West Mersea - visitor moorings

LONG_KEELER said:
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.
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They're local mooring for local people..........................
 
I think there are a few points which are worth mentioning, in addition to Jon French's reasonable points

one of the other reasons for charging is to try to reduce what sometimes amounts to abuse of our hospitality. There are boats known to turn up for weeks at a time for a free holiday,and others who arrive very regularly for a weekend, try to blag a prime spot claiming they are friends of the owner and then leave the boat.....so when the owner turns up there's no mooring. At the same time a certain owner who is known for this practice is known to leave a No Mooring here sign on his own mooring in a local port called B...oops should not say.

I've experienced vessels being left on my own mooring or even visitors saying they will only be an hour would I come back!

And I wonder how many of your moorings are let out free when you are absent?

Mersea very much welcomes visitors, our swinging moorings with the wonderous wildlife and sunsets are, we think one of its attractions as against a marina (esp tidal ones!), but no one can reasonably expect moorings which are costly and difficult to maintain to be available free to anyone who turns up. You will not see that in the Ore!
 
cookjwm said:
I think there are a few points which are worth mentioning, in addition to Jon French's reasonable points

one of the other reasons for charging is to try to reduce what sometimes amounts to abuse of our hospitality. There are boats known to turn up for weeks at a time for a free holiday,and others who arrive very regularly for a weekend, try to blag a prime spot claiming they are friends of the owner and then leave the boat.....so when the owner turns up there's no mooring. At the same time a certain owner who is known for this practice is known to leave a No Mooring here sign on his own mooring in a local port called B...oops should not say.

I've experienced vessels being left on my own mooring or even visitors saying they will only be an hour would I come back!

And I wonder how many of your moorings are let out free when you are absent?

Mersea very much welcomes visitors, our swinging moorings with the wonderous wildlife and sunsets are, we think one of its attractions as against a marina (esp tidal ones!), but no one can reasonably expect moorings which are costly and difficult to maintain to be available free to anyone who turns up. You will not see that in the Ore!
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Do not disagree with there being a charge, just feel the level is too high for what is being offered. When I leave my pontoon berth at B'sea it could be let out but the person using it has access to a water taxi (additional charge) Fri pm and weekends, water, fuel and a pump out station. Not the promise of one in the future, maybe. At West Mersea the Taxi finishes at 5.30, there is no water & no fuel.

We have club events at the WMYC. We pay £17 to 20 per head for this, add on another £10 for the mooring - it is getting expensive!
 
cookjwm said:
I think there are a few points which are worth mentioning, in addition to Jon French's reasonable points

one of the other reasons for charging is to try to reduce what sometimes amounts to abuse of our hospitality. There are boats known to turn up for weeks at a time for a free holiday,and others who arrive very regularly for a weekend, try to blag a prime spot claiming they are friends of the owner and then leave the boat.....so when the owner turns up there's no mooring. At the same time a certain owner who is known for this practice is known to leave a No Mooring here sign on his own mooring in a local port called B...oops should not say.

I've experienced vessels being left on my own mooring or even visitors saying they will only be an hour would I come back!

And I wonder how many of your moorings are let out free when you are absent?

Mersea very much welcomes visitors, our swinging moorings with the wonderous wildlife and sunsets are, we think one of its attractions as against a marina (esp tidal ones!), but no one can reasonably expect moorings which are costly and difficult to maintain to be available free to anyone who turns up. You will not see that in the Ore!
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And I wonder how many of your moorings are let out free when you are absent?

My Ramsholt mooring is free to anybody to use if vacant ( even those from WM ) but out of politeness ask George`s permission first.
i also have it professionally maintained so no different to WM moorings
 
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AnchorAgreement.jpg
 
sailorman said:
And I wonder how many of your moorings are let out free when you are absent?

My Ramsholt mooring is free to anybody to use if vacant ( even those from WM ) but out of politeness ask George`s permission first.
i also have it professionally maintained so no different to WM moorings
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What max length & displacement Roger?
 
Great shame about these mooring charges.
Seems like sailing out and picking a mooring for the night is coming to an end.
Spent a few nights on mooring in salcott creek last season.

Another point i know,
When i am sailing away from Millbeach any one is welcome to use my mooring for the night,,,
"LIVE AND LET LIVE" I :):):)say...
 
