Weymouth Blues

[mainsail1]

I used to love sailing to Weymouth but now I try and give it a miss for two reasons:
1. The continuous noise from the High Speed Cat when it arrives at midnight keeps me awake - why can't they shut down completely when alongside during the night?
2. The liberal use of 'mooring reserved' signs by the Harbour Master which means the rest of us have to raft up six or seven deep.
Am I the only sailor who feels this way??

 

[Boathook]

Never hear the high speed cat when I have been there. The mooring reserved signs seem to be on the north side by the harbour office so I go into the cove bit close to a different set of pubs. I normally sleep well ........

 

[jonjo]

The Cove is nice but the HM will chase out yachts larger than 32ft in my experience and send them over to the other side.

 

[shmoo]

We anchored outside this year. Proved very successful. Just outside harbour and to the east. A short dinghy ride in; much quicker arriving and leaving; and free.

 

[AIDY]

i hate weymouth for the same reason... however i went in to portland marina this year (worked out to be a fiver more than weymouth) and had a rather pleasant experience. it was too windy and rough to sail so took the open top bus to the bill and up the light house. it's my preference to weymouth if its too bad to anchor.

 

[Judders]

I like going to Weymouth precisely because it isn't a big souless marina. So you have to raft? So what? And I have never been kept awake by the ferry.

 

[shmoo]

Rafting needn't be a problem and in somewhere like Yarmouth, where the HM staff take the trouble to find out how long folks are staying and take into account the size of boats, and generally organize things, it isn't.

The last time we went in to Weymouth the response to our "where should we berth" was "just find somewhere" and the result was pretty chaotic. There were big boats outside of little boats but worst of all were the folks telling anyone who would listen "We have to be away by 0430. Going round the Bill, don't you know" - and then not getting up till 7:00!

 

[Fergus]

last weekend they were highly organised, issuing berths to all who came in - first time I've seen it!

 

[Chris_Robb]

"We have to be away by 0430. Going round the Bill, don't you know" - and then not getting up till 7:00!

So I hope you woke them up at 4.30 - as you had got up specially to move for them......

 

[Judders]

I've never had that at Weymouth. Last time we were there, some chap rafted to us and said 'I'm terribly sorry, the berthing master sent me to that one there but the chap invited me to bugger off'. The friendly chap in question was alongside on his own whilst we were four out on ours, but then that was hardly HMs fault.

So far this year, if you take out the Swan Europeans on Lutine, I have spent a grand total of one night in commercial marinas, other than home berths. That's how I like it. Give me a town quay or a yacht club any day of the week.

Don't you all start following my advice though, or you'll ruin it!

 

[PeterGibbs]

Never quite saw the reluctance to take a marina berth in Weymouth, so avoiding all the thoughtless feet tramping over the decks at all hours - where's the advantage? The inner and outer rates are almost the same!

We all know what rafting is like in the UK - bedlam, with folks claiming outer positions because they "have to go early". What a disgrace. You don't get that nonsense on the continent - (except from some Germans who can be amazingly territorial !)

Was there two weeks ago - so much more civilised in the marina. And what is this "souless marina" whingeing stuff - it's very nice, and Harry Potter was showing in the cinema 1 minute from the marina!

If folks want free mooring you know where to go....and good luck!

PWG

 

[mainsail1]

Weymouth

I have always thought the bridge would mean quite limited access into and out of the marina so never done that.
I am happy to raft up with two or three boats of about the same size but it never seems that simple in Weymouth. On one occasion there was a 30 footer taking the push of six 35 to 40 footers outside when the wind was blowing onto the quay - poor devil. On the other hand,Yarmouth is fine.

 

[Daedelus]

I don't mind moving - even when it was in the pouring rain - but I agree about that damned ferry.

It's ironic that the harbour has notices saying turn generators off after 10pm (or similar) and that cat keeps a thunderous racket all night.

Ear plugs from a chemist are the answer (helps out when the inconsiderate are having a good time in the cockpit of their boat and making too much noise).