JackFrobisher
Well-Known Member
We were there at the same time as you and I agree. We like SPP but it's expensive now. So are many of the French marinas.
St Peter Port poor value
- Thread starter Robin
- Start date
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Well we like SPP and will be back there again next year, however it's only £19 a night for us and the dog 
Be interested to see if the re-build of the Alderney jetty will do anything for us.
Pete
Be interested to see if the re-build of the Alderney jetty will do anything for us.
Pete
georgeo
Well-Known Member
I expect that new marina at St Cast (which i am looking forward to visiting) received a hefty wadge of EU development money as part of regional investment. No such money pot to raid over here
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
St PP was our last port after 3 wks in N Brittany.
£25/day, free showers and wifi, good washing and laundry facility, good weather info.
£2/day for lecky for an average size sailing boat and paying the same price on the waiting pontoons is a bit high IMO.
Brittany was costing IRO €20 - €28 (Roscoff was €7, but that's an anomaly ), mostly plus €2 for a shower but free lecky, some free wifi some netaboard at a cost, so I reckon it was a fair bit of swings and roundabouts.
£25/day, free showers and wifi, good washing and laundry facility, good weather info.
£2/day for lecky for an average size sailing boat and paying the same price on the waiting pontoons is a bit high IMO.
Brittany was costing IRO €20 - €28 (Roscoff was €7, but that's an anomaly
), mostly plus €2 for a shower but free lecky, some free wifi some netaboard at a cost, so I reckon it was a fair bit of swings and roundabouts.JohnRob
Well-Known Member
That weekend was pretty much the smallest tides of the year - 1.8m (range can be over 10m). Probably a good thing you didn't get neaped in!
Same price for outside the Victoria does sound a little rich.
We did St Caast this year. Really liked it. Substantial EU investment I'd say. The little promenade into the town is inspired. A lovely walk in the evening when the sea is lapping along the edge.
Same price for outside the Victoria does sound a little rich.
We did St Caast this year. Really liked it. Substantial EU investment I'd say. The little promenade into the town is inspired. A lovely walk in the evening when the sea is lapping along the edge.
Bandit
Well-Known Member
Ok outer same price as Victoria Marina sounds a bit steep but outer gives you 24 hour access.
Dont forget St Peter Port have some 300 odd dedicated Visitor berths not many places have that availability and service comes at a price.
PS nothing to do With St Peter Port Harbours.
Dont forget St Peter Port have some 300 odd dedicated Visitor berths not many places have that availability and service comes at a price.
PS nothing to do With St Peter Port Harbours.
RAF
New Member
Spp outer harbour
My sentiments exactly. A dreadful place which could be improved with a little bit of thought. If you can put water on the outside pontoons, it should be possible to place electricity on the pontoons as well.. Why not provide a walk ashore facility?
If you don't have to fill forms in Jersey why do you have to do it Guernsey?
Overcrowded especially with cars, I generally avoid the place.
My sentiments exactly. A dreadful place which could be improved with a little bit of thought. If you can put water on the outside pontoons, it should be possible to place electricity on the pontoons as well.. Why not provide a walk ashore facility?
If you don't have to fill forms in Jersey why do you have to do it Guernsey?
Overcrowded especially with cars, I generally avoid the place.
PaulR
Well-Known Member
agree with the suggestion that a walk ashore link bridge from the outside pontoons would be a positive step - always a touch frustrating to be on the waiting pontoon and have to blow up dinghy for a quick trip ashore or - as we have tended to - wait on board for the fun time of going inside and the worried reactions when last arriving get sent in first
Robin
Well-Known Member
I think the walk ashore idea was tried briefly but failed?
Anyway the view of the facilities differs perhaps depending on boat size. Small boats get in and out with less time restrictions over the sill and when inside have the possibility of a finger berth on the north side but all the pontoons have electrics and water plus shower blocks just up the walkways.
Larger boats are restricted by draught as to when they can cross the sill and then lay alongside the south pontoons where at busy times they could be rafted 3 up. Side on to these pontoons is also side on to any swell coming in and oh boy do boats roll here at times, just make sure you have good fenders and spreaders are not in line with your neighbours. Friends had 2 fenders burst there last year!
