Yarmouth - Web Booking - take care...

[kcrane]

Yarmouth has an online booking system for the walk ashore berths. It includes a calendar that tells you on each day how many berths are booked and how many free. Useful if you want to be there at a busy time as you can book in advance.

Downside however is that you have to pay upfront.

They are quiet this Friday evening and Saturday evening, less than half booked. I booked for Friday.

The weather now looks iffy, so I asked them to move the booking to Saturday. They said no, once booked, no changes are allowed, and helpfully explained that the Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners cannot control the weather. Those were indeed the terms I agreed to, I just expected a little flexibility for a regular visitor when they are quiet.

So, from now on I'll use the booking system for weekends / bank holidays and to check just how busy they seem to be (the diary is at http://yarmouth.eharbours.co.uk), but I won't generally book in advance any more.

There is another debate on the Yarmouth harbour changes in Scuttlebutt today, mostly against it seems.

 

[Kaste]

The other side of this rather one sided argument is that they might not charge upfront and you don't turn up because the weathers iffy. They are business and maximising their limited availability, and if you followed this through they might even go out of business and then you wouldn't have the option. You'd have tp pay other marina prices (much higher)

 

[nicho]

Nothing new, it's always been like that. They got fed up with people booking, then simply not bothering to turn up.

Bear in mind that only half of the walkashore berths are bookable, and the rest are on a first come, first served basis. Usually, if you book one night, there's a good chance you can stay on the basis that, as you are already there, you are first come!! I never book more than a couple of nights, and have never had a problem staying longer, though we are usually there midweek.

The problem arises if the bookable berths are all for 60' boats, then all the pontoon space is taken up - but that's pretty unlikely I would say.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Similarly, I booked and prepaid for a Saturday night on the walkashore late last year - and at about midday I got a call from them wanting to know if I was still coming because they 'were having trouble hanging on to my berth'...! Nice.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[kcrane]

The other side of this rather one sided argument is that they might not charge upfront and you don't turn up because the weathers iffy. They are business and maximising their limited availability, and if you followed this through they might even go out of business and then you wouldn't have the option. You'd have tp pay other marina prices (much higher)

You misrepresent what I was saying in order to make your point. There is nothing wrong with your point of course, but it isn't counter to my own. I was simply saying, as they are quiet, how hard would it be to move a paid for reservation from one day to the next? If you read my note you'll see I acknowledged I knew the terms I booked on.

 

[yankee1]

yarmouth

You misrepresent what I was saying in order to make your point. There is nothing wrong with your point of course, but it isn't counter to my own. I was simply saying, as they are quiet, how hard would it be to move a paid for reservation from one day to the next? If you read my note you'll see I acknowledged I knew the terms I booked on.

Agree...they get the money one way or the other. If they have the space can't see why they wouldn't move the date. I have always found the folks at Yarmouth to be easy to deal with and they have helped us out a couple of times with space...might be worth trying for a different person. Good luck.

 

[kcrane]

Yep, the I individuals are fine, were helpful even when we turned up with a 20ft wide cat.

My email exchanges with them have been friendly and professional, they even suggested themselves not booking unless you feel you have to.

 

[oldgit]

On the other hand

Have always found St Kats to be very flexible on this matter.
Maybe they build in an adequate "No Show" margin into their system.
Suspect the numbers of boats booking in from the continent and not making it due to weather could be quite high considering the distance and the bit of water to be covered.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thats a disgrace and I'm afraid to say not untypical of the new 'commercial' attitude to boaters that seems to be pervading Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners. There's no problem about paying up front but not being able to change dates is shameful. Perhaps their business model includes a proportion of berths that they hope to sell twice on any particular night?
So different to when we first started to visit Yarmouth 20 yrs ago and the harbourmasters would try every which way to squeeze you in however busy the harbour was

 

[AdeOlly]

To be fair to Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, when you make an online booking it does make it very clear and obvious that it is not transferable; it's not as though it's hidden away somewhere. They also make it clear that if you don't arrive by 6pm you risk losing the berth.

Having said that I don't particularly like the policy either; it's obviously there to minimise admin and maximise revenue.

 

[nicho]

I was simply saying, as they are quiet, how hard would it be to move a paid for reservation from one day to the next?

That's been a constant argument of ours too, and one we always bring up with them!

It looks as if (according their consultation document) that they have received many complaints of a similar nature, and that they are to look again at the situation. We can only hope.........

 

[kcrane]

To be fair to Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, when you make an online booking it does make it very clear and obvious that it is not transferable; it's not as though it's hidden away somewhere. They also make it clear that if you don't arrive by 6pm you risk losing the berth.

Having said that I don't particularly like the policy either; it's obviously there to minimise admin and maximise revenue.

