Who owns the Solent?

[RupertW]

I helped deliver a batch of 19 Sunsail boats down from the Solent to Plymouth in February and I know they are bringing more, so I think you'll see a lot more Sunsail boats from now on. Sorry.

Having said that, the deliveries really changed my mind about winter sailing. It was bliss seeing no other yachts all the way from Hurst to Plymouth breakwater, and the winter skies were wonderfully clear at night. Pity about the frost forming all over my waterproofs, but well worth it. At least with Bootnys my feet couldn't get cold.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Radio checks

>I have great faith in their ability to maintain their boats in tip top condition.<

Presumably you had your thumb pressed down on the irony shift ket when you typed that?

 

[trev]

Re: Cormorants

The cormorants are not welcome here !! They have been driven to our shores by overfishing of their natural hunting grounds in more southern latitudes. Mainly the trawling (Spanish?) of the under size fish which they usually eat.
They are voracious eaters and are already taking over the inland sector to the cost of herons and kingfishers.
I certainly am not pleased to see them!!

Trev

 

[Mirelle]

Nasty place

I bounced over the bar on Sunday (F1, LW +3) - there's a new shoal building, just beyond the really narrow bit on the shoreward side. Come to think of it, I should not have posted that.....

And the locals are pretty hostile....Tammy picked up a stray dinghy and wants paying before he gives it back - he has been accused of bringing Felixstowe ways into Woodbridge!

 

[Mirelle]

Can they be refused Planning Permission?

I do just wonder - when a commercial enterprise brings in an activity which is so "out of scale" with the place they operate from that they wreck it for everyone else, do the Planning authorities have any say in the matter?

Something will have to be done about it.

These ratbags are not "introducing new people to sailing" so that old line won't wash.

 

[Guest]

Re: Can they be refused Planning Permission?

Port Solent makes them stay outside the marina in summer, Friday night they all seem to gather at the light ship at Haslar. Rumour has it that they tried to base themselves at Haslar but were turned down. The only thing that will stop them is when they run out of space to moor them, hence the start up in Plymouth and I did hear a rumour that they are looking for an east coast base. The number of charter boats in the solent must be around the 500 mark if you take the 80 that Sunsail have, the hundred plus (from an internet search) in Haslar, the 40 or so that Fairview have etc. What bugs me is that some of those driving the charter boats really do not care what damage, what noise they cause and have very little knowledge of the coll regs. Maybe the down turn in the markets will sort them out, but somehow I doubt it.

Pete

 

[dickh]

Re: Nasty place

Yes I know there's another shallow patch!! I also found it a few weeks ago whilst entering at LW+2 - was single handed with a F6 behind me, had to get pulled off by local fishing boat... Oh well, should keep the strangers and S**s**** away.



dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[SloopJohnB]

My main point is numbers rather than behaviour and I think this thread has developed that.
There have been recent threads about behaviour and all thoroughly dealt with.
There is clearly a market for an almost infinite number of boats that can be crammed with 5,6 or even 7 crew most weekends. There are a finite number of berths around the Solent and I wonder whether my concern about CYH points the way for the future. Guaranteed allocation to Sunsail means guaranteed income to marina leaving a few crumbs for the rest of us cruising folk.
How long before Sunsail have filled CYH with their allocation and turn their attention to the more “inconvenient” marinas with tide or access restrictions such as Bembridge, Southsea and Yarmouth and do a deal with them. What then?
I didn’t foresee this huge growth but maybe others did.
I like the simple pleasures of mud creeks and anchoring as much as anybody but I prefer to step off my boat and wander into Cowes or anywhere and have a shower and a pint and a bite to eat and (more importantly) so does SWMBO. What’s wrong with that? Were all different. It doesn’t make us worse sailors does it?
Nowadays you are lucky to raft up outside. If you arrive late, forget it.
Marinas win all ways. I cant even swap berths with one of you guys for the weekend without breaching my contract with them.

 

[jtwebb]

Re: Can they be refused Planning Permission?

I seem to remember that the extended waiting pontoon at Port Solent did require planning permission which was granted on the basis that it would reduce the problems of boats waiting for the lock. One saw some interesting displays from my mooring just outside Port Solent. However, Sunsail now use the waiting pontoon as normal berthing so one presumes the planning conditions were changed?

J Webb

 

[rogerroger]

They're welcome to CYH as far as I'm concerned - let them stay there rather than venturing too far up the Medina.

I won't stay at CYH cos of their tight fisted money-grabbing attitude. (Admitedly - the constant arrival of Sunsail boats packed to the gunwalls with more-money-than-sense crews has encouraged them to price out others).

It costs about 8 quid at the Folley and you can get the pint and shower you're after without being financially raped my a blood-sucking marina and without being annoyed by clueless / loud / obnoxious charter crews or (worse?) race crew who reckon they're god's gift.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Jeremy_W]

Re: Can they be refused Planning Permission?

"I did hear a rumour that they are looking for an East Coast base."

I hear that Woodbridge is very pleasant.

 

[SloopJohnB]

Re: Folly

Roger,

I wish you were right. Did I ever tell you about the time we were the inside boat with 5 Sunsail rafted off last November ......................
better not!

 

[Mirelle]

Don\'t you dare!

Good road access by A12, highly convenient railway station, first class Chart Agents, world famous chandlers, several good pubs and restaurants....

If they could be persuaded to go sailing in wooden boats, ideally gaff rigged, and to behave themselves, I dare say we could do something....

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Eh up Hang on

We are not all like that
I charter and am always courteous
and i stick me anchor ball up
i v rarely seen one of them


...It was like that when i found it!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Can they be refused Planning Permission?

The answer is yes
the planners have to approve all new commercial devlopment
unfortunately planning committees are made up of members and are political creatures
a full time employee could not really be on a council and it would astound you the calibre of people who make up some planning committees. as someone who has been to many meetings of council's all ober the uk i am still amazed at some of their decisions especially as they can ignore their officer's advice and fly in the face of common sense.

...It was like that when i found it!