With our draught of 2.08m they only allow us on the hammerheads north side and only if we are not going to be rafted in case we lean on a neighbour. However the access times are so limited (this last time there was NO access on the neap tides) it is only feasible with shuffling via waiting pontoon if you have tides to catch.
There should be no problem at all in running electrics to the outside pontoons and by these I mean the long stay ones not the waiting pontoon for the inside. Cherbourg has electrics on their isolated waiting pontoon and there are pontoons in Dartmouth not connected to the shore that do the same.
On the outside pontoons you not only have no electrics but will have to use the (very unreliable) water taxi or your own dinghy to go ashore. The dinghy pontoon dries out and gets very crowded making it difficult for me with ancient joints to get in and out even if a space is available. You are told not to use on board loos and to go ashore to use them there (thank heaven we have a holding tank) and of course for rubbish disposal and showers if you don't use your own as we always do. Yet the charges here are the same as inside and for sure £25 per night with two rafted outside is way OTT in my view.
The fuel berth at Boatworks is only accessible at half tide up for boats of any draught yet several times when half tide up is at or after normal closing time they just lock up and go home. We phoned them once from 5mls out to see if they would still be open at 5pm only to be told they start locking up the pumps at 4.30! Even if we were there before 4.30 there wouldn't have been enough depth.
We too used to love St Peter Port. Back then we nearly always went inside and often had a finger berth. Back then too there were no groups of drunks sitting around in conference at the head of the north walkways and the restaurants were both good and affordable. We spent several days there each visit and spent lots of money in the shops and restaurants. These days they seem to want the money but don't want to earn it.
Nowadays it is just treated as a truck stop as we pass swiftly by and mostly we will opt to anchor elsewhere if we can, like Havelet or Sark.
I accept that there will always be visitors especially new ones to the island simply because the area is so beautiful. It is just a crying shame that they should be taken so much for granted.
Anyway the view of the facilities differs perhaps depending on boat size. Small boats get in and out with less time restrictions over the sill and when inside have the possibility of a finger berth on the north side but all the pontoons have electrics and water plus shower blocks just up the walkways.
Larger boats are restricted by draught as to when they can cross the sill and then lay alongside the south pontoons where at busy times they could be rafted 3 up. Side on to these pontoons is also side on to any swell coming in and oh boy do boats roll here at times, just make sure you have good fenders and spreaders are not in line with your neighbours. Friends had 2 fenders burst there last year!
With our draught of 2.08m they only allow us on the hammerheads north side and only if we are not going to be rafted in case we lean on a neighbour. However the access times are so limited (this last time there was NO access on the neap tides) it is only feasible with shuffling via waiting pontoon if you have tides to catch.
There should be no problem at all in running electrics to the outside pontoons and by these I mean the long stay ones not the waiting pontoon for the inside. Cherbourg has electrics on their isolated waiting pontoon and there are pontoons in Dartmouth not connected to the shore that do the same.
On the outside pontoons you not only have no electrics but will have to use the (very unreliable) water taxi or your own dinghy to go ashore. The dinghy pontoon dries out and gets very crowded making it difficult for me with ancient joints to get in and out even if a space is available. You are told not to use on board loos and to go ashore to use them there (thank heaven we have a holding tank) and of course for rubbish disposal and showers if you don't use your own as we always do. Yet the charges here are the same as inside and for sure £25 per night with two rafted outside is way OTT in my view.
The fuel berth at Boatworks is only accessible at half tide up for boats of any draught yet several times when half tide up is at or after normal closing time they just lock up and go home. We phoned them once from 5mls out to see if they would still be open at 5pm only to be told they start locking up the pumps at 4.30! Even if we were there before 4.30 there wouldn't have been enough depth.
We too used to love St Peter Port. Back then we nearly always went inside and often had a finger berth. Back then too there were no groups of drunks sitting around in conference at the head of the north walkways and the restaurants were both good and affordable. We spent several days there each visit and spent lots of money in the shops and restaurants. These days they seem to want the money but don't want to earn it.
