Which are the most easy going river bases in the South West?

[Adios]

Seeing how some Harbour authorities have ruled on covid lockdown restrictions it reminds me how much I'd rather be on a river estuary that's harbour master free. I started boating in Suffolk and didn't realise how lucky I was. None of the east coast rivers suffer harbour authorities controlling pleasure boating.

Is there anywhere in the south west?

 

[Adios]

Ah crap. They all have harbour authorities don't they. It must be one of those things where if you've always had one you'd probably assume an estuary would be chaos and mayhem without one. The east coast rivers really have a lot of plus points, proving how unnecessary it is to put a peaked cap on someone is a biggie.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Ah crap. They all have harbour authorities don't they. It must be one of those things where if you've always had one you'd probably assume an estuary would be chaos and mayhem without one. The east coast rivers really have a lot of plus points, proving how unnecessary it is to put a peaked cap on someone is a biggie.

Rivers Avon (S Devon, not Bristol Channel) and Erme almost certainly don’t have HMs. Nor the Otter or Axe
But there’s a good reason for that!

 

[Adios]

Rivers Avon (S Devon, not Bristol Channel) and Erme almost certainly don’t have HMs.

The Erme seems tied up as part of some estate with holiday lets, no anchoring allowed even.

The Avon is a beautiful place with an interesting entry but wouldn't fancy it as a home harbour. Entrance too interesting for regular use I expect.

Nor the Otter or Axe
But there’s a good reason for that!

Even more interesting entrances!

Bugger it will have to submit to the master somewhere and be a good boy I guess.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Ah crap. They all have harbour authorities don't they. It must be one of those things where if you've always had one you'd probably assume an estuary would be chaos and mayhem without one. The east coast rivers really have a lot of plus points, proving how unnecessary it is to put a peaked cap on someone is a biggie.

Sadly Warden Hodges made his presence felt even on the East Coast. Both the Crouch Harbour Authority and Harwich Haven took it on themselves to ban small craft the first time around.

 

[Adios]

Sadly Warden Hodges made his presence felt even on the East Coast. Both the Crouch Harbour Authority and Harwich Haven took it on themselves to ban small craft the first time around.

I just looked up crouch authority as never noticed it existed when visiting (its been a while though). Seems similar to the south coast rivers. The only noticeable harbour authority I'd encountered were actual harbours Southwold, lowestoft, Yarmouth, wells. For years it didnt occur to me whole estuaries could be under an ownership sort of authority like the Dart estuary seems to be and others down there "leased from the crown estate" or something. Harwich haven I assumed was only interested in the ports. Must have come as a shock to find them getting heavy handed. How far up the orwell and stour does their authority reach?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I just looked up crouch authority as never noticed it existed when visiting (its been a while though). Seems similar to the south coast rivers. The only noticeable harbour authority I'd encountered were actual harbours Southwold, lowestoft, Yarmouth, wells. For years it didnt occur to me whole estuaries could be under an ownership sort of authority like the Dart estuary seems to be and others down there "leased from the crown estate" or something. Harwich haven I assumed was only interested in the ports. Must have come as a shock to find them getting heavy handed. How far up the orwell and stour does their authority reach?

Well, it includes Hamford Water and the Walton Backwaters, so I guess the answer is "all of them". Preumably the Orwell shifts to Ipswich at some point, though.

 

[Adios]

Well, it includes Hamford Water and the Walton Backwaters, so I guess the answer is "all of them". Preumably the Orwell shifts to Ipswich at some point, though.

Its been a while since I was around there but i spent a good few years regularly in those waters and while seeing the odd harbour launch and pilots flying around between harwich and felixstowe I never had any interaction with them or felt their authority bearing down on me. No licences required or registration. Has anything changed?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Its been a while since I was around there but i spent a good few years regularly in those waters and while seeing the odd harbour launch and pilots flying around between harwich and felixstowe I never had any interaction with them or felt their authority bearing down on me. No licences required or registration. Has anything changed?

I doubt it - I don't thinh the HHA polices the backwaters, but it is oficially part of the HHA area. It is also a nature reserve, with strict restrictions on landing - there are few places where you can land. Moorings in the Walton Channel are managed by the boatyards at Walton or by Titchmarsh marina, and Halls at Walton emplace the buoyage. However, I guess that interaction with HHA would be via the boatyards/marina, not fdirectly. There are a few private moorings in Kirby Creek, I think, but I gather that mooring/anchoring there is a bit of a grey area as there are oyster beds there.

