Cantata
Well-Known Member
If you use a mooring as a visitor at West Mersea from now on, you are going to have to pay for it - see News on ECP home page
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West Mersea - visitor moorings
- Thread starter Cantata
- Start date
johnalison
Well-Known Member
£15 for my 34' boat is about the same as Helford or Salcombe, which is not going to encourage me to go there, though our club sometimes goes for the odd rally. However, it's their moorings and I suppose they can do what they want.
Malish
Well-Known Member
Pity, I always had quite a soft spot for W Mersea because of their approach to visitors; and having just changed from a 32' to a 34' I'm not sure I approve of their charge differentiation!
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
In the past I made every effort to use the club bar and catering in return for the hospitality shown by the WMYC with regard to thier moorings but sadly I don't think I'll be visting as often this year. My boat is very much on the cusp of the threshold between £10 and £15 rates so I now count myself lucky that I was charged the lower amount last weekend. Afterwards I tried to recall the number of places on the East coast that now don't charge but the only places I could think of were Marconi Sailing Club, Medway Yacht Club and Ramsholt.
Leaving aside the buoys marking the channel into Tollesbury Creek (which already appear to be sponsored) I did wonder how useful the other marks really were rather than using the moorings as a guide to the deepest water.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Good point about the buoys up to the Quarters and as a member I regret this and the charge for the launch. But the cost of providing two launches and two full-time employees is pretty heavy on a Club with only a 1000 members or so. This charge is by ALL mooring owners not just WMYC - the majority of the moorings are not owned by the YC.
Firefly
Well-Known Member
We maintain a free visitors mooring at Gravesend Sailing Club (its the yellowy/white one at the eastern end of the trot) but it costs us £400 a year to rent. We would really like to see more people use the buoy because we like seeing people and we need to justify the cost to members.
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
George at Ramsholt now charges £5/night, but it goes in the RNLI boat.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
That's a bit of a shame.
West Mersea was one of my favorite places but a tenner a time is a bit steep for an overnight bouy for budget sailor. A fiver, maybe. The anchor is still free but out of dinghy range so it looks like west Mersea isn't a regular stop anymore.
I may not be able to resist the Smack Challenge or the party in the packing shed, though.
West Mersea was one of my favorite places but a tenner a time is a bit steep for an overnight bouy for budget sailor. A fiver, maybe. The anchor is still free but out of dinghy range so it looks like west Mersea isn't a regular stop anymore.
I may not be able to resist the Smack Challenge or the party in the packing shed, though.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Shame - but understandable. I think £10 might put some people off. Agree that £5 to start with might have been an idea.
Does the £10 include the use of the taxi service ?
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Taxi goes home too early of an evening to be of any use
i dont need to go there that desperately if they charge.
much the same @ Ramsholt when the "Estate " wanted to charge the Rich mooring holders £200 pa to park + dinghy permit rather that the £20 previously. the fist year their receipts £400 rather that the £4k the year before.
They had a change of heart the nxt year
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Saguday
Well-Known Member
This is a bit of a shame and my first reaction was frankly negative, but following the link to the ECP site and reading Jonathan French's comment's I think it's in a good cause. If it provides better facilities, especially pump-outs which I am very much in favour of, then I think we should support it as best we can. If there's no tangible benefit for visitors within a reasonable period of time then cynicism might start to take hold.
The concern for the club of course, and other organisations in WM, would be the economic impact if visitors react negatively and stay away, since on average I bet most boats spend a lot more than 10 or 15 quid ashore when they do visit.
The concern for the club of course, and other organisations in WM, would be the economic impact if visitors react negatively and stay away, since on average I bet most boats spend a lot more than 10 or 15 quid ashore when they do visit.
Otter
Well-Known Member
It's a huge charge for a swinging mooring! Pop round the corner to Tollesbury and it's really not much more for a night with pontoon access and a swimming pool.
Aldeburugh only charge £5 and that includes a water taxi and it's a darned nice place to spend time.