If I'm not on my mooring, anyone can use it but if I return I would expect the boat to move. If I leave for a few days I tell the Harbour Master and he will allocate a visiting boat to it.
I remember the time in my first boat a 20' after a fortnights cruise, I returned to find a large 35' Dutch boat on my mooring with the owners ashore. I tied alongside and left a note in their cockpit explaining the situation and wishing them a happy holiday. WhenI returned the following week, my fenders were stowed, warps beautifully coiled and an invitation to visit their club in Holland. Just how boating should be.
 
PetiteFleur said:
If I'm not on my mooring, anyone can use it but if I return I would expect the boat to move. If I leave for a few days I tell the Harbour Master and he will allocate a visiting boat to it.
I remember the time in my first boat a 20' after a fortnights cruise, I returned to find a large 35' Dutch boat on my mooring with the owners ashore. I tied alongside and left a note in their cockpit explaining the situation and wishing them a happy holiday. WhenI returned the following week, my fenders were stowed, warps beautifully coiled and an invitation to visit their club in Holland. Just how boating should be.
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Restores your faith in humanity
 
Never really rated Mersea in any case!

The attitude of members inside the YC varies from warm (as in "you are a visiting yachtsman from another RYA recognised club so we have to tolerate you") through forced friendly (as in "you are here so I guess we have to put up with you and fleece you while the bar is open") to downright hostile (as in "sod off you don't live on our island")!

And that is coming from a person whose family once lived on the island (about 5 generations ago, they saw the light and moved to Gods own moorings - Brightlingsea).

Sorry Mersea, I really do think you are pricing yourselves out of the vistors market place. Your prices ashore in the YC are not condusive to the family visitor, mooring charges at this rate with no late night water taxi...accept the fact...Mersea Quarters is a muddy tributary of the Blackwater with more than its fair share of bolshie fishermen...it is not the Hamble!!

(ducks and runs for cover!)
 
I must admit, I have used the club a few times out of poiteness for being tied to the piles but did find the members there when I was there a bit snooty. Other than that, I love the place. Very 1960's.

So I suppose if I'm paying I wont feel the duty to use the club, though I still think £10 for just a mooring is a bit steep.
 
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Cobra said:
Never really rated Mersea in any case!

The attitude of members inside the YC varies from warm (as in "you are a visiting yachtsman from another RYA recognised club so we have to tolerate you") through forced friendly (as in "you are here so I guess we have to put up with you and fleece you while the bar is open") to downright hostile (as in "sod off you don't live on our island")!

And that is coming from a person whose family once lived on the island (about 5 generations ago, they saw the light and moved to Gods own moorings - Brightlingsea).

Sorry Mersea, I really do think you are pricing yourselves out of the vistors market place. Your prices ashore in the YC are not condusive to the family visitor, mooring charges at this rate with no late night water taxi...accept the fact...Mersea Quarters is a muddy tributary of the Blackwater with more than its fair share of bolshie fishermen...it is not the Hamble!!

(ducks and runs for cover!)
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Really sorry you think WMYC is hostile to visitors.....its not you know! We've got friendly bar staff, prices that are very competitive with the pubs nearbye, a garden with great views ,a refurbished bar, a restaurant, we're going to make major improvements to showers for members and visitors etc in the next 6/9 months (not this year regrettably, building regs took forever!) -and the members are friendly ....promise!. Your'e right we do get other problems and we just cannot afford to run late launches...wish we could but refer to Tillergirls comments. And yes, its a muddy tributary of the Blackwater -thats what makes it a great spot.
 
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As WMYC seems to be getting some flak over this, can I just point out that the charges apply to all West Mersea moorings, no matter who they belong to, as explained in the original post.
 
It just seems a bit strange to ask people to pay for something that is promised to be there in the future. Maybe people wouldn't mind so much if the improvements were made first and then charged for and if it was a more reasonable fee, say half of that proposed. As I say, it's one of my favorite place because its strange sort of insularity and stuck in a timewarp. I can just imagine Dad taking us there for icecreams in the Ford Prefect in 1962!
 
Saddened by this.
I offer a fiver as being reasonable, like Fambridge swinging moorings, which are run by a large marina company.
 
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