opinions of St Peter Port

[Grumpybear]

Convenience is a function of your starting point. Frequency of flights is an operational issue, no more.



No, the business leaders, backed by a mass of Plymouthians, are interested in the business life of the City, for the future.

The present leaseholders of the airport land said they wanted to run an air link; pretty soon they said they actually wanted to build houses on the land. Many impartial judges might think it bears all the hallmarks of a planning scam.

Having built their houses the developers might well revert to their original plan of builing a new airport in the South Hams.

Air SW were the third airline in twenty years to fail to make a go of running services from Plymouth, even though it's owners controlled the airport. An airport will not do that much to help the economic future of Plymouth, which is simply too far from population and industrial centres to be viable. If it were, and were to grow significantly as a manufacturing centre, an airport might become a goer. Chicken and egg...

I do share your cynicism about the leaseholders (although amateurish might describe them better than devious), but as a local myself I simply don't believe that air services from Plymouth can be viable. And the idea of a new airport in the South Hams is simply wishful thinking.

 

[doug748]

.......

Bad - kids on mopeds screaming past the marina till all hours.

Can't fault you there Snowleopard.

Now and again the Esplanade is closed to traffic, for various events. If you have not seen it, the effect is very striking. All the row stops, people stroll about enjoying the scene, you no longer risk your life with every step and caf'e and restaurant tables trickle out into the road, in the French manner. As a regular summer feature, that would really transform the place.

 

[doug748]

Air SW were the third airline in twenty years to fail to make a go of running services from Plymouth, even though it's owners controlled the airport. An airport will not do that much to help the economic future of Plymouth, which is simply too far from population and industrial centres to be viable. If it were, and were to grow significantly as a manufacturing centre, an airport might become a goer. Chicken and egg...

I do share your cynicism about the leaseholders (although amateurish might describe them better than devious), but as a local myself I simply don't believe that air services from Plymouth can be viable. And the idea of a new airport in the South Hams is simply wishful thinking.

The unique geographical problem that Plymouth has is when it is gone that's yer lot. A good enough reason to keep it, I would suggest. Lose it and in 15 years everyone will be asking why.

 

[Boathook]

Eating out was expensive and the place seemed run down in some way. I suppose that it has lost its charm and become to modern?

 

[Grumpybear]

The unique geographical problem that Plymouth has is when it is gone that's yer lot. A good enough reason to keep it, I would suggest. Lose it and in 15 years everyone will be asking why.

Excellent principle as far as it goes, but who pays? Half the problem has been that these civic minded business leaders weren't prepared to. Never mind, all these supportive Plymothians would be happy to have it slapped on their council tax perhaps? Or maybe Sutton Harbour berthholders like me would be happy to fork out to subsidise SHC's fantasies? (clue: no way.)

Anyway, in 15 years air travel may be a thing of the past.........

 

[dratsea]

Agree with all above, esp sad closure of Bucktrout. Will add:

Good to dry out on the wall in Victoria, tip wait till official drying berth (full fee plus £10)already taken, then ask to dry out on ramp at either end, no additional charge.

Fishmongers on Albert Pier very good, esp spider crabs (locals do not eat so far cheaper than in France)

If headed over pond then a good place to get things delivered VAT free and not to have hassle of claiming back.

Avoid the weekend (?in May) when it is the destination of Brittany race. The marina staff hate it too but marina is state owned and the state officials enjoy the party and reciprocal hospitality.

 

[guernseyman]

Fishmongers on Albert Pier very good, esp spider crabs (locals do not eat so far cheaper than in France)

...on Castle Emplacement?

 

[LadyInBed]

Agree with all above, esp sad closure of Bucktrout.

When they stopped doing Bucktrout spiced rum was when I stopped spending time in St PP

 

[chubby]

We love SPP and visit not every year but most years: OK can be a hassle to wait on the waiting pontoon and a scrum to get in but once you know the rules the staff do their best.

It does look slighlty run down but so does parts of cherbourg and many UK destinations, the economic times.

We like it for crew swapping by air from southampton, often something going on: this year the harbour carnival, another time we enjoyed the last night of the proms on the quayside and visited the sculpture park at samureuz manor.