Yep, that is true, I knew it was non-transferable etc. I cannot complain that they are being misleading.

The folks individually are courteous, friendly and helpful, but management seems to have set a policy and not given discretion to staff, who then treat the policy as though it were a law. Seems a bit sad somehow.

 

[DAKA]

Yep, that is true, I knew it was non-transferable etc. I cannot complain that they are being misleading.

The folks individually are courteous, friendly and helpful, but management seems to have set a policy and not given discretion to staff, who then treat the policy as though it were a law. Seems a bit sad somehow.

There is of course another side to the argument, as Yarmouth is not just a great weekend destination, it is also a vital 24 hour all weather safe heaven.

Over the years I have lost count of the number of times I have been storm bound in Guernsey/france and made a mad dash back in a 4 hour weather window, often not knowing if we will get half way and have to return.
Booking a berth in Poole/Solent from overseas is not always possible and knowing that Yarmouth will take us is essential.
The walk ashores reduced the overall capacity and was a backward move in that the Harbour is more likely to turn you away.
I know that as I get knocked about across the Channel, Yarmouth will not be full as the weekend whimps will be tied up on their berths moaning about how rough the Solent is

Having arrived at Yarmouth I dont want to be turned away because some one booked a berth a month ago but decided to watch the match instead, even if he has paid for the empty berth !

If Yarmouth dont allow at least half berth fee back then no one will bother to un book the berth, (which you have attempted to do).

It would be my preference to stop the booking facility all together or at least charge a premium rate and make it clear the berth has to be occupied by 1200 noon or it will be reallocated.

Same thing happened at Weymouth Marina a couple of years ago, we were on passage but Saturday was really too rough to move, Poole berth holders club booked 30 berths and we were asked to move.........you have to be joking, they will not set off in this !
I was wrong, about 5 did actually make it (of the 30 that booked !).
I moved to Town Quay just to prove a point and left the marina looking very empty on a mid season Saturday .

 

[kcrane]

...knowing that Yarmouth will take us is essential.

Does that suggest that as the weather gets worse they should hold more spare spaces just in case?

Having arrived at Yarmouth I dont want to be turned away because some one booked a berth a month ago but decided to watch the match instead, even if he has paid for the empty berth ! If Yarmouth dont allow at least half berth fee back then no one will bother to un book the berth, (which you have attempted to do). It would be my preference to stop the booking facility all together or at least charge a premium rate and make it clear the berth has to be occupied by 1200 noon or it will be reallocated.

I like the idea of a rebate if you cancel, maybe only up to 24hrs in advance, tho I guess they'd say the admin would be problematic. How about a secondary market in Yarmouth bookings, options, swaps and derivitives designed to maximise efficiency.

Not sure about use it by 12:00 or lose it. One of the advantages of booking is you don't need to arrive early. On 90% of occasions I'd be surprised not to get a berth if I arrived before 12:00, booking or not.

 

[mjf]

Does that suggest that as the weather gets worse they should hold more spare spaces just in case?



I like the idea of a rebate if you cancel, maybe only up to 24hrs in advance, tho I guess they'd say the admin would be problematic. How about a secondary market in Yarmouth bookings, options, swaps and derivitives designed to maximise efficiency.

Not sure about use it by 12:00 or lose it. One of the advantages of booking is you don't need to arrive early. On 90% of occasions I'd be surprised not to get a berth if I arrived before 12:00, booking or not.

Yarmouth have in my own experience been very inflexable even before the web booking scheme, no refunds.

I therefore never book as all too frequently the Wx turns and you wish to cancel - they will not even keep your 'credit' in the kitty for future use.

Quite why they cannot operate the place like a hotel - pay a deposit and if you cancel before N/N the day before check-in its not processed and if you expect to get there late call them and say so - that way you (and they know) what's happening and 'your' berth is not sub let.

Utter shambles
Its easy nowadays with mobiles.

 

[SolentPhill]

Cowes have a great service you book inadvance and pay, then if you decide to cancel as long as you ring them by mid day and cancel you are in credit, you dont get money back but you can change to another night.

That is a very fair system.

 

[fireball]

There is of course another side to the argument, as Yarmouth is not just a great weekend destination, it is also a vital 24 hour all weather safe heaven.

Over the years I have lost count of the number of times I have been storm bound in Guernsey/france and made a mad dash back in a 4 hour weather window, often not knowing if we will get half way and have to return.
Booking a berth in Poole/Solent from overseas is not always possible and knowing that Yarmouth will take us is essential.
<snip>
Having arrived at Yarmouth I dont want to be turned away because some one booked a berth a month ago but decided to watch the match instead, even if he has paid for the empty berth !
<snip>
It would be my preference to stop the booking facility all together or at least charge a premium rate and make it clear the berth has to be occupied by 1200 noon or it will be reallocated.
<snip>

oo ... a good chance for a slanging match coming up! ...

