No, not even close.
From a previous poster "the trouble with Yarmouth I suspect is some book,pay up their 100 squid and then don’t turn up." Maybe his is bigger than yours?
That same poster was in a "lovely 15m berthon pontoon amongst the larger mobo and Hallberg/spirit yachts " so unlikely to be over 21m LOA but sure, if they are over 21m then £100 is correct. I doubt many people with 21m yachts are concerned by losing £100 though. They also wouldn't be occupying one of the normal bookable berths being discussed here (they can't even book online over 14m).
There seems to be a bit of an obsession amongst many Solent sailors with pubs and restaurants. Somebody rafted on us in Yarmouth recently saying "We're going to an Italian place - don't know what it's like but everywhere else was booked up." We bought a few bits at the deli and ate on board.
As I say I dont mind it in the summer for the family holiday, as so far we haven't gone too far. For our 10m boat it was costing just over £40 a night, I think that probably equates to campsite level of fees. Unfortunately we didn't coordinate eating out bookings but that doesn't bother us happy to knock something up on board and the money saved comes in handy for ice creams, drinks and overpriced meals when we do find somewhere. We put the dogs in with the dog sitter and on a per night basis this was the most expensive part of our holiday!
It's about going to new places and trying new things. If you just want company and deli food on board why even leave your berth? Nice restaurants are nice to go to and enjoy. Anchoring is nice too, but it's a different activity. One allows you to peacefully enjoy nature while the other allows you to easily explore and try things out in different towns. I also occasionally go by train or car and stay in a hotel. Different strokes and all that
Er, because I want to go sailing.
Nothing - still there. However places to anchor in the Solent are as limited as marina berths, particularly at weekends and if you have a deeper draft boat. Having said that I have been going backwards and forwards there for most of my sailing life and can probably count on my fingers the number of times I have paid in a marina or harbour. Last year I took my daughter and 2 children there and got a super berth in Yarmouth (£40). My daughter reminded me that the last time we were there, there were no walk ashore pontoons and the harbourmaster came round with a ticket machine like they use on old buses. Less than a fiver! how times have changed.
People aren't sailing in these marinas, they're tied alongside. People aren't usually sailing when anchored either.
Not sure if a marina would send a boat out in bad weather. If they did it would be pretty poor.
Why? I've just had to get to Arbroath before the lock in at a certain state of the tide. While the 0330 start from Eyemouth was early a cracking sail over the Firth of Forth was had.
I wouldn't want to do that off Yarmouth, it can get pretty lumpy out there and very strong tides - I can imagine it would be chaos. I also struggle to understand why anyone would pay for the buoys off Yarmouth; it's not very sheltered and also there are many good anchorages around there e.g. Keyhaven, Totland Bay etc
Because not everyone’s partner and guests are salty sea dogs who are happy to get up at 2.00am. I recently sailed from Ardfern to Falmouth in one hit leaving at 10.00pm. Loved it. My wife, however, wants to get up, have a shower and breakfast and proceed out at her convenience. Who are you or I to say that she should not enjoy her holiday time in her own way.