West Mersea - visitor moorings

[Brianjohnson07]

Hi,
They are supreme definitely not all the same size, speaking as an ex-WM mooring holder, and charges are accordingly not the same.

 

[Athene V30]

Noted, thanks.



May I ask which moorings are likely to result in a free night's stay?

Well I thought right up the top of Salcott Creek would be safe but I got caught for £10. Should have got up earlier!! Guess it depend on where ther Club launch happens to be running.

 

[Laurie]

Noted, thanks.



May I ask which moorings are likely to result in a free night's stay?

As I said...." a bit of chance".....What do you draw.......

I'm glad to see another supporting Stacey...the more support she gets, the more adaptable she can be.........

 

[Laurie]

Well I thought right up the top of Salcott Creek would be safe but I got caught for £10. Should have got up earlier!! Guess it depend on where ther Club launch happens to be running.

That I thought would have been safe, but many up there are yacht club moorings......

 

[Lucky Duck]

As I said...." a bit of chance".....What do you draw.......

Sadly if you need to ask then it is very likely that I draw too much.

 

[Litotes]

Their club launch, YC 1, and particularly Geoff who man's it , and the other blokes on the launches are a tremendous advert for Mersea as a whole. Like a firm's reception area. The first bit you see. Very important.

I would like to second this, with enthusiasm.

A few years ago I had an accident on board, resulting in significant damage to my hands, one of which needed quite a few stitches. With a crew of novices I brought the boat into W. Mersea and called "YC1"

Geoff was superb. Without going into the details, I shall just say that I shall never forget his efficiency, his unobtrusive kindness and his ability to take in and offer help with all the various issues that needed to be dealt with.

Thank you Geoff. You rock!

 

[James M]

Mersea rantings ...

Tim, I don't think that anyone has ventured that a visitors mooring (ie hanging off a mooring bouy with properly serviced ground tackle) should be free! As you quite rightly point out mooring in Brightlingsea is NOT free nor should it be free...we have the facilities!!!

This is more a question of what is a sensible charge for hanging off a mooring overnight on the East Coast, and quite frankly I would resent paying £10 for mooring in what is at its very best only a moderately pleasant stretch of water!

Makes you wonder really...if it costs so much to run TWO launches, why not just run the one? It would cause no real inconvenience to people waiting to come ashore other than maybe a 15 minute wait until he comes past your mooring on his next trip. Running costs would be immediately reduced, AND the benefit of only needing two part time launchmen and maybe a couple of reserves in the wings? Again no one has any issue with paying for this service...you have to pay for a water taxi everywhere else after all! It seems to operate on a commercial basis in Brightlingsea without any major issues, so why should a properly managed club launch not turn a profit in Mersea? Just a thought...

What a lot of hot air there has been on these discussion pages.

I cannot understand at all the problem people from Brightlingsea have with charges. Whenever I have been there, they are authoritarian and quite officious. The extent was a quite brusk man barking orders when I was doing a 180 turn between the trots - he grabbed my pullpit from the shore side forcing the boat to remain sideways and then pulled hard to stop my turn .. the turn had been perfectly executed with fenders ready on starboard. This was planned for an easy single handed v early get away next day - but this man put my craft in danger and did not communicate properly. A bill was presented and water taxi charging per person there and back was excessive for a family of four.

So stop moaning about Mersea please and look at little to your own home's welcoming committe. I pay for two launches but generally use my own dinghy and I have no problem with it - in fact that there are two is great. The drivers are known, informative, experienced and pleasant.

All visitors are welcome in Mersea and anyone is welcome to use my mooring if I am away ( max 24ft ). I DO NOT RECEIVE ANY PROCEEDS OF THESE CHARGES.

Mersea is far more scenic and is also quite a bustling place these days.
I like visiting Brightlingsea in spite of the reception once received. However, since they built the large blocks of flats right in the middle of the harbour (which spoils the shore-side too), the appeal has reduced dramatically.

I think Tollesbury is the place for you - they have free visitors moorings before entrance to the creek. Of course, the shore is not accessible at all states of the tide, but I have walked along the bottom of this creek a few times dragging a dinghy with my family in order to get to the pool ( we shower before jumping in ! ), and am sure that if such a walk saves you a tenner you won't mind.

Best of luck.

 

[Lucky Duck]

What a lot of hot air there has been on these discussion pages.

I cannot understand at all the problem people from Brightlingsea have with charges. Whenever I have been there, they are authoritarian and quite officious. The extent was a quite brusk man barking orders when I was doing a 180 turn between the trots - he grabbed my pullpit from the shore side forcing the boat to remain sideways and then pulled hard to stop my turn .. the turn had been perfectly executed with fenders ready on starboard. This was planned for an easy single handed v early get away next day - but this man put my craft in danger and did not communicate properly. A bill was presented and water taxi charging per person there and back was excessive for a family of four.

So stop moaning about Mersea please and look at little to your own home's welcoming committe. I pay for two launches but generally use my own dinghy and I have no problem with it - in fact that there are two is great. The drivers are known, informative, experienced and pleasant.

As a visitor I have nothing but praise for the welcome from the harbour master and the Colne Yacht Club. The East Coast Forum's Laying down supper held at Brightlingsea last October was one of the highlights of the season.

 

[MoodySabre]

Calm down everybody. We are lucky to sail in such an unbusy and delightful area. Each place has its charms. There are all sorts of places to stop - free buoys, pay buoys, pontoons in a river and marinas. Plenty of places to anchor. Something for everyone. I don't begrudge paying if I feel like going somewhere that I have to pay for - my choice.

No need for any acromony here.

 

[NUTMEG]

Well said...

MS. Just got back from a trip up the Medway (film on its way) and the feeling of space and peace in the Blackwater was wonderful. Not a gas tanker in sight or a ferry come to that. we sail some of the loveliest rivers to be found anywhere and even the jet skiers can be nice. So let's be happy and celebrate what we have and not stir up old, and not very important, grievances. Today I got the results of a prostate biopsy, and it was clear. A scary couple of weeks following a high PSA test. Puts things into perspective somewhat!!