Otter
Well-Known Member
Seems to work in Holland
Everything works in Holland
Queenborough moorings
- Thread starter cookjwm
- Start date
Everything works in Holland
T_S
Well-Known Member
Last time I stayed over at Queenborough I used the ATL and was charged 20 quid, the turnstile has been broken by the local hoodies and spins freely without the need of any tokens.
As far as I know no radio request is required, (if it is no one does!) the mooring buoys are
on a come first basis, (so on a sunny weekend get there early!) the trot boat operates as and when they feel like it, so don't feel guilty about having to bugger off without paying, as your tidal window is far more important than the tenner they have just lost through being unreliable!"
If you go ashore the first pub you come across is the 'Old House at Home' were a few loud locals drink and a down to earth type pub, some of its ales are ok but lately the food pretty rank! The next beer shop is the sailing club, thats of course when its open and lastly without having venture too far is the 'Flying Dutchman' which has in the past been a pretty good place to pig out and sink a few ales!
I think that about covers it.
As far as I know no radio request is required, (if it is no one does!) the mooring buoys are
on a come first basis, (so on a sunny weekend get there early!) the trot boat operates as and when they feel like it, so don't feel guilty about having to bugger off without paying, as your tidal window is far more important than the tenner they have just lost through being unreliable!"
If you go ashore the first pub you come across is the 'Old House at Home' were a few loud locals drink and a down to earth type pub, some of its ales are ok but lately the food pretty rank! The next beer shop is the sailing club, thats of course when its open and lastly without having venture too far is the 'Flying Dutchman' which has in the past been a pretty good place to pig out and sink a few ales!
I think that about covers it.
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Perhaps a summary would be useful here, after so many contributions! Didn't know the place was so 'popular' in so may ways...
1. The moorings are run by Swale Borough Council. Money for these moorings (including the barge) is collected by a council boat, morning and evening, currently flat rate 9 quid per 24 hours or part thereof. They come out in the morning at 0800......
The Council decided to farm the moorings out to an operator and invited bidders, of which one was Queenborough YC. The general and local elections got in the way of progress, nothing further has happened that I know of.
2. The buoy moorings are all on the E side. All are 'single-occupancy' except for the 2 large ones just upstream, and the 2 large ones just downstream, of the ATL hammerhead. These can take 4 (or is it 6, can't remember) boats rafted.
The barge is on the west side, opposite the ATL and just upstream.
3. There is no need to radio anyone at all before picking up a buoy. Note that the barge can get booked by clubs - if it's booked, it says so on it.
4. The ATL belongs to QYC. It was effectively 'given' to the club some years ago by the Council, but it is of course a poisoned chalice because the maintenance costs can be huge. It was cheaply made in the first place, being anchored rather than fixed to piles, and is prone to damage in strong winds. Amongst the club's plans is an intention to secure it with piles.
The club collects the mooring fees from anyone on the ATL (costs more than 9 quid usually), and the turnstile fees, but the income is obviously very small. One poster noted the turnstile is broken - it gets fixed very quickly! Tokens are available at the 2 pubs, the club, and the Queenborough Stores further up the road.
5. There is no 'trot boat' service as there used to be because the Council wouldn't spend the money to keep their money-collecting boat up to scratch to carry paying passengers (for which it needs an MCA ticket). The club does sometimes take visitors ashore and back on a voluntary basis. It's a voluntary club, so it depends on volunteers! They will be pleased if you pay a voluntary contribution for the ferry ride.
6. Queenborough is neither a cultural centre, nor is it noted for its cuisine. There's plenty of pub grub. For those with the time and inclination, the architecture oin the High Street is interesting, as are the occcupants of the churchyard.
If I put in this amount of detail for every port in a certain pilot book, it would be about 2000 pages long and unaffordable.....
1. The moorings are run by Swale Borough Council. Money for these moorings (including the barge) is collected by a council boat, morning and evening, currently flat rate 9 quid per 24 hours or part thereof. They come out in the morning at 0800......
The Council decided to farm the moorings out to an operator and invited bidders, of which one was Queenborough YC. The general and local elections got in the way of progress, nothing further has happened that I know of.
2. The buoy moorings are all on the E side. All are 'single-occupancy' except for the 2 large ones just upstream, and the 2 large ones just downstream, of the ATL hammerhead. These can take 4 (or is it 6, can't remember) boats rafted.
The barge is on the west side, opposite the ATL and just upstream.
3. There is no need to radio anyone at all before picking up a buoy. Note that the barge can get booked by clubs - if it's booked, it says so on it.
4. The ATL belongs to QYC. It was effectively 'given' to the club some years ago by the Council, but it is of course a poisoned chalice because the maintenance costs can be huge. It was cheaply made in the first place, being anchored rather than fixed to piles, and is prone to damage in strong winds. Amongst the club's plans is an intention to secure it with piles.
The club collects the mooring fees from anyone on the ATL (costs more than 9 quid usually), and the turnstile fees, but the income is obviously very small. One poster noted the turnstile is broken - it gets fixed very quickly! Tokens are available at the 2 pubs, the club, and the Queenborough Stores further up the road.
5. There is no 'trot boat' service as there used to be because the Council wouldn't spend the money to keep their money-collecting boat up to scratch to carry paying passengers (for which it needs an MCA ticket). The club does sometimes take visitors ashore and back on a voluntary basis. It's a voluntary club, so it depends on volunteers! They will be pleased if you pay a voluntary contribution for the ferry ride.
6. Queenborough is neither a cultural centre, nor is it noted for its cuisine. There's plenty of pub grub. For those with the time and inclination, the architecture oin the High Street is interesting, as are the occcupants of the churchyard.
