Parkstone Yacht Club

[colin_dev]

Hi

Early next week I am taking only my second trip outside of the Solent. We plan to go to Poole and want to stay in the marina at Parkstone Yacht Club. I just tried to book a berth, but the young lady I spoke to would not accept my booking because we have a draft of 1.45m. She said the maximum they allow is 1m. This seems strange. Can anyone tell me if this is really the case, or does she have her facts wrong.

Colin

 

[fireball]

Erm - we've stayed there and have a draft of 1.8m .... so unless they don't have any deeper water berths free .... ??

 

[Twister_Ken]

Been there several times - we draw 1.5m. Remember being asked about length, but not draft.

 

[Robin]

One of you is confused!

We berth in Parkstone and draw 2.08m or 6'10" in old money. I suspect the young lady was standing in over lunch/coffee or whatever so I suggest you call the Yacht Haven again on their direct line 01202 738824. The general depth in the marina varies but is supposed to be 2m LAT.

 

[colin_dev]

Thanks guys.

Its now sorted.

 

[fireball]

Excellent .... it is a superb place to stop if you want marina facility without the extortionate prices of some or noise of the others! And not too far to walk round and into town either!

 

[JasB]

Stay at Harwich, £10 for the night, and a very nice hotel opposite.

 

[PeterGee]

Assuming very manky showers and getting locked out after midnight is okay!!

In fairness that was one visit last summer. In previous years it has been very good. However, I am not really tempted to go back.

Peter

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
Assuming very manky showers

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah - last time I was there they were doing a big extension with new shower blocks .... is that not complete?

 

[Sailfree]

Let me first declare an interest as a happy member of Parkstone YC. I am not an official spokesman but here are my observations.

Parkstone is a YC in a quite residential area and as such it exists for the members. Over the years security has regretably had to be increased due to the theft of some trailers/ribs/outboards and recently this involved putting a time limit as to when the gates can be opened. The shower facilities have been upgraded.

Parkstone does have a marina for their members and while they will try to be helpful and accommodate visiting yachts it is not a commercial organisation. There are other marinas in Poole that are commercial and will be happy to take your money but it would be a lot more money. Visiting yachts therefore get a bargain due to the amount of duties eg security patrols etc done by member volunteers and that the facilities are paid for by the members.

I am sorry that one visitor found the experience of visiting not to his satisfaction (when the facilities were being upgraded) but there are dearer alternatives more suitable to people that wish to "go on the town".

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]

Ah - last time I was there they were doing a big extension with new shower blocks .... is that not complete?

[/ QUOTE ]

You would not BELIEVE how much that cost! I believe the construction team are sub contracted to the Olympic committee now.

The new showers are now open, under the main clubhouse. There are a couple of luxurious 'family suites' ie showers, washbasins and loos combined and one has disabled accessible/useable features. Additionally there are a multitude of showers either open a la rugby club style or a few with stalls (more in the ladies area I believe). If you avoid the busy times when the dinghy (or dingy?) fleets have just returned you will find them pretty good. For the time being the portacabin showers and loos are still there as well.

Make sure you call in beforehand and get a berth allocated, either by phone (best) or VHF 37 (80 isn't monitored on the handhelds if the berth master is out of his office). There are no specific visitor berths, just what is free if club members are away. Check in on arrival with the Haven Office in order to get a temporary security code for the gates and the shower block and I would also check if this covers the main gates if you intend returning late, I'm not sure how that works for visitors as members need a code in addition to our swipecards after 11pm.

Enjoy your stay!

Robin

 

[fireball]

Sailfree and Robin - thanks for your insight ...

I'm sorry to hear of the security troubles and the cost of improving your facilities ....

As a private club member myself I understand that the facilities a club provides must be primarily for the members. Therefore when visiting another club I am happy to pay a reasonable charge for use of the facilities and give support to the club rather than the commercial marinas.

 

[PeterGee]

With all due respect, the poster asked for opinions. To add balance, I have reminded him that Parkstone is not all good. I have no inclination to go back and would prefer to pay a little extra for proper service.

Please search through the forum and you will find my comments. However, in summary I feel I paid VERY close to marina prices for a service that fell way short.

You have explained showers are now better. However, I am not sure why if this was a known issue, fees weren't adjusted appropriately.

Climbing fences to get back to my boat was also less than pleasant. Locked gates is okay. Wrong PIN provided was less okay, although mistakes can be made. The big challenge was having not been given the right PIN, there was no way to resolve without climbing fences or waiting 'till the morning.

