Yarmouth 3&4th April (Easter) Walk-ashore

[Firefly625]

I had these 2 nights booked, I'm just about to cancel... not going anywhere soon without a gearbox...

So I will cancel tomorrow around 10am. If anyone wanted a 8m berth in Yarmouth for the Easter weekend... call just after 10am and you never know, you might just get lucky!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I had these 2 nights booked, I'm just about to cancel... not going anywhere soon without a gearbox...

So I will cancel tomorrow around 10am. If anyone wanted a 8m berth in Yarmouth for the Easter weekend... call just after 10am and you never know, you might just get lucky!

But will they give you your money back??

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[VicS]

But will they give you your money back??

I cancelled a booking a few years ago. IIRC I forfeited the deposit (£5 ??) but I had not paid up front for the berth.

 

[Firefly625]

But will they give you your money back??

Cheers
Jimmy

...no, I don't believe they will...

 

[kcrane]

...no, I don't believe they will...

Nor do I.

They wouldn't switch a booking from one night to the next, so getting a refund isn't likely.

Good luck if you try tho

 

[volvopaul]

Im on with the box tomorrow so hopefully will be back in the boat by end of next week.

 

[nicho]

But will they give you your money back??

Cheers
Jimmy

'Fraid not, unless there's been a very recent change of heart.

 

[Firefly625]

'Fraid not, unless there's been a very recent change of heart.

No, money banked, ready for the next mug..

 

[wynnstow]

Yarmouth Greed

The Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners from this year require full payment in advance for bookings on the Walk Ashore Pontoon.

Even if you have booked well in advance but want to change the booking dates say on the following day you loose all your money. Likewise if you cancel you again forfeit all money unlike one or two other Marinas further West who do at least hold your payment against a future visit.

I have no problem with any Marina taking your part or full prepayment if you fail to turn up without notifying them but this by Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners is sheer greed. They are currently trying to get local approval to change the Harbour layout again and I guess they look on boaty people as a bottomless pit to pay for the changes.

This year we will not be going to Yarmouth as we prebooked in the past and we know some other MOBO's who have done likewise but not this year!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

The Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners from this year require full payment in advance for bookings on the Walk Ashore Pontoon.

Even if you have booked well in advance but want to change the booking dates say on the following day you loose all your money. Likewise if you cancel you again forfeit all money unlike one or two other Marinas further West who do at least hold your payment against a future visit.

I have no problem with any Marina taking your part or full prepayment if you fail to turn up without notifying them but this by Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners is sheer greed. They are currently trying to get local approval to change the Harbour layout again and I guess they look on boaty people as a bottomless pit to pay for the changes.

This year we will not be going to Yarmouth as we prebooked in the past and we know some other MOBO's who have done likewise but not this year!

I think you're right. Yarmouth's attitude on this just stinks. Makes you not want to go there.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[xcw]

Maybe someone should come to a private arrangement with Firefly and take his already paid for berth in Yarmouth? Could tell the Harbourmaster that you decided to bring a different boat - as long as the name on the booking is consistent they shouldn't worry too much.

 

[DAKA]

I had these 2 nights booked, I'm just about to cancel... not going anywhere soon without a gearbox...

So I will cancel tomorrow around 10am. If anyone wanted a 8m berth in Yarmouth for the Easter weekend... call just after 10am and you never know, you might just get lucky!

I hope you are back to full speed asap
As to the Yarmouth HM issue , I feel he is acting in the interests of all boaters in attempting to discourage bookings made months in advance .
Every marina should operate the same .

Solent berths are too rare to be booked months in advance and be left empty because someone decided to go to a wedding instead.

I realize it is unfair in your situation.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I hope you are back to full speed asap
As to the Yarmouth HM issue , I feel he is acting in the interests of all boaters in attempting to discourage bookings made months in advance .
Every marina should operate the same .

Solent berths are too rare to be booked months in advance and be left empty because someone decided to go to a wedding instead.

I realize it is unfair in your situation.

I've never been to Yarmouth and not likely to in the near future, but say I had decided I wanted to visit this coming w/e, from what I read I'd need to pre-book and pay up front. So what happens if I couldn't get there cos of weather conditions, which could affect people this Easter judging by the forecasts, would I lose my money? Could understand forfeiting a deposit but not 100% of fees.
And is pre-booking berths common in the Solent area? What happened to the first come first served system, seems to work pretty well most other places.

 

[DAC]

longjohn, we're heading up that way this weekend (weather permitting of course) but haven't booked. Never found the need to in any Solent Marina unless it coinsides with a large event ie RTI, Cowes Week, etc. If Yarmouth turns out to be fully booked, which i very much doubt with this weather then Lymington it is then.

