for Barrage Control to organise:

1) no VHF/phone contact means no lock out
2) Vessel gets given a number in the queue
3) Transgressors get a yellow card

Presumably all Cardiff Bay resident boats require a harbour license or somesuch, which you sign agreeing to T&C's etc. Should be easy to include lock etiquette in that, and the threat of non-renewal of the mooring etc should make at least the commercial boats toe the line.

Personally I avoid the Barrage on sunny weekends /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thats how they used to do it if i remember,you booked a lock and they called you in, any jumpers would get a warning, cant remember when it went pair shaped.
 
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