Chrissie
Well-Known Member
Some weeks ago I emailed Navitus Bay with a list of questions, and apart from an automated reply saying they will reply to me in 10 days to 2 weeks, but they havent.
Has anyone had a reply from them? I am particularly interested in the corridor and the work boats, and safety. This is the email I sent.
Dear Sir
I am seeking information and clarification on several aspects of the proposals which could have major effects of the leisure sailing Industry in the area.
I sail a 26 ft yacht, single handed down to the West Country from Gosport each year. The harbours and small towns along the south and south west coast rely on the hundreds of sail and motor boats that visit on their way west each year, as a large part of their tourist revenue.
Looking at your proposed development area, I can see that I sail within a mile of your north boundary when the weather/tides are fair, but I have been known to pass Hengesberry Head and Anvil Point at 13 miles off shore to avoid the heavy overfalls when the tide is not with me, or there are strong winds.
1, I am seeking clarification on noise levels from the turbines, will it be sufficient to mask the sounds of ferries, ships, support vessels and other leisure boats approaching?
2, The turbines will be lit, but my experience of lights on shore is that it can lead to reduced clarity, visibility being confused with so many extra lights, trying to identify the lights that could be due to a vessel approaching me, will be harder.
3, As I pass the turbine lights, my lights will blend in and make me less visible to other vessels.
4, What impact will the turbine blades have on wind distubance? Are there studies that show the wind disturbace from a bank of turbines? As a sailing vessel, would I find my progress disturbed as the wind is disturbed? Would my wind vane steering system be affected?
5, How many support vessels would be crossing between shore and the development sight, on a daily/hourly basis?
6, What size would they be?
7, What speed will they travel at?
8, Would they be operating in the dark?
9, Naturally they will be fitted with AIS units?, but the majority of small leisure vessels will have recieve only units, indeed, the majority of small vessels will not have AIS at all.
10, During construction, what restrictions on passage making are planned?
11, When the weather is bad or the seas are high due to bad weather in the proceding days, many yachts divert South of the IOW to enter the Solent at the Nab tower /Portsmouth end, in order to avoid the major overfalls off the Needles. Indeed navigation/pilot books advise against a Needles entry in many sea or wind conditions, but to avoid the Needles would entail passing through the turbines, in lumpy seas, with the associated wind disturbance, so possibly having to motor for hours to keep a safe course. This has to make the passage more dangerous, has it been considered?
12, What sound levels are anticipated at 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles 4 and 5 miles off?
13, The majority of boats will be passing at about 2.5 miles, particularly if they are heading straight to Dartmouth or similar, so need to stay offshore to avoid the adverse tidal influence at the headlands, what do the coridors shown on your charts actually mean in terms of disturbance?
The information supplied by yourselves will be shared with several sailing clubs, and online sailing groups, we have followed the proposals keenly for some time but have been disapointed that no detail has been provided so far.
Yours Sincerely, Chrissie Davis
Has anyone had a reply from them? I am particularly interested in the corridor and the work boats, and safety. This is the email I sent.
Dear Sir
I am seeking information and clarification on several aspects of the proposals which could have major effects of the leisure sailing Industry in the area.
I sail a 26 ft yacht, single handed down to the West Country from Gosport each year. The harbours and small towns along the south and south west coast rely on the hundreds of sail and motor boats that visit on their way west each year, as a large part of their tourist revenue.
Looking at your proposed development area, I can see that I sail within a mile of your north boundary when the weather/tides are fair, but I have been known to pass Hengesberry Head and Anvil Point at 13 miles off shore to avoid the heavy overfalls when the tide is not with me, or there are strong winds.
1, I am seeking clarification on noise levels from the turbines, will it be sufficient to mask the sounds of ferries, ships, support vessels and other leisure boats approaching?
2, The turbines will be lit, but my experience of lights on shore is that it can lead to reduced clarity, visibility being confused with so many extra lights, trying to identify the lights that could be due to a vessel approaching me, will be harder.
3, As I pass the turbine lights, my lights will blend in and make me less visible to other vessels.
4, What impact will the turbine blades have on wind distubance? Are there studies that show the wind disturbace from a bank of turbines? As a sailing vessel, would I find my progress disturbed as the wind is disturbed? Would my wind vane steering system be affected?
5, How many support vessels would be crossing between shore and the development sight, on a daily/hourly basis?
6, What size would they be?
7, What speed will they travel at?
8, Would they be operating in the dark?
9, Naturally they will be fitted with AIS units?, but the majority of small leisure vessels will have recieve only units, indeed, the majority of small vessels will not have AIS at all.
10, During construction, what restrictions on passage making are planned?
11, When the weather is bad or the seas are high due to bad weather in the proceding days, many yachts divert South of the IOW to enter the Solent at the Nab tower /Portsmouth end, in order to avoid the major overfalls off the Needles. Indeed navigation/pilot books advise against a Needles entry in many sea or wind conditions, but to avoid the Needles would entail passing through the turbines, in lumpy seas, with the associated wind disturbance, so possibly having to motor for hours to keep a safe course. This has to make the passage more dangerous, has it been considered?
12, What sound levels are anticipated at 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles 4 and 5 miles off?
13, The majority of boats will be passing at about 2.5 miles, particularly if they are heading straight to Dartmouth or similar, so need to stay offshore to avoid the adverse tidal influence at the headlands, what do the coridors shown on your charts actually mean in terms of disturbance?
The information supplied by yourselves will be shared with several sailing clubs, and online sailing groups, we have followed the proposals keenly for some time but have been disapointed that no detail has been provided so far.
Yours Sincerely, Chrissie Davis
I'm not in favour of the farm by the way, but not overly against it either aside from the pointlessness of it and the effect on the climate.