However we never push for a walk ashore berth in Yarmouth either...

 

[Firefly625]

I hope you are back to full speed asap
As to the Yarmouth HM issue , I feel he is acting in the interests of all boaters in attempting to discourage bookings made months in advance .
Every marina should operate the same .

Solent berths are too rare to be booked months in advance and be left empty because someone decided to go to a wedding instead.

I realize it is unfair in your situation.

I knew the situation when I booked... I went in with my eyes open... I have lost £46... I like the knowledge that when I do want a walk ashore berth that so long as I have booked one, it will be there....


BUT, wouldn't it be nicer if...(in order of my preference, on the basis they are not going to agree a full refund which would be best case scenario).

1. 100% of fee was held for 3 months and could be used against a future booking so long as cancelled within 48 hours of date booked, 50% if cancelled within 24hrs, and no refund if 24hrs or less.

or

2. You were refunded 70% of your fee so long as cancelled within 48hrs of date booked.

or

3. 100% retained & 100% donated to RNLI

or

4. 100% retained and split 50% to Yarmouth Harbour commission & 50% donated to RNLI


..and thanks DAKA , should be on the move soon, Volvopaul has stripped gearbox and found nothing untoward, so rebuilding with new seals and hopefully refitting next week.. fingers crossed.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

As to the Yarmouth HM issue , I feel he is acting in the interests of all boaters in attempting to discourage bookings made months in advance .
Every marina should operate the same .

Solent berths are too rare to be booked months in advance and be left empty because someone decided to go to a wedding instead.

I disagree with this - he's not acting in the interests of all boaters, he's acting in the interest of the Yarmouth HM. I'm not aware of anywhere else in the solent where you _have_ to prepay for a berth. Prepay as a policy isn't the issue here, I think the 100% unconditional forfeit is the issue. I think most people wouldn't mind a forfeit if they cancel with say 3 days notice or less; but prior to that you should be able to get a credit for a future booking. The current policy at Yarmouth is short-sighted, and imho will have the longer-term effect of driving visitors (like us) away.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[DAKA]

I disagree with this - he's not acting in the interests of all boaters, he's acting in the interest of the Yarmouth HM. I'm not aware of anywhere else in the solent where you _have_ to prepay for a berth. Prepay as a policy isn't the issue here, I think the 100% unconditional forfeit is the issue. I think most people wouldn't mind a forfeit if they cancel with say 3 days notice or less; but prior to that you should be able to get a credit for a future booking. The current policy at Yarmouth is short-sighted, and imho will have the longer-term effect of driving visitors (like us) away.

Cheers
Jimmy

Well as a long distance visitor like me you can now rule out Yarmouth as a place to visit as it is booked for the summer !

It was one of only a few places in the solent where you could just turn up and unless it was late evening on a BH saturday you would get in.

Now the walk ashore berths take up a lot of Piles up, if you arrive after 1400 any saturday during the summer and you will be out of luck.

The walk ashore will be almost empty but pre booked, that cant be in anyones best interest.

I can see why some think its a great idea to pre book every weekend, just in case they want to go,why not book two places in case a mate wants to join them too........... just my opinion happy to agree to differ

 

[l'escargot]

I hope you are back to full speed asap
As to the Yarmouth HM issue , I feel he is acting in the interests of all boaters in attempting to discourage bookings made months in advance .
Every marina should operate the same .

Solent berths are too rare to be booked months in advance and be left empty because someone decided to go to a wedding instead.

I realize it is unfair in your situation.

For once I agree with you Pete. It is the only way to deter people from making multiple bookings well in advance "just in case" they want to turn up. I bet if they didn't have this policy you would see multiple bookings from a small number of individuals throughout the summer with a high "no show" rate.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

For once I agree with you Pete. It is the only way to deter people from making multiple bookings well in advance "just in case" they want to turn up. I bet if they didn't have this policy you would see multiple bookings from a small number of individuals throughout the summer with a high "no show" rate.

Well perhaps - but how come all the other marinas in the solent manage to scrape a living without requiring every visitor to prepay on booking?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[l'escargot]

Well perhaps - but how come all the other marinas in the solent manage to scrape a living without requiring every visitor to prepay on booking?

Cheers
Jimmy

Because Yarmouth isn't a marina and are more reliant on visitor income, nor do they require every visitor to prepay - just those requiring the premium walk a shore berths which are a small minority of the available berths.

Many marinas in the Solent won't take advance bookings anyway because they don't actually know how many berths will be available when you arrive because they rely on letting out vacant resident berths. Yarmouth know exactly how many walk ashore visitors berths there are and there will be greater demand than supply.