If Parkstone charged 50% of marina prices then maybe that is life. They don't! The next night I paid less at Lymington Yacht Haven.

I have already voted with my rudder. Just sharing my experience!

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
The next night I paid less at Lymington Yacht Haven.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ah - did you take into account the HUGE daily harbour fees that are not set by PYC, but collected with an overnight stay?

The alternative marina type facility for us are either way too expensive or so close to town that they are (IMO) too noisy.

 

[Sailfree]

As Fireball has stated there are Harbour Fee for poole. If you want to compare like for like try Dolphin Marina or Salterns Marine both in Poole Harbour. From memory Dolphin is about twice the price.

We race dinghys from Parkstone (Parkstone has a large racing fleet) but we keep the big boat on the Hamble but when I visit Poole with friends and intend to have a lively late night I use Dolphin marina and accept the extra cost.

Once again I am sorry for your bad experience as while the club is vastly oversubscribed both the staff and members genuinely do their best.

As an aside I visited Salterns marina last night for the first time (I was doing my Pwerboat level 2 course to enable me to volunteer for rescue boat duties!) and was staggered that there were only about 3 sailing yachts there. The remainder being large Mobos. I am not prejudiced against MoBo's but found the lack of Sailing Yachts sad. The Hamble has many MoBos but there does seem to be a balance. I suspect the reason at Salterns is that it is only the owners of large Sunseekers Princesses etc that can afford their marina fees.

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah - did you take into account the HUGE daily harbour fees that are not set by PYC, but collected with an overnight stay?


[/ QUOTE ]

That is indeed the killer blow. You can anchor or pick up a mooring anywhere inside Poole Harbour without being charged harbour dues, but they ARE collected from all of the marinas including all the club ones as part of the mooring fee. So if someone wants cheap they can just anchor for free, there are lots of places, very pretty they are too and much better IMO than a marine car park.

PYC welcomes visitors and despite some comments we are really a very friendly bunch and notably so to like minded folks. That is why we have lots of cruising regulars including many rallies from other clubs and associations, not to mention we run lots of big open meetings, Nationals and World Championships.

BTW next door Salterns is I believe THE most expensive marina in the country.

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
PYC welcomes visitors and despite some comments we are really a very friendly bunch

[/ QUOTE ]
I can certainly vouch for that ... always welcoming, always friendly and do their best to accommodate you ... welcome you into their private bar with (IIRC) drinks at private club prices ... and to cap it all, some really good sailing to sit and watch ... I am amazed at how some of the keel boats can sail almost effortlessly into the marina slots ...

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
If Parkstone charged 50% of marina prices then maybe that is life. They don't! The next night I paid less at Lymington Yacht Haven.


[/ QUOTE ]

If they did, they would still have to pay the Harbour Commissioners their fee for Harbour Dues so the club would make very little. The Club exists for members and it is those members that allow use of their berths when away, in exchange for a share of the fees collected, if that fee were tiny none of us would bother advising when we are away, catch 22.

For the record, our rate for a 10m overnight stay is £27.45 which includes £7.05 for Harbour Dues, our take therfore being £20.40. If we charged half as you suggest we would make just £6.67 and just £3.33 for the bertholder. Personally I would forego the pleasure of risking returning, after the agreed visitor departure time, to find a visitor still in my berth if that was the case! Lymington Yacht Haven charge is £29.50 for the same 10m boat. We don't charge any extra for climbing gates, we believe you will have already spent enough in the town's pubs.

I'm just a happy member BTW, so my remarks are purely personal

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
I can certainly vouch for that ... always welcoming, always friendly and do their best to accommodate you ... welcome you into their private bar with (IIRC) drinks at private club prices ... and to cap it all, some really good sailing to sit and watch ... I am amazed at how some of the keel boats can sail almost effortlessly into the marina slots ...


[/ QUOTE ]


Thanks, yes the prices are club ones. Mind you sometimes the racers short tacking across our sterns on the way out at LW when the easy route isn't deep enough is quite stressful, especially the big cats. Not to mention them coming back in flying a hull, very sharp pointy ends too and definitely not a good time to be leaving the berth....

 

[PeterGee]

A quote from last year's post:

"Just got back from two weeks away. France and the CI's, then back to Gosport via Poole and Lymington. Parkstone was easily the most expensive stop. (£30 per night, next was Lymington Yacht Haven at £27) As well as being the most expensive, you also benefit from what I would consider the lowest standard of service."

So taking away your £7 Poole tax, that makes you £4 cheaper that Lymington for very poor service. What do you want me to say more?