 

[Adios]

I gather that mooring/anchoring there is a bit of a grey area

Thats the way I like it. A friend of mine buried an old car engine in Alresford creek and there he was moored.

 

[ronsurf]

I'm mildly curious what you have done in the past to incur the wrath of a harbourmaster. I've been sailing around Plymouth for years and I've hardly ever spoken to the harbour authorities. If you stay out of the way of the big grey ships, they tend to leave you alone.

 

[Adios]

I'm mildly curious what you have done in the past to incur the wrath of a harbourmaster. I've been sailing around Plymouth for years and I've hardly ever spoken to the harbour authorities. If you stay out of the way of the big grey ships, they tend to leave you alone.

Tend to leave you alone until shutting the entire area to pleasure boat traffic. I'm used to rivers where you can come and go as you please and there isn't any authority to report to or be allowed by. The thread was in response to Dart harbours draconian sounding notice to mariners saying they have shut the river. Fortunately they deleted that notice and replaced it with a much milder discouragement. But it highlighted the point that they could shut it if they decided to. I'll probably have to accept it same as you as there isn't any choice in that part of the world.

 

[TwoHooter]

On the first day we were allowed to use our boat in June last year we anchored in [a place in the West Country] . Harbour Master turned up in launch, said OK to anchor during the day but not overnight due to "restrictions". I wanted to ask why the virus would take shore leave and infect the neighbourhood at night but not in the day. My wife wouldn't let me. Beautiful calm evening, good overnight forecast.. Sad to have to weigh anchor and go back to [our berth]. Typical of the whole year really. And 2021 too, I fear.

Edited to remove location. I want to go back!

 

[Adios]

On the first day we were allowed to use our boat in June last year we anchored in [a place in the West Country] . Harbour Master turned up in launch, said OK to anchor during the day but not overnight due to "restrictions". I wanted to ask why the virus would take shore leave and infect the neighbourhood at night but not in the day. My wife wouldn't let me. Beautiful calm evening, good overnight forecast.. Sad to have to weigh anchor and go back to [our berth]. Typical of the whole year really. And 2021 too, I fear.

Shame. Its hard to reel back in some peoples feeling of power once they've had a taste of it. Might take some time to wear off

 

[ronsurf]

Tend to leave you alone until shutting the entire area to pleasure boat traffic. I'm used to rivers where you can come and go as you please and there isn't any authority to report to or be allowed by. The thread was in response to Dart harbours draconian sounding notice to mariners saying they have shut the river. Fortunately they deleted that notice and replaced it with a much milder discouragement. But it highlighted the point that they could shut it if they decided to. I'll probably have to accept it same as you as there isn't any choice in that part of the world.

I'm not aware of Longroom closing off the whole area to pleasure boat traffic in the decade I've been sailing here.

There are occasional restrictions in some areas due to MoD movements, events like the Powerboat race, fireworks or air displays, but they are clearly advertised. Never heard of 'the whole area' being closed off. Generally, any grief comes from other pleasure boat users doing something of supreme importance, like racing each other.

Submarine movements are always sensitive but easy enough to stay out of their way.

 

[Gary Fox]

Shame. Its hard to reel back in some peoples feeling of power once they've had a taste of it. Might take some time to wear off

Never a truer word was spoken.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I'm not aware of Longroom closing off the whole area to pleasure boat traffic in the decade I've been sailing here.

There are occasional restrictions in some areas due to MoD movements, events like the Powerboat race, fireworks or air displays, but they are clearly advertised. Never heard of 'the whole area' being closed off. Generally, any grief comes from other pleasure boat users doing something of supreme importance, like racing each other.

Submarine movements are always sensitive but easy enough to stay out of their way.

I did note that while QHM Portsmouth closed the harbour to small craft last March and this time around issued a NTM 'reminding' people of the published RYA guidance, their counterparts to the West didn't feel the need to do any of that.

 

[allanc]

I did note that while QHM Portsmouth closed the harbour to small craft last March and this time around issued a NTM 'reminding' people of the published RYA guidance, their counterparts to the West didn't feel the need to do any of that.

What part of 'stay at home and save lives' don't you understand?

 

[Sandy]

Submarine movements are always sensitive but easy enough to stay out of their way.

the men in black with the big guns do ask you very, very nicely before a movement.

 

[Lucky Duck]

What part of 'stay at home and save lives' don't you understand?

It is a simple statement of fact.

I trust you are staying at home and not putting delivery drivers and the like at unecessary risk by ordering non essential items off Amazon (other internet based vendors are available)