Mad Dash from CI's in 4hours - Yarmouth is your only destination once you're through Hurst ... ?? You can only be 10 minutes away from Cowes!! Then there is Lymington too ... there are 000's of berths just a few minutes away from you ... However, if you're in a saily boat then it'll take a bit longer (like 12 hours to get back from CI's to start with!)

True - PITA if someone has booked a berth and not turned up to use it - however, perhaps they booked a berth knowing that they won't be in until late evening - in which case they want to know that there will be a berth available - rather than the rest of you who turn up at midday thinking that's your boating done for the day!!

In the OPs situation though - he booked a Friday night - then the weather turned so he wanted to move the booking - if I was in charge of berthing that weekend then my response would be
1) if it is peak season and the harbour will be booked out then I'd be happy to use the original fee paid against a berth for the new date - but it would be on first come/first served basis - ie I wouldnot hold a berth for him.
2) if it is off peak season and the harbour won't be booked out then I'd just move it as a "we don't usually do this sir, however .... "

 

[mjf]

Cowes have a great service you book inadvance and pay, then if you decide to cancel as long as you ring them by mid day and cancel you are in credit, you dont get money back but you can change to another night.

That is a very fair system.

Exactly right - some do not even take your money until you are there I have found.

Always a welcome and no fuss. Unlike Yarmouth these days.

 

[DAKA]

oo ... a good chance for a slanging match coming up! ...

Mad Dash from CI's in 4hours - Yarmouth is your only destination once you're through Hurst ... ?? You can only be 10 minutes away from Cowes!! Then there is Lymington too ... there are 000's of berths just a few minutes away from you ... However, if you're in a saily boat then it'll take a bit longer (like 12 hours to get back from CI's to start with!)

True - PITA if someone has booked a berth and not turned up to use it - however, perhaps they booked a berth knowing that they won't be in until late evening - in which case they want to know that there will be a berth available - rather than the rest of you who turn up at midday thinking that's your boating done for the day!!

In the OPs situation though - he booked a Friday night - then the weather turned so he wanted to move the booking - if I was in charge of berthing that weekend then my response would be
1) if it is peak season and the harbour will be booked out then I'd be happy to use the original fee paid against a berth for the new date - but it would be on first come/first served basis - ie I wouldnot hold a berth for him.
2) if it is off peak season and the harbour won't be booked out then I'd just move it as a "we don't usually do this sir, however .... "

Alright lets just use the local argument.

Saily boat leaves Pt Solent @ 0600
arrives Yarmouth 1400 and moors up.

saily boat leaves Lymington and arrives Pt Solent @ 1400 and goes in your berth.
Lyminton now has a berth to let @ 0600

OP leaves Pt Solent @ 1600 hrs after booking Yarmouth , berth at yarmouth stays empty all day and no one can berth in his berth because he has two for the day !

Yarmouth could have had two lunch sittings while he is sat on his berth !

I am amazed that I have to explain this to you dummies, you must be the same selfish burks that insist on parking over two parking bays cos you need to open your 4WD doors fully to allow for the balding 50 gut to exit.........and what did you mean by chance of a slanging match coming up

 

[fireball]

Alright lets just use the local argument.

Saily boat leaves Pt Solent @ 0600
arrives Yarmouth 1400 and moors up.

saily boat leaves Lymington and arrives Pt Solent @ 1400 and goes in your berth.
Lyminton now has a berth to let @ 0600

OP leaves Pt Solent @ 1600 hrs after booking Yarmouth , berth at yarmouth stays empty all day and no one can berth in his berth because he has two for the day !

Yarmouth could have had two lunch sittings while he is sat on his berth !

I am amazed that I have to explain this to you dummies, you must be the same selfish burks that insist on parking over two parking bays cos you need to open your 4WD doors fully to allow for the balding 50 gut to exit.........and what did you mean by chance of a slanging match coming up

Well - as you know we don't berth in a marina - so tough ... anyway ..
When we book we often state anticipated arrival time (afternoon/evening/lunchtime etc) ... and on entering Yarmouth we've been given a temporary berth for lunch ...
As for leaving your own marina berth - that is not part of this discussion however, I do know that Chichester and Port Solent ASK you when you're going to be back (in the autumn is usually the answer as we sometimes berth overwinter in one) ... so they do KNOW when you're going to be back...

So it's only the dummies who can't eat lunch without being tied up to something that suffer ... and because you all whiz about at 90knots you could easily find several berths anywhere along the southcoast (or north coast of france) in an hour ...