Yacht "NO BERTHING" Kirkcudbright

steve yates said:
I think what he is getting at is, while the sign may be unambiguous, it's authority is questionable. No one has the right to arbitrarily refuse to allow someone to raft up surely if the pontoons are busy, simply because they don't want another boat against them?
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I agree. However, anyone who uses Kirkcudbright regularly really ought to know how it works and recognize the signs.

If it said by order of HM, then that would make it crystal clear, all for the sake of a few letters of ink :)
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Maybe, although the nobbers could add the same letters to their signs. A bit like the house next to the chandlers at Kippford which tries to reserve two parking spaces by putting out cones saying "Police - No Parking" when their cars are away. Very easily moved, those cones.
 
Two sides to every story, quite true. Now I see your side I'm a bit red faced. We rounded the corner and spotted you dashing across your deck to hang the sign up. We thought you were a visitor who didn't want another boat moored along side for the night. I hadn't seen your boat in Kirkcudbright before. I never intended going alongside you and made the comment "tongue in cheek" to show I wasn't impressed to see your sign going up, assuming (wrongly) you were a visitor.

My crew were briefed to get the bow line on first as I was expecting the flow to push me backwards, then get stern line on. I crept very slowly at tickover, ferry glide assisted into the gap, as I got into the gap the effect of the tide must have reduced as we moved into the lee of the line of moored boats. I was anticipating being pushed backwards into the yacht behind by the tide. So thank you for your help.

Over the years I have experienced yachts with home made no berth signs, yachts with dinghies tied up alongside and even one with a spinnaker poking out through the guard wires. Skippers saying they will be leaving at 5.00am. All with the intention of discouraging rafting. I had wrongly tarred you with the same brush.

I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. In hindsight, I should have said "thanks for taking my lines, but what's that sign all about?"

Yeah, I did phone the harbour master and I left money in the honesty box.

I've visited Kirkcudbright many times and always enjoyed staying there, and hope to visit again. If you are around perhaps we could meet up and clear the air.

David
 
DavidGrieves said:
Two sides to every story, quite true. Now I see your side I'm a bit red faced. We rounded the corner and spotted you dashing across your deck to hang the sign up. We thought you were a visitor who didn't want another boat moored along side for the night. I hadn't seen your boat in Kirkcudbright before. I never intended going alongside you and made the comment "tongue in cheek" to show I wasn't impressed to see your sign going up, assuming (wrongly) you were a visitor.

My crew were briefed to get the bow line on first as I was expecting the flow to push me backwards, then get stern line on. I crept very slowly at tickover, ferry glide assisted into the gap, as I got into the gap the effect of the tide must have reduced as we moved into the lee of the line of moored boats. I was anticipating being pushed backwards into the yacht behind by the tide. So thank you for your help.

Over the years I have experienced yachts with home made no berth signs, yachts with dinghies tied up alongside and even one with a spinnaker poking out through the guard wires. Skippers saying they will be leaving at 5.00am. All with the intention of discouraging rafting. I had wrongly tarred you with the same brush.

I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. In hindsight, I should have said "thanks for taking my lines, but what's that sign all about?"

Yeah, I did phone the harbour master and I left money in the honesty box.

I've visited Kirkcudbright many times and always enjoyed staying there, and hope to visit again. If you are around perhaps we could meet up and clear the air.

David
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Good man!
 
David,
this has become an interesting thread, i like the fact you did not rush your response, it was measured and concise. you have corrected the situation by explaining what you saw at that moment in time, and appologised for "tongue and cheek " comments, i tilt my hat to you as a gentleman.
A previous comment on here how some Yotties act, is a bit distasteful and it makes it difficult for a newcomer to move forward, when we buy a yacht it does not come with all the sailing etiquette, we try to be polite. however i will say 99.9% of yotties are very helpful....! and willing to share
 
Hi David,

Thank you for replying in the way you have. Respect to you for that. I really didn't want to post but after seeing some responses and the photo with boat name I felt I had too.
And only now do I realise that the sign I used doesn't indicate it is an official sign! In future I will try and use one of the signs with it clearly indicated. Hopefully we will meet up next time and see the funny side of how things can be seen completely differently from opposite sides.

