Permanent Mooring at Porthcressa

[Scillypete]

it is in line with Mr Carss last contribution.

just to make you aware that should be Mrs Carss

 

[Adonnante]

just to make you aware that should be Mrs Carss

Noted, thanks for that.

 

[Chris_Robb]

"Porthcressa 20 moorings: The application reference is MLA/2011/​00244. If you reply with your comments back to this email address (marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk​), we will send your comments to the relevant case officer for this application. Please quote the application reference in the subject box."

If anyone feels the need to say their piece on whether they want to keep this area free as an anchorage only, or not then please use the above.

Done

 

[Chris_Robb]

Sorry Charlie, but it would appear that NOT everyone is in favour (and I'm afraid I'm one) or are yachtsmen not a relevant body? Slowly but surely, long established anchorages are being denied to those of us who prefer to anchor. I know you say that there will still be plenty of space, but for how long? It's not just a matter of the cost, there is the question of freedom of choice and that choice is increasingly being denied. There are other spots around the islands where we have anchored and are now full of moorings and to my mind, this is not an improvement. Seeing yachts at anchor represents the freedom of cruising whilst seeing yet another trot of mooring buoys is reminiscent of a nautical car park and the view that the sailing fraternity is the next best thing to a cash machine.

Sailing is not the preserve of the rich and many choose not to use facilities when they can keep the cost down, and many more of us prefer to trust our own tackle rather than a mooring of unknown pedigree and history. By all means provide (and charge for) shore facilities - people have the choice as to whether to use those - but the seabed is a common resource and we should all have the same rights to use it.

In fact they have only consulted with the bodies that have no real interest in the matter. I find it appalling that a private individual can place mooring in an area of statutory common usage, preventing us from our lawful right.

What is to stop us (when I am back from Greece) anchoring in the moorings and preventing their usage? We have an equal right.

 

[Captn D]

Please will Mrs Carss give us the reason why she wishes to go ahead with this venture. Surely the only valid answer can be profit at the expense of visiting yachtsmen!

 

[Scillypete]

the latest

http://www.scillytoday.com/2012/01/06/uncertainty-over-planning-approval-for-porthcressa-moorings/

The system sucks

 

[longjohnsilver]

Charlie says the application for the moorings is part of a larger business plan to sustain an ‘on call’ diving team on the islands.
She told us the moorings will provide a separate income stream for a complementary plan to purchase Scavenger Diving Services.
The current diving service is unviable, says Charlie, as it has, by law, to support three employees and there are no other parties interested in buying the business.
If she didn’t step in, there wouldn’t be a diving boat or the appropriate number of H.S.E. commercially-ticketed divers and crew to maintain and service the 450 existing moorings or support emergency assistance in cases of ropes caught around propellers. The crew could also be called on to do a sweep of the harbour berth in order to ensure that the Scillonian and the Gry Maritha can be docked safely.


The project is in line with the Council’s Porthcressa re-development scheme, which is aiming to encourage visiting yachtsmen to continue to use Porthcressa, by offering, amongst other things, showers and washing facilities.
With visitor numbers dropping, and increasing transport costs to the islands, Charlie says we should be encouraging these sailors, who can get here under their own steam.
Over the years, they have tended to drag their anchors in Porthcressa, as they did in the harbour, prior to those moorings being placed there.
She says a senior member of the RYA contacted her and said how pleased he was that this facility would finally be available to yachtsmen in Porthcressa Bay

Hmm, so they want this to enable them to run a commercial diving operation! How will having 20 moorings enable that to happen, ie employ at least 3 people?

And who is the senior RYA official, I wonder?

 

[Chris_Robb]

http://www.scillytoday.com/2012/01/06/uncertainty-over-planning-approval-for-porthcressa-moorings/

The system sucks

I just can't understand the process. Seems to ignore any locals views. Whats to stop you putting in another application for 20 moorings in the same spot. They surely have no prior right to you.