Plenty of places to eat ashore from a treat at De Nellos to the boat shed by the marina. The view from the tea shops at the top of M/S accross the harbour is fab. Some downsides, a shame the old market has been redeveloped into fashion shops but the high street still has a good atmosphere.

We usually stay a few days, pay up front and display the receipt and haven`t been bothered by the harbour staff.

The water taxi is a bit steep, either subsidise it or cut the cost of the out harbour moorings to spread the load and reduce the need to join the scrum for inside, or perhaps be more flexible in getting people into gaps in the other marinas?

 

[longjohnsilver]

The water taxi is a bit steep, either subsidise it or cut the cost of the out harbour moorings to spread the load and reduce the need to join the scrum for inside, or perhaps be more flexible in getting people into gaps in the other marinas?

Yes, that always irritates us, paying the same as the walk ashore berths inside where there's also access to power and then potentially being charged for the water taxi to ferry us 50 yards. Never seems right.

I agree with most others that the harbour staff this year have been much improved from previous years.

But there's always Beaucette as an alternative, lovely place with a great eatery.

 

[Sailfree]

Bad - kids on mopeds screaming past the marina till all hours.

Notice also "corals" of cars in car parks with groups of kids all with Dustbin size exhaust pipes also roaring up and down at times.

Noticed one night this year police on promanade with Radar guns so they are trying to address the problem.

How difficult is it to get in Beaucette Marina in a 43' ? IIRC its a difficult entrance for bigger boats with turns!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes an be a little unnerving entering Beaucette but we are fine in our 48 footer and there are much larger boats in the marina. I wouldn't like to go in with a following sea, too easy to get it wrong but in calm conditions no problem at all, from memory with our 1.5m draft about 2.5 hrs either side of HW.

 

[wotayottie]

What do sailors think of St Peter Port, Guernsey as a place to visit in terms of facilities and services etc.? Likes and/or dislikes

Nice island, nice place with an enviable style of life. Its a sort of white cold Barbados

But having family there does help.

 

[Talulah]

How difficult is it to get in Beaucette Marina in a 43' ? IIRC its a difficult entrance for bigger boats with turns!

Perhaps we should link this thread with the "Should I buy a Bow Thruster?" thread.

 

[Sailfree]

Perhaps we should link this thread with the "Should I buy a Bow Thruster?" thread.

Got the bow thruster but with 2.2m draft and reading Almanac have never tried Beaucette.

Either Chicken or prudent- take your choice.

Is Diesel same price in Beaucette as SPP?

 

[Daydream believer]

Family have just spent another 3 weeks hols there which i think says it all.
Some of the visiting yachts are handled by idiots so it is fun to see the antics so long as they are not near your boat. I never cease to be amazed by the haughty attitude of some UK yachts ( not all of course but some stand out)
Harbour staff are excellent. Very helpful
It is a long walk to the main showers but decent when you get there.
St P P is a great place to holiday & loads to do if you look around
We meant to cruise the area but bad weather restricted us to St Hellier for 4 days which is not as good as St P P.

 

[georgeo]

Can't fault you there Snowleopard.

Now and again the Esplanade is closed to traffic, for various events. If you have not seen it, the effect is very striking. All the row stops, people stroll about enjoying the scene, you no longer risk your life with every step and caf'e and restaurant tables trickle out into the road, in the French manner. As a regular summer feature, that would really transform the place.

it is a regular summer feature....

 

[doug748]

it is a regular summer feature....

The regular summer feature I had in mind was starting in June and ending at the end of August

 

[aluijten]

The silly regulations about pets (dogs and cats) prevent us from visiting. And quite a few others I have learned by now.

 

[npf1]

This thread sounds like a SPP 'love in', and quite the opposite of the thread a few months back. It sounds like SPP may have taken on board some of the previous comments and sharpened up their act and, if so, well done to them.

As one of the people who posted on the previous thread about an appalling experience at SPP, I'll continue to vote with my feet and stay well clear until there is a longer track record of them staying on top of things.

BTW - 2.2m draft andf 43' really is nothing to worry about for Beaucette entrance in 'normal' weather. We're bigger than that and only once have I had a brown trouser moment, but that was in winds near 30 knots and a biggish sea.