Marina Etiquette

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scoops

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After a fab sail, from Gosport to Lymington with plans to sail around the IOW the next day, the last thing I needed was the crew of 2 yachts berthed at the same marina for the night partying until 4am and keeping me awake despite a very polite request to keep the noise down. What worries me, is the fact they had very obviously consumed vast quantities of alcohol (the evidence was in the cockpit) and were obviously planning to sail the next day. What worries me even more is that they were on a course with a sailing school. Are there regs regarding drink/sailing? When I did my comp crew, drink/sailing was never mentioned but after this weekend I rather think it should be. Any thoughts/experiences? <span style="color:purple"> </span>
 
Welcome to the forum Scoops, and don't be such a grumpy old fart. This happens from time to time and 'polite requests' to desist are usually met with derision. Much better to have a laugh with them and put up with it
 
Etiquette states that you make as much noise as possibly at

05.00hrs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifwhilst leavin'

cheers Joe
 
Unfortunately it happens sometimes, but its best to just forget about it and move on now. You never know, one day you might quite fancy a bit of a 'get together' one night.

As for the drinking regs, I believe there are already regs regarding drinking and skippering, but not directed at sailing schools just boaters in general. When doing my courses we normally always had a bottle of wine with the meal or went to the pub afterwards for a pint or two. Nobody got drunk and it was all just to relax and socialise. Did you avtually see them go sailing the next day?

Oh, and BTW, welcome to the forums.
 
just imagine how they felt next day ......... especially if they ackshurly moved off the berth /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

liquid laughing all day I would imagine /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Did it once meself, early tide, force6 against tide, no food, no way of getting back in 8 hours feeding fish, you learn your lesson or you give up sailing! Worst part is my dad and uncle joined me in the boozer and over the side.

Enjoy a quiet sense of satisfaction that the next day IS a nightmare. Also thinking of taping my 2 year old's loudest wake up's and selling it as an aid to revenge.
 
What you need is a two year old on board. Preferably one that wakes up in a fairly noisy fashion at 06:30 on the dot. The fact that every phrase gets repeated up to 10 times until acknowledged can drive the unprepared into madness and purgatory. I have one of these available for short term loan if required.

dv.
 
[ QUOTE ]
they were on a course with a sailing school.

[/ QUOTE ] And who was paying the school? You or them? The instructor will have been sober, if they want to waste their money that's their call.
Bloody annoying, but that's what you get in marinas.
 
My thought is Scoops, you ask them politely to pipe down - which you did. Then once you realise they are going to continue, survey the marina for an empty berth farthest upwind and move. Or clear out of the marina and get some sleep elsewhere.
 
Bird Seed Party Management Systems

Hi Scoops.

1. Aways carry a few spare packets of Bird Seed on board
2. The offending boat will be covered by overnight dew
3. At 0600am next morning when you are leaving, sprinkle the contents of the bird seed all over their damp GRP superstructure
4. Many feathered little friends will soon arrive, and their kango hammer beaks will peck away loudly on their hull for hours of fun and wake the gits up bright and early.
5. The evidence is consumed, so bemused looks all around later that day when they come out of coma /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

This works every time, I've used it for years! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Only of course if they had been over the top loud and rude, in to the early hours, but I had to draw the line at an electric guitar and a 12v battery. Bird seed is readily avalable at all good chandlers down our way! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Disturbing neighbouring boats into the early hours is not acceptable behaviour and this should be taught on alll these courses.
 
Re: Marinas: Damage Limitation

[ QUOTE ]
"move. Or clear out"

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a sad reflection on today's boating fraternity (including some posters who should know better) but leaving may be the only solution. For that very reason I often fork out for only a Short Stay in marinas - 4 hours is enough to shower & shave, wine & dine, then relocate. Don't fancy a midnight move? Practice makes perfect - after all, you don't have to be quiet about it. Best not to hit anything tho'!
 
Hi
Write to the marina management/directors about it, naming the school and send a copy to the school. Marina ownership is very big business now and the vast majority of their income comes from permanent berth holders who also deeply resent this type of visitor. The marina's income from this type of visitor is trivial but the schools rely heavily on the marinas and the mere threat of a ban has a salutary effect. It does work.
 
Evening Short Stays

I tried to do this a couple of weekends ago in Cowes, only to be told that they do not do short stays after 1600, so if I wanted to go ashore (it was to buy milk and some other kind of refreshments) I would have to fork out for the full night's fee. So I left and went to the Folly.
 
Re: Evening Short Stays

How about contacting the marina office? I have seen this done with teenagers boozing on daddy's boat to great affect. The office has the telephone number of the owner (who may or may not be onboard) who will be politely asked to take control of the crew members or they can be asked to leave the marina until they can behave...
 
The crews concerned are definitely out of order in my book and the sailing school skippers should have prevented things getting out of control, always assuming they were not involved. It may seem boringly old farty to some to complain but why? I wouldn't want it in the street outside my house or in the corridor of a hotel, so why should it be a jolly bit of ignorable get on with it fun in a marina where you have just paid a fortune for the night's stay? You can try calling the marina night security man or next morning demanding a refund, you won't get it but at least make the point that it isn't acceptable behaviour.

It is because of incidents like this and others that make people wary of having sailing schools, charter boats and raceboats nearby or rafted alongside. We have met many very pleasant and courteous examples over the years and a minority of seriously inconsiderate prats, unfortunately this minority gets the majority a bad name. Our local racing fraternity was actually banned from some harbours years back for antisocial behaviour, they cleaned up their act and are welcomed again, but it took a ban to do it.
 
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