 

[Ltcdr 3in1Whaler]

Not much room left to swing the proverbial cat really is there???

 

[Scillypete]

just to show everyone where these moorings are going to be . . . . . not much left for anchoring unless you are shoal draft or don't mind being pushed almost out of the bay

The ease with which this has been done makes you wonder how many other popular free anchorages/bays could also be taken up with moorings just for someone to fleece the yachtsman.

 

[Seajet]

Just wondering, I couldn't see mention of it in my brief scan, but are these to be Environmentally Friendly Moorings, EFM's ?

If so the hassle & cost will be eye-watering, so one might expect that cost to be passed on to the boat owners...

Even with conventional moorings it won't be cheap; a funny way of 'increasing the diminishing number of visitors ' !

 

[Adonnante]

just to show everyone where these moorings are going to be . . . . . not much left for anchoring unless you are shoal draft or don't mind being pushed almost out of the bay



Pete,

I sent the following to Jeremy Evans after his recent email to me, no reply so far.

'Dear Jeremy,

Thank you for replying with the applicants response to my comments. However I feel that he(sic) has not represented the mooring situation in a true light.

1, During the season when conditions allow Porthcressa is a popular anchorage. At these times permanent mooring buoys would increase the the number of boats able to use the area, however at other times the moorings would deprive those that choose to anchor of the possibility of using the safest area.

2, The area inshore of the moorings between the 5m contour and the 1m is quite small according to my chart. It measures 50m x 170m, sufficient, assuming a 3:1 scope and a 5m range for 4x12m boats, this assumes that they are all in optimal positions which is unlikely.

3, Boats anchoring in this inshore area will need to thread through the 20 moorings, often at night, to reach the anchorage. This could be impossible for me with a 6.5m beam.

4,Those arriving to find the inshore anchorage full or inaccessible will need to anchor south of the moorings in 12 to 13m giving a scope of 18m. In addition they will be exposed to any swell and tide around the Wras.

5, I suspect that shower facilities at Porthcressa would not be an issue with those using the moorings or anchoring. Those that pursue personal hygiene afloat have long made provision for this on-board their boats and the rest are happy with the existing arrangements at the harbour office or hotels.

6, I am old enough to remember when visiting boats had to anchor at St Marys, then came the moorings (a positive step to maximise the space) but those of use that could were still able to anchor inshore. This is now banned forcing those that anchor out of the harbour into more exposed positions. This trend has spread to New Grimsby and Old Grimsby areas. It would appear that Porthcressa is following the same pattern.

I would like the above to be considered in any planning process that MMO are conducting.

Kind regards

Peter Lillywhite. '

 

[Scillypete]

The funding they applied for has been turned down and it is still unknown if they will go ahead and lay moorings.

http://www.scillytoday.com/2012/04/05/lag-rejects-funding-for-porthcressa-moorings/

 

[Chris_Robb]

The funding they applied for has been turned down and it is still unknown if they will go ahead and lay moorings.

http://www.scillytoday.com/2012/04/05/lag-rejects-funding-for-porthcressa-moorings/

Good news! Lets hope the project is now dead.

 

[Sybarite]

Completely agree. I was in the Scillies this summer and one of the attractions of Porthcressa (apart from a lovely white beach with palm trees and a deep blue sea) is that there are no permanent moorings. When you walk over to the other side and see the packed moorings in St. Mary’s Harbour (Hugh Town) the difference is shocking. You must be really desperate to pick a mooring there.
Please keep Porthcressa free as it is now!
.

+1

 

[Sybarite]

Just found this... http://www.scillytoday.com/2011/12/01/plans-submitted-for-permanent-moorings-at-porthcressa/ Permission is being sought from the MMO to install permanent visitors mooring in Porthcressa, Natural England are also happy with the propsal. I guess I might have to do my shopping on Tresco in future.

Peter.

The HM told me that Portcressa can quickly become dangerous in strong SE winds. Would the moorings owner guarantee the integrity of the holding and would he be covered if things went wrong?