Sailing getting less popular?

[Mirelle]

This is just anecdotal and probably wrong, but 20 years ago I counted 117 boats at anchor in Walton Backwaters on Bank Holiday Monday - there were nothing like so many this year. Indeed, on Tuesday evening we had Hamford Water to ourselves (and ten seals). Of course, probably everyone has bigger boats and goes further afield...but it is perhaps an encouraging sign?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[dickh]

Mirelle, they go to Titchmarsh Marina! - very few boats seem to anchor nowadays

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[dickh]

Mirelle, they go to Titchmarsh Marina! - very few boats seem to anchor nowadays - but they are many more boats around, just witness the additional moorings/marinas on the Orwell.
And on the Orwell on Sunday, Shotley, Levington and Woolverstone were full up by mid afternoon... we went to Ipswich Haven in the Ipswich Dock(we had guests on board) - lots of room

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by dickh on 27/08/2003 13:28 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Maybe they're all tied up in marinas, plugged into the mains, having showers and eating ashore?

From the benjenbav sales figures it doesn't seem that it's getting less popular, but maybe less self-reliant.



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Guest]

We have made a big effort this year NOT to use marinas, so much more peacefull swinging on ones one hook. Goathorn point in Poole has to be the best, and jet ski free!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[claymore]

I'm sure your right on the less self-reliant bit. Without wishing to bang on about the way it used to be - access to funds and therefore to boat ownership is much simpler now - but somehow it seems that the people who used to own boats had to work harder to get them and this possibly is a reflection of a group more in tune with values to do with self sufficiency, self reliance, endeavour and achievement. Its easy to sound a bit of a dinosaur and be critical of the 'radio checkers' and the 'routine traffic' merchants - my personal pleasure is entirely to do with self-reliance - I struggle to understand what sense of self achievement there can be for what seems to be a grand mass of people with a fairly limited sense of adventure.
My nephew was with us at the weekend and he made numerous calls on his mobile phone to friends and family and then gave us a running commentary on what was happening in the world, at home etc - eventually I had to tell him that one of the very reasons I go sailing is to be out of touch with all of that. It was a concept he struggled with!
Mirelle's comment is of course key - perhaps modern attitudes and practices are all helping to preserve the quieter places?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Violetta]

I\'ve noticed the same thing

It's not just anchoring - although it's very noticeable in places like Hamford Water and Landemere Creek - there seem to me to be remarkably few boats about generally, except perhaps on the Orwell, which seems to have become the Hamble of the East Coast. Hardly any radio traffic either. I was aboard on Sunday doing some jobs and switched on to see if anything was happening (dual 16/67) Nothing but long, long silences, interrupted by a couple of reports of someone aground on Foulness sands.

We were in the Backwaters earlier in the week - maybe five or six boats at anchor. We did see a big gang of seals hauled out on the mud - there seem to be plenty of them about, which is encouraging, given the recent repeat of the mystery virus. Saw lots both ashore and under weigh between the Blackwater and Southwold (and many points in between) in the past couple of weeks.

Yes - the blissful places remain blissful for the time being.

BTW - saw Steffen briefly on Sunday 17th - unfortunately he was coming in just as we were going out so couldn't chew the fat.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ianwright]

Well, we can dream,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Perhaps we could persuade the RYA to spend (say) 10% of their budget on a campaign to encourage Golf,,,,,,, that would help.


IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[Guest]

Re: I\'ve noticed the same thing

It could just be a 'safety in numbers' feeling, having to be surrounded by others, seeing and being seen in the, what are expensive resturants etc surrounding the marinas.

Of course if you do go and anchor in a creek, river or cove, you may just have to work out tidal range/secondary port calculations, that may be above the skill of some yacht 'drivers'. Lets just hope that the few anchorages that remain, stay as they are.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[poter]

Claymore, is'nt it something to do with age/resposibility?

Just as an aside I was in Plymouth Yacht haven over last weekend looking at Yachts to buy, and was struck by the no of yachts just sitting there, on an almost perfect sailing day. What a complete waste of millions of pounds worth of yachts.