Aldeburugh only charge £5 and that includes a water taxi and it's a darned nice place to spend time.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
the water taxi is of little use to visitors as they stop early evening
as for pump-out there is a bouy off of Clacton for that very purpose
the whole of Clacton use it.the charge will reduce the visitor numbers
Bru
Well-Known Member
And since Tollesbury is a TransEurope marina and I get 50% off visitor rates 'cos so is Fambridge Yacht Haven it will, in fact, be cheaper for me to pop in there for the night than hang off a buoy at West Mersea - plus I'll get brownie points of the DLW who will pop her cork at the thought of a nice cosy heated swimming pool
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
Think West Mersea have shot themselves in the foot on this one.
I know I choose to sail singlehanded but £10 split one way to hang on a buoy plus the pleasure of rowing myself ashore isn't going to make me go there and have a couple of beers in the club or pubs.
I hope Marconi dont get any ideas - definately my most favourite club ever now! BTW when is the Marconi bar open and can non members come in? Whenever I have been before it has been with member or on a club meet.
I know I choose to sail singlehanded but £10 split one way to hang on a buoy plus the pleasure of rowing myself ashore isn't going to make me go there and have a couple of beers in the club or pubs.
I hope Marconi dont get any ideas - definately my most favourite club ever now! BTW when is the Marconi bar open and can non members come in? Whenever I have been before it has been with member or on a club meet.
Saguday
Well-Known Member
Well, we're in Tollesbury and you do need to be more mindful of the tide than at WM although an overnight on a swinging mooring in the Leavings is indeed a wonderful thing.
Anyway I agree I fear West Mersea will lose boaty traffic as a result of this. Whether that impacts the laudable longer term aims of the charges remains to be seen.
Personally I think you'd raise more money with a £1 charge for a crabbing license off the pontoon
Anyway I agree I fear West Mersea will lose boaty traffic as a result of this. Whether that impacts the laudable longer term aims of the charges remains to be seen.
Personally I think you'd raise more money with a £1 charge for a crabbing license off the pontoon
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
Marconi
Peter - the bar is open on Friday evenings throughout the season, and Saturdays / Sundays when there's camping on site - which is all the bank hol weekends and a number of others (see the website). Visiting yachtsmen are welcome - announce yourself and sign the book. You can get food from the galley as per notices - breakfasts sometimes on camping weekends and always a choice of sandwiches / jackets on a Sunday at lunchtime
We don't run a trot boat and there's no leccy or water so we don't hold ourselves out as a visitors' dream location but if you'd like a mooring for the night and a warm welcome you won't be disappointed - no plans to charge anyone but if you buy a pint in our bar you'll help our funds and get the usual side benefits!
Peter - the bar is open on Friday evenings throughout the season, and Saturdays / Sundays when there's camping on site - which is all the bank hol weekends and a number of others (see the website). Visiting yachtsmen are welcome - announce yourself and sign the book. You can get food from the galley as per notices - breakfasts sometimes on camping weekends and always a choice of sandwiches / jackets on a Sunday at lunchtime
We don't run a trot boat and there's no leccy or water so we don't hold ourselves out as a visitors' dream location but if you'd like a mooring for the night and a warm welcome you won't be disappointed - no plans to charge anyone but if you buy a pint in our bar you'll help our funds and get the usual side benefits!
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
+ 1 plus Marconi make the effort to provide a dedicate visitor's mooring so no need to worry about the mooring's owner returning.
Also I have just spent a couple of nights on a Medway Yacht Club's mooring, no charge and a warm welcome was provided by their members
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
On reflection I think you may be right.
I think many will feel that this is deliberate action to deter visitors.
I used to keep a boat there many years ago and it is rather unique . It still has an island mentality and I never quite felt accepted. Many of the professional fishermen also have a rather robust view of who has priority. I have to say that I was pleased to leave in the end.
I think it is fine also if the local inhabitants keep a place just as they like it , rather than take pressure from outside. I just hope that the majority feel the same.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
We've got one at Up River Yacht Club. The trouble is, it dries at half water.
Close to the jetty, though, and the bar's open Friday evening and Sunday lunchtime. Tap free in the yard.
Good takaways and late shop in walking distance and a very expensive gastro pub/bistro for those who see price meaning guality. (£3 a cone of chips? They must be sprinkled with gold dust!)
Close to the jetty, though, and the bar's open Friday evening and Sunday lunchtime. Tap free in the yard.
Good takaways and late shop in walking distance and a very expensive gastro pub/bistro for those who see price meaning guality. (£3 a cone of chips? They must be sprinkled with gold dust!)