If I put in this amount of detail for every port in a certain pilot book, it would be about 2000 pages long and unaffordable.....
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xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
Well, I must say I really am disappointed by the Queenborough bashing in this thread.
In no particular order.....
The guys that collect the money in Sheppey Two have always been courteous and friendly. I imagine they don't get paid a great deal, or run Swale Council, or make decisions on the costs of moorings, or who is responsible for the all tide landing maintenance. I would expect anybody who feels they were less than courteous when visiting, may have decided to use them as a sounding board for the places perceived shortcomings.
£9 a night for a maintained buoy, that is empty all week, that produces an income of approx £18 a weekend for 4 months a year and needs staff with a boat to collect the money. Come on, I wouldn't exactly call it a money spinner.
The yacht club works bloody hard to keep the all tide landing open. A bit less hot air and few more offers of help with it, would I am sure, be appreciated.
The food at the club, open on Saturday nights, is as good as any pub food I have had. What are people expecting?
The trot boat runs during the summer on Saturday nights and is driven by Roger available on Ch 08. He actually used his own boat last weekend when the launch broke down, making sure nobody was stranded ashore.
Mooring buoys are difficult to pick up and a bit rusty!? If you can't pick a mooring up at Q'boro, maybe a an RYA course could be for you.
The locals. What are you expecting to find ashore exactly, mermaids? The Old House at Home can be a bit lively, more of a blokes pub, The Flying Dutchman more family friendly, I personally have never felt threatened or intimidated ashore. This prejudice of the inhabitants of Sheppey, shouldn't exist in this day and age.
I have also never had or heard of anything going missing whilst ashore.
Or we could slag the place off via the internet, discourage all visitors to the facilities that will then close. But at least we could whine about the lack of places to visit and/or land at in the area.
In no particular order.....
The guys that collect the money in Sheppey Two have always been courteous and friendly. I imagine they don't get paid a great deal, or run Swale Council, or make decisions on the costs of moorings, or who is responsible for the all tide landing maintenance. I would expect anybody who feels they were less than courteous when visiting, may have decided to use them as a sounding board for the places perceived shortcomings.
£9 a night for a maintained buoy, that is empty all week, that produces an income of approx £18 a weekend for 4 months a year and needs staff with a boat to collect the money. Come on, I wouldn't exactly call it a money spinner.
The yacht club works bloody hard to keep the all tide landing open. A bit less hot air and few more offers of help with it, would I am sure, be appreciated.
The food at the club, open on Saturday nights, is as good as any pub food I have had. What are people expecting?
The trot boat runs during the summer on Saturday nights and is driven by Roger available on Ch 08. He actually used his own boat last weekend when the launch broke down, making sure nobody was stranded ashore.
Mooring buoys are difficult to pick up and a bit rusty!? If you can't pick a mooring up at Q'boro, maybe a an RYA course could be for you.
The locals. What are you expecting to find ashore exactly, mermaids? The Old House at Home can be a bit lively, more of a blokes pub, The Flying Dutchman more family friendly, I personally have never felt threatened or intimidated ashore. This prejudice of the inhabitants of Sheppey, shouldn't exist in this day and age.
I have also never had or heard of anything going missing whilst ashore.
Or we could slag the place off via the internet, discourage all visitors to the facilities that will then close. But at least we could whine about the lack of places to visit and/or land at in the area.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
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Cantata
Well-Known Member
Well said, Dave.
Vid
Well-Known Member
I've now been to Queenborough three times, twice in the past week. It's a great little stopover - the moorings are convenient, the pubs ashore friendly and I think £9 per night is a bargain. The guys on the launch are friendly and helpful with advice re timings of departures. No complaints at all.
MrCramp
Well-Known Member
They did not realise two different parties collected the fees.
T_S
Well-Known Member
I'm not slagging the place just telling it as it is, my mooring is just across the water. I use the place quite a lot to badge up for the night when the tides don't suite, rather than a night in the Ray.
Sadly though things do go missing there from time to time, a pal of mine had his inflatable removed from the ATL last year!
But theft can happen anywhere even in Queenborough!
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Sadly, events have moved on, and the club has announced that unless a long-term solution can be found for the funding and security of the ATL by the end of the year, it will be closed.
irs101
Member
I'm very sorry to hear that. It would be a big loss to Queenborough. Much as I dislike how the council run the moorings, I've always found the club friendly - the people I've met on the ATL and when they've put on food for us when we've raced over there.
Could you let us know if you hear of any sort of campaign? I'd be very happy to contribute - even more so if the future of the moorings is sorted out as well.
Could you let us know if you hear of any sort of campaign? I'd be very happy to contribute - even more so if the future of the moorings is sorted out as well.
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Sure, we'll pass on anything we hear.
The gory details are in the club's press release - go to the ECP website (link below) and click on the Queenborough news item.
The gory details are in the club's press release - go to the ECP website (link below) and click on the Queenborough news item.
T_S
Well-Known Member
As someone who uses QB every year I'll be gutted if it does close, had some good evenings at the club with CCS events.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
The facts contained in your article made for depressing reading. While the problems with the local youths is sadly to be expected, I am amazed that any visting boats would refuse to pay what it about the going rate for a commercial mooring these days.
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LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Annabelle
New Member
unless you have a particular desire to venture ashore in QB, i'd suggest anchoring in stangate creek - it's peaceful and free
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
The foreshore to the South of the all tide landing was littered with glass when I last used the slipway in preference to the ATL. This might be a disadvantage if your tender is inflatable!
There is an another slipway just to the North which I have not tried but it might be more suitable.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
unless you have a particular desire to venture ashore in QB, i'd suggest anchoring in stangate creek - it's peaceful and free
You are correct Stangate last week