Nowadays it is just treated as a truck stop as we pass swiftly by and mostly we will opt to anchor elsewhere if we can, like Havelet or Sark.
I accept that there will always be visitors especially new ones to the island simply because the area is so beautiful. It is just a crying shame that they should be taken so much for granted.
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
I really can't think what those guys who moan about prices are on about. There are too many boats chasing too few berths. High prices will make it profitable to provide more berths. Quit moaning, stop sailing, or sail somewhere else. Try NW Ireland.
For an eyewatering example, some moaners should visit the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, in high summer. An 11.5m sail monohull reported that the average price he was asked for a night in a marina or alongside on a quay in late June was €200, and he tried some 12 places.
Just about beats the Solent. World record even? But the marinas had little space available.
For an eyewatering example, some moaners should visit the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, in high summer. An 11.5m sail monohull reported that the average price he was asked for a night in a marina or alongside on a quay in late June was €200, and he tried some 12 places.
Just about beats the Solent. World record even? But the marinas had little space available.
doug748
Well-Known Member
Keep quiet about Havelet Bay. If it was UK they would without doubt impose an anchor charge..
s/v moondancer
Active Member
I thought Peter's Port was good value.
There is a marina, Ocean Reef, in the Florida Keys that is 10 quid a metre/night. Most are 4-5 quid/metre/night.
I am in Trinidad paying 2 quid/mt/night.
Phil
There is a marina, Ocean Reef, in the Florida Keys that is 10 quid a metre/night. Most are 4-5 quid/metre/night.
I am in Trinidad paying 2 quid/mt/night.
Phil
Talulah
Well-Known Member
Marina v Anchoring
This year I have spent more time at anchor then ever due to marina prices. (Even when I wasn't responsible for paying marina fees I still avoided certain areas on principal due to their high charges. i.e. completely avoided Salcombe but did call in to drop off an open canoe we had recovered.)
The first step in the shift from marina's to more anchoring was changing the anchor to a Spade with 60m of chain. It's worth paying for a decent anchor and chain if it gives you the confidence to overnight it on the hook.
As far as St Peter Port is concerned we completey stayed away this summer instead choosing to anchor on Herm and Sark. Even at St Helier we only berthed in the marina to do laundry and provisioning. In two weeks we had 3 nights of marina fees and the rest at anchor.
Even Cherbourg seems pretty pricey especially as showers are extra. Instead, if we have had a late arrival we'll stay anchored in the harbour until the following morning before moving into the marina. Not much point in paying for an overnight stay if you're not going to use any of the facilities.
This year I have spent more time at anchor then ever due to marina prices. (Even when I wasn't responsible for paying marina fees I still avoided certain areas on principal due to their high charges. i.e. completely avoided Salcombe but did call in to drop off an open canoe we had recovered.)
The first step in the shift from marina's to more anchoring was changing the anchor to a Spade with 60m of chain. It's worth paying for a decent anchor and chain if it gives you the confidence to overnight it on the hook.
As far as St Peter Port is concerned we completey stayed away this summer instead choosing to anchor on Herm and Sark. Even at St Helier we only berthed in the marina to do laundry and provisioning. In two weeks we had 3 nights of marina fees and the rest at anchor.
Even Cherbourg seems pretty pricey especially as showers are extra. Instead, if we have had a late arrival we'll stay anchored in the harbour until the following morning before moving into the marina. Not much point in paying for an overnight stay if you're not going to use any of the facilities.
PeterGibbs
Well-Known Member
I am sure you are right. But the CI do have the same options because they have a large income through financial services, and spend nothing on defence etc.
It's not a question of resources - it's attitude of mind. Although independent of the UK, their investment outlook rather mirrors the mainland - infrastructure hardly gets a lookin - to their disadvantage!
PWG
David_Jersey
Well-Known Member
Income dropping by the hour
You folks have run out of money to hide 
Nothing on defence? Well, to be honest we haven't invaded anywhere ourselves (not since 1066
), but we do pay for a TA unit (Engineers I think???....er, they have diggers 
) admittedly not always fully staffed and never been deployed as a unit on active duty - but folks do get over to Afghanistan etc. For the size of a small town not too bad. I think Guernsey maintains the Alderney breakwater
Our biggest comparitive saving is probably on social security costs, helped by being able to export unemployment.