Ian
 
Trop Cher said:
As a matter of interest, as it's a place I intend to visit, is there always space for visiting boats at Kirkcudbright, and if not what would plan B be?
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Hi Trop Cher, As far as I know there has always been space available although it may involve rafting. The space for visitors is usually in the middle area of the pontoon and this also has the deepest water. As has been explained elsewhere it is normally the visitors that raft to each other first but if it is really busy then the Harbour Master may put you outside a bertholder but he will probably have an idea if they are going to be going out or may phone them to find out.

Due to the fast current at times and also the need to have room for fishing boats to pass it is a best not to make to big a raft, probably 3 at most but 2 would be better. Also due to current it is probably a good idea too use shore lines if rafted. There are codes required for the marina gate and the toilet/ shower block and if the HM is not on duty it can be a problem but if any bertholder is about I am sure they will be able to give you the codes.
 
the-drifter said:
David,
this has become an interesting thread, i like the fact you did not rush your response, it was measured and concise. you have corrected the situation by explaining what you saw at that moment in time, and apologized for "tongue and cheek " comments, i tilt my hat to you as a gentleman.
A previous comment on here how some Yotties act, is a bit distasteful and it makes it difficult for a newcomer to move forward, when we buy a yacht it does not come with all the sailing etiquette, we try to be polite. however i will say 99.9% of yotties are very helpful....! and willing to share
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Hi drifter, not sure if your referring to my comment, but just in case, remember I said that was an impression I had been given from the outside, (over many years, and mainly from tales related by folk I met who sailed). I did not say I found this to be so in reality, I wouldn't actually know yet. I'm far too much of a newcomer to the lifestyle, so I'll reserve judgement till I'm on the water:) I can say that so far I have had nothing but genuine helpfulness and patience in response to my , no doubt dumb, questions on this forum, and I greatly appreciate it. I was also very impressed by Dave's apology and graciousness in holding his hands up to a mistake.
Steve
 
Solwaycruiser said:
Hi Trop Cher, As far as I know there has always been space available although it may involve rafting. The space for visitors is usually in the middle area of the pontoon and this also has the deepest water. As has been explained elsewhere it is normally the visitors that raft to each other first but if it is really busy then the Harbour Master may put you outside a bertholder but he will probably have an idea if they are going to be going out or may phone them to find out.

Due to the fast current at times and also the need to have room for fishing boats to pass it is a best not to make to big a raft, probably 3 at most but 2 would be better. Also due to current it is probably a good idea too use shore lines if rafted. There are codes required for the marina gate and the toilet/ shower block and if the HM is not on duty it can be a problem but if any bertholder is about I am sure they will be able to give you the codes.
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Many thanks for the extra information. Not sure when I'll get down, but I'll remember to contact the HM in advance of arrival.
 
Trop Cher said:
Many thanks for the extra information. Not sure when I'll get down, but I'll remember to contact the HM in advance of arrival.
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When I visited last summer I called Peter (the harbourmaster) the day before, who must have told Gary (the range safety boat chap) because when I passed Ross Island I got a friendly call on the VHF saying "Hello Ian, we were expecting you - I've been tracking you on the radar since Burrow Head", which was nice but a little unnerving.

Please do get in touch if you're visiting. We are friendly types down here, but starved of company. Probably why I use this damned website so much.
 
I was thinking of visiting in the near future but I might have to leave my boat for at most a couple of days whilst I return home ( work) my boat is a 31 foot bilge keeler. Is there any infrequently used drying berths that I could leave it or will it have to be whitehaven.
 
tyce said:
I was thinking of visiting in the near future but I might have to leave my boat for at most a couple of days whilst I return home ( work) my boat is a 31 foot bilge keeler. Is there any infrequently used drying berths that I could leave it or will it have to be whitehaven.
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No reason why you couldn't leave her on the pontoon at Kirkcudbright for a couple of days, and it's only a tenner a night. There are no drying visitor moorings, but you could ask Peter the harbourmaster (01557 331135) and/or contact the sailing club (kirkcudbrightsc@yahoo.co.uk) to ask if anyone will be away and could lend you one.

Failing that, you could try Kippford, which is the next river along. That's all drying. No official visitor berths but either Andy at Kippford Slipway (01556 620249) or the Solway YC (http://www.thesyc.com/committee.htm) may be able to sort you out with something.
 
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