Victoria Marina bookings

[strakeryrius]

I called up Victoria Marina in St Peter Port yesterday to make a booking for a berth in August as we fancy a week's cruising down there, and you need a decent base to do it safely.

The guy who answered the phone said that they don't take bookings for berths. We'd have to tip up and take our chances that they have a slot free. I could call a couple of days in advance to see how busy they are, but there was no guarantee that we could get in.

How are you supposed to plan a trip to Guernsey if you can't book a berth? It would mean taking our chances on getting back in every time we went out for a whole week, which seems to me totally unfeasible. Is this something that other forumites have encountered, or is it something new?

If we do decide to go anyway, what contingencies would those more familiar with the area recommend just in case we can't get in?

 

[neale]

It is a problem. They get VERY busy in August and we have not been able to secure a booking for a cruise in company anytime from mid July to the end of August. In fact they told me last time I spoke to them that if it gets really busy we may have to anchor in Havelet bay!!!

I imagine they will always be able to squeeze a single smallish boat in somewhere, but don't count on it being inside the marina, you may well be on the pontoons in the outer harbour.

Beaucette marina might be a fall back, but you would need to check as I imagine they take a certain amount of overspill and it's a long way from town, or from anywhere come to that.

 

[miket]

Bottom line

With the vagaries of the weather there is every possibility that you may not make it there on the appointed day, so they are reluctant to take bookings, as with many marinas.
I guess if you are prepared to pay up front and not receive a refund if you don't make it, they may accept a booking?
Hard not to see their point of view.

 

[Bandit]

As well as the Victoria Marina there are four "Swan" Pontoons and the "Waiting" pontoon in the main pool about 25 yards from the piers with a considerable capacity which are for visitor use, the marina may be full but there is considerable capacity on the swan pontoons.

A lot of boats dont want to enter the Victoria marina because of the tidal constraints.

I cant remember St Peter Port turning away visitors with normal sized boats such as yours, there are a couple of busy weekends and again many quiet periods, it depends on when and the weather.

I would have thought with your size of boat it is probable you would get straight into the Victoria or you may have to spend a night on the Swans?

After mid August it quietens right down.

 

[AyeSkipper]

We've been to Victoria marina countless times and have never known not being able to get a berth, we have always been able to get in but because of the tight fit sometimes have opted to stay outside on the visitor pontoons which in my opinion are nicer anyway (no leccy though). They raft very tightly and carefully and you would be amazed at the number of boats they will fit in to both the marina and on the outside pontoons.

The same goes for St Helier too if I recall correctly?

Don't let it put you off going, it's a great place

 

[Powersalt]

As thers have said. Its a great place so dont be put off. The whole of Victoria Marina is for visitors and I have never known them take a booking and again I have ever known them turn boats away for many years.

We were there a few weeks ago, turning up after some french regatta fairly late evening.At first they said no room in inner harbour and then they found us a slot right round the corner 3 out. Its amazing how much they fit in. We love it there. Went last August bank holday and there was bags of room, you can never tell.

 

[strakeryrius]

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys. I think that we will give it a try. Knowing that there are plenty of visitor's pontoons outside the marina proper helps to improve the confidence level tremendously.

 

[stiknstring]

QE2 Marina

In extremis, you can always ask them if you can go round to the next door marina (QE2). I was there last weekend - nice and quiet, takes deep draught. However, you have to persuade them either by virtue of having a mechanical issue requiring alongside berthing or if you are too big (limit I think is 13-14m?) or too deep a draught >2m?

Anyway, it is a quiter place to be and only another 10 minutes walk to the centre of town.

As others say, it is a great stop-over and they will always get you in somewhere and you can always move around every high water when there are a substantial number of departures.

Have fun!