Mooring buoys in the Swale

[gravygraham]

We like to spend the odd night at anchor near Harty Ferry and have often noticed vacant buoys there. Do any forumites know who is the authority to contact about these, regarding renting, buying or borrowing, or whatever the deal is? Or is there a fifteen year waiting list!?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Gargleblaster]

Haven't picked up a buoy at Harty Ferry for some time. But my understanding was that it was accepted practice for visitors to take a buoy but check the rating of the buoy. They used to put the allowed tonnage on them.

Then a nice row up Oare Creek to the Shipwright Arms.

 

[FulmarJeddo]

I was told a couple of years ago by the Ferry Inn at Harty that they own the mooring rights on the Sheppey side and the buoys are maintained for them by Bluie the fisherman that operates the Red Fishing boat Louise from Harty. I paid him £10 or £20 for a weeks use of one. Those on the mainland side are owned by Hollow Shore Cruising club. Dick Holness (Cantata) will no doubt come along soon with more info.
Some of the in-shore moorings on the Sheppey side are quite shallow at low water.

 

[Cantata]

I was told a couple of years ago by the Ferry Inn at Harty that they own the mooring rights on the Sheppey side and the buoys are maintained for them by Bluie the fisherman that operates the Red Fishing boat Louise from Harty. I paid him £10 or £20 for a weeks use of one. Those on the mainland side are owned by Hollow Shore Cruising club. Dick Holness (Cantata) will no doubt come along soon with more info.
Some of the in-shore moorings on the Sheppey side are quite shallow at low water.

The whole area of sea-bed is 'owned' privately, but moorings are managed by the afore-mentioned Blue Walpole.
My club (Hollowshore CC) only owns two of the moorings on the mainland side, these are about 100yds W of the causeway and marked 'HCC'. They do get used a lot in season by members, but the club is relaxed about boats using those for the odd night - just be prepared to move if a member comes along wanting to use one. Never heard of a problem around that anyway. No really big boats or rafting please.
The other moorings are owned by various people and it's accepted that anyone can use a vacant one for the odd night with the usual provisos. No money should be asked for by anyone in those circumstances.
There's good holding there anyway, you can always drop the hook. Perhaps not such a good idea if it's blowing hard east or west.
If you're wanting to actually rent a mooring for a period, best to contact Mr.Walpole in the first instance. He's in the phone book, lives in Church Road locally.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

We had a mooring on the mainland side for a year, we only left it because of a new baby. Bluey Walpole lays and maintains them, ours was 50 meters from the end of the slipway and cost £200 for the 7 month season. There's little fetch there so sitting onboard one afternoon in 35 knots of wind the boat wasn't moving about much. The only irritation was most weekends there'd be someone on the mooring when we came back. Usually they moved off straight away, one chap wanted half an hour to "get ready"

The Romford Navy was always out in force and the slipway could get very busy. As a spot to go sailing from though it was hard to top.

 

[Malish]

We had a mooring on the mainland side for a year, we only left it because of a new baby. Bluey Walpole lays and maintains them, ours was 50 meters from the end of the slipway and cost £200 for the 7 month season. There's little fetch there so sitting onboard one afternoon in 35 knots of wind the boat wasn't moving about much. The only irritation was most weekends there'd be someone on the mooring when we came back. Usually they moved off straight away, one chap wanted half an hour to "get ready"

The Romford Navy was always out in force and the slipway could get very busy. As a spot to go sailing from though it was hard to top.

Always liked the spot but where did you park your road transport when sailing? The little car park on the mainland side seems a little exposed to the smash & grab / torch the motor brigade

 

[gravygraham]

Thanks folks for your replies. Cantata I saw your pictures and one of them reminded me of this one we took about three years ago. Also, you say 'no really big boats', we're 38' loa and about 8 tonnes - is that buoy abuse, or will they take it?

 

[Rivers & creeks]

We parked up by the cottages and walked back down. I agree about the car park being a bit vulnerable. Harty Ferry is classic East Coast, a little gem, we had one of our best year's sailing there, slip off the mooring and go. I'd often get up early and sail off the mooring, wife would wake up and we'd be at Red Sand towers or drifting somewhere pleasantly aimless. What a flippin change now, 14 tonnes of British Yacht, takes fifteen minutes to plan a marina manoeuvre

 

[Cantata]

Thanks folks for your replies. Cantata I saw your pictures and one of them reminded me of this one we took about three years ago. Also, you say 'no really big boats', we're 38' loa and about 8 tonnes - is that buoy abuse, or will they take it?

I don't think you should use one of the two club moorings in a blow. There are usually plenty of other free ones anyway.
Nice pic! I got those colours in some pics one evening in South Deep, perhaps it was one of those you saw, was in ECP 1st edition, I think. S. Deep is straight up-sun in yours.