I suspect that it was the same in most of the Marinas on the south coast.
Why would you buy a very expensive piece of kit and let it sit in a marina and rot?


By the By Harley Davidson are also 100 years old today!!!!!!!!!!!

poter

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Violetta]

Few, or many?

We are lucky in having a huge choice of beautiful, peaceful and sheltered places to anchor. I suspect one deterrent may be the difficulty of getting ashore from some of them, except at high water. In the places where it is possible, the evening sees a procession of dinghies carrying dogs with pre-occupied expressions on their faces and their legs crossed! However, opportunities for "apres sail" activities are more limited out east and I think we are protected by our glorious mud from the attentions of people who think yachting is a glamorous and fashionable activity. An anchor load of black gloop has a wonderfully levelling effect, socially speaking

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mirelle]

Dogs and children

seem to need to be taken ashore. We have the latter, but they are not as insistent as the former! There is also the shower-and-laundrette factor - I have got the interval between showers up to four days, now, but that has taken some time!

Cats, on the other hand, should never be taken into marinas - my sister's Siamese once jumped ship at Woolverstone (all those trees, birds and fieldmice were too much for her after a sucession of quiet creeks) and vanished for six weeks - she was recaptured, appropriately enough, by the kind owners of the Cat House!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talbot]

Re: I\'ve noticed the same thing

Only one problem with your thoughts - my chart plotter will work out secondary port tide predictions for me by the mere selection and press of a button (Navman 5500). These plotters are getting more useful all the time!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[david_e]

The demand for marina berths continues to be very strong, the number of new boats sold this year is high compared to previous years - both suggest boating is on the up.

Boating habits have changed, mainly with the change in design to bigger accommodation, the lower purchase prices and general move towards a more leisure oriented society.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mirelle]

Marinas

I should think that you are almost certainly right, but that seems rather a good solution - those who like marinas can use them, those who don't can avoid them, and there is more room for everybody!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mudplugger]

Re: Marinas

Mirelle, Sunday was out demonstrating the wonderfully wise decision taken by the new owners of Dancing Maid, I thought the Colne/Blackwater/Wallet was exceeding quiet, however, DM's new owners were impressed with the no of Sails out and about...... By the way, did you get the end of the incident on Shoebury Spit....report to Thames was.... Large Blue m.boat trvelling @ 20-25 knots came to a very abrupt stop....'' all standing''. asked if injuries, reply was, very probably..nobody seen moving on board in the immediate aftermath of incident..
By the way, Brightlingsea was posting FULL UP at 4o/c, trho plenty of room in colne and pyfleet.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.

 

[jeanne]

When we last went long distance sailing, 10 years ago, one of the nicest things was meeting new people and the gentle socialising over a few (cheap) bevvies; the chat was usually low key, a sharing of experiences, places, plans etc, but very pleasant. Perhaps a game of cards followed... How things have changed - my husband is on his own, waiting for me to join him after selling the house. He is among a largish number of liveaboards, but there is very little interaction...he says most of them spend evenings down below watching their satellite tellies. I thought the lack of socialising may have something to do with the area (Spain/Portugal border),or the fact that he's a lone male, but one of our friends says it was the same on their latest transatlantic...cruisers nowadays seem to be a different breed. As long as they are tied to a pontoon and have all the gizmos they have ashore they are happy(?) to extend land living to afloat. Pity some of the old camaraderie is gone. Long live the quiet anchorage!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mirelle]

Re: Marinas

No, I missed that excitement. Preoccupied with counting seals and coming to a very gentle stop, shortly before low water, and nicely in time for supper, on Kirby Creek spit! What are you going in for next?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philmarks]

Where is he and what's your boatd called? I'll be down that way in the next couple of weeks and look out for him (maybe even have a chat!). Blue Hound is in Lagos and I'm moving her eastward for winter.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

You mean you're not following the Hutton Enquiry?? [extreme shock and confusion

<hr width=100% size=1>