Jersey has always been rather active in building infrastructure, admittedly not usually needed or wanted (our never ending construction of the new Waterfront area is a homage to the area surrounding Gatwick Airport, circa 1975
..........hotel included 
) ..........but it is redistributive, at least to "freinds & family" - something I know is also quite normal on the mainland......................BTW the independence thing has cropped up a few times in recent years, and not from down here. A few weeks back one of your Lords advised us that because the basis for the relationship with England started 800 years ago it didn't count. Whereas we view 800 years of shared history as something that does matter..........but perhaps times are changing? Of course if we do lose our independence (and 800 years of allegiance to the Crown means nothing) it don't automatically mean it will be to the English. Vive la difference!
peterb
Well-Known Member
I have to agree with your comment on the 'shabby state of retailing'. One of the high spots of every Channel Island cruise was a visit to the St PP market. Really good food with a number of competing shops. Now I can do no better than repeat the answer from the butcher when I asked for a particular cut of meat: "This isn't a market now, it's the Co-op." And we were quoted £48 for a leg of lamb; for that price I would have expected all four legs and the body!
Robin
Well-Known Member
We have avoided going ashore recently so haven't seen the re-opened market halls. However the invitations to shop VAT free in the Islands has long been a bit of a joke! Most items sold as 'VAT free' actually cost more than they do VAT paid but discounted back on the mainland. Often the excuse was of higher transport costs which on the face of it sounds reasonable but isn't so when you see things that were obviously delivered by post at the same cost not extra. Some foodstuffs like snacks carry VAT on the mainland but are not reduced in price in the Islands where VAT doesn't exist or in the rare cases where there is a reduction it is by 10% not 17.5%.
We stopped eating out in St Peter Port when our then favourite restaurant there Saltwater put their prices up by 33% (even wines) between our June visit and August. I keep the bills in our log but anyway they were daft enough to leave the menu on their website with the old prices. We were told later that there was a cartel operating that kept the prices up and we certainly could believe that looking around the other places we used. One of the favourite price raisers was to charge extra for vegetables, on a per person per veg basis! We were charged £2.65 per person per veg in one place and I thought that a tad excessive especially for the three slices of saute potato I was served. We had spinach and courgettes each too so for two of us we were charge an extra £15.90 for our small dish of veggies!
But hey the bankers and cruise liners will keep them in business and they can ignore the rest of us.
georgeo
Well-Known Member
The constructive comments from David Jersey and the equally constructive criticsm from Robin above are well intended. Things here aint perfect, particularly the shopping aspects, but hey, I like it, as do many others. I took up boaty things many years after I moved here (for work reasons, not financial escapades, chance would be a fine thing!), having decided that living on an island that was the logical thing to do. A life changing moment really, something I doubt would have happened if I had remained on the mainland.
Regrettably the traders in the markets disappeared as a result of the usuals, too high rents, too few customers and competition from the chains (though I note the jersey market still appears to be thriving, how do they do that?). Mind you, standing behind a stall all day in a draughty damp unheated hall on a cold November day could never have been much fun. And I think the refurbishment has been well done (a view not shared by everybody!).
And we do make a defence contribution, albeit the maintenance of the Alderney breakwater has dubious strategic value these days. I agree with David Jersey re the waterfront at St Helier, I think the Radisson there must qualify as the worlds ugliest hotel! (that sounds like an invitation for a new thread)
Regrettably the traders in the markets disappeared as a result of the usuals, too high rents, too few customers and competition from the chains (though I note the jersey market still appears to be thriving, how do they do that?). Mind you, standing behind a stall all day in a draughty damp unheated hall on a cold November day could never have been much fun. And I think the refurbishment has been well done (a view not shared by everybody!).
And we do make a defence contribution, albeit the maintenance of the Alderney breakwater has dubious strategic value these days. I agree with David Jersey re the waterfront at St Helier, I think the Radisson there must qualify as the worlds ugliest hotel! (that sounds like an invitation for a new thread)
