Ramsgate

[Toutvabien]

After two years of looking at everything fom a Scanmar 35 to a Westerly Corsair we are finally in the process of buying another boat, 35 ft sailing cruiser, and trying to work out where to keep it.

Ramsgate has been suggested by the gang and I'd be interested to hear from any others who have berthed boats there long term as to it's plus's and minus's. We have visted Ramsgate by boat on numerous occasions and always found it a reasonable location, but I am curious as to how long term bertholders find the marina and it's staff, and t he other bitsand pieces that make for a pleasent, or otherwise, experience.

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[pheran]

I believe David Steward over on MoBoChat berths there. Sure he would be happy to give you a view.

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[pvb]

Outer harbour...

Often visit there, and it's a good location. Easy entry. Helpful staff. Good facilities. Only drawback to use as a resident might be car parking (don't know how they allocate that).

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[Peppermint]

I've only visited it maybe three times, on passage, and I think it's awful. The port control can be surly, the marinas ok but the town is rundown and short of facilities. Parking, pubs and restaurants of any quality all seemed in short supply. All of that under the flight path.
I much prefer Dover or Brighton and they're nothing to write home about.

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[FullCircle]

As an ex-member of Royal Temple and berthing my boat there long term, I can only recommend it highly.
The club and is excellent, the marina is tranquil and close to the town. The town has undergone (and continues to be refurbished) major refurbishment, the ferry no longer runs to disturb entry/exit. The engineering facilities are good. The restaurants are not in the Michelin guide, but they arent charging you for that either. All in all you wont be ripped off (except the Marina fees, but thats a given). Racing is great (X boats are major there), and Calais a mere 4-5 hours sail.
I miss it (live in Essex now).

Jim

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[TheBoatman]

I was born and bred there so I won't hear a word against the place.
However on the slight downside, Port Control can be a bit iffy at times, if your on the inside and want to go out they say yes, in your on the outside and want to go in they say yes, result you can both meet on the West Pier head. Just keep a listening watch so that you don't get any surprises.
Mooring prices are slightly more expensive in the outer harbour than the inner because of the +/- 2 1/2 hrs either side of HW that the gate is open.

But on a nice warm summers evening with the sun going down I can think of no better place to be?

Peter ( True blue Ramsgatarian)

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[kimhollamby]

Berthed there for much the 1990s and personally enjoyed the change of pace of 'Planet Thanet' from the weekday rat-race. Although it can be a pretty wild corner it stays fairly mild for much of the winter and, although one of the Goodwins one of the most feared areas around Britain (not without cause) a quiet day trolling along through the Downs something to be treasured. You can head off on most points of the compass depending on where the wind is blowing...makes a South Coast berth seem a bit two dimensional in comparison.

Occasional Manston flights (sorry, I forgot -- Kent International Airport!) tend to attract the types that are not allowed to land elsewhere (ageing jets in particular) and we did have a few issues with unburnt JetA1 fuel making the superstructure sticky -- but not to the extent you get from refinery fall-out on Hamble for example. As a bit of an aviation fan never minded seeing an eclectic mix of USAF jets, old Russian transporters and the odd 707 or DC8 turning up -- understand not everyone's cup of tea but in any event, not exactly Heathrowesque frequencies there.

If I was back there now I would personally want an inner harbour berth; when the swell gets up at high water the outer harbour berths can move a fair bit in the wrong wind. Plus loads of visitors outside with the potential for getting thumped in your absence. Inner access only plus/minus two but that seems less of a handicap than it would be for places with less adequate holding berths outside.

Best bet might be to arrange for a sampler and see if you like -- I suspect a bit of a love it or hate it type place. Would go back myself.

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[JonBrooks]

As a local can only say go for it!
I live 5 mins from the harbour and love it to bits.
Was down there Saturday, working on a boat.

We (me and the good lady) are looking at it for a berth.
Had a good chat with them at the Boat Show.
Did seem good value and nice staff.

Hope that help's

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[AndrewB]

A few extra points to those already provided.

There is a decent area of reasonably sheltered water in the prevailing winds outside the harbour which makes for good sailing. (A little care needed to avoid the Goodwins - soon learnt.) The other south-east marinas, Dover, Eastbourne, Brighton, lack this.

The cruiser-racer racing at Ramsgate is excellent, well worth getting involved. Royal Temple is a justifiably popular club.

There is nowhere much to go for a day sail. The only all-tide harbours within 6 hours sail are Dover, Calais, East Swale, Queenborough (just).

The inner entrance sometimes silts up, passable but tricky at low water. The outer entrance is crossed by strong tides and occasionally can be dangerous in strong E or SE winds.

The eastern marina in the outer harbour is all-tide, but swell can make it very uncomfortable in a gale. The western marina is better, but heavily used by visitors in summer.

If you are committed to a deep-water marina in the south-east, it's also worth checking out Dover. I kept a yacht at Ramsgate for seven years, but for the last seven have been at Dover.

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