February’s Harbour Board was dominated by discussion on the Harbour’s compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code. This is important business but, dear Reader, I will nevertheless spare you that.
The good news was that 2013 saw an increase at last in the number of visiting yachts, spread over a much longer season and reflecting, no doubt, the better weather both sides of the school holidays and perhaps also the attractions of the reduced ‘shoulder season’ prices. A longer season means less overcrowding in July and August and a better experience for everybody.
More good news is that the Harbour looks likely to be allowed soon to make Harbour Directions under the Marine Navigation Act 2013. Harbour Directions are similar to byelaws, although they relate only to vessels: but they should be much quicker to implement as they need only local consultation and do not require Department of Transport permission. The consultation machinery involves a Port User Group which, in Salcombe, will consist of two representatives from each of the five existing consultation fora (Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club; Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary Association (SKEA); the conservation forum; the shell fishermen; and the Salcombe and Kingsbridge business forum) together with Salcombe Yacht Club. This group will consider proposed Directions and make such recommendations as it wishes to the Harbour Board, but it cannot bind the Board.
The first Directions are likely to be to prohibit windsurfing in the main fairway in July and August; preventing yachts of 7m or over from sailing between the Salcombe Harbour Hotel and the Saltstone in July and August; and prohibiting scrubbing in such a way as might pollute the water. All this is expected to be non-controversial.
But there was a brief scurry of controversy when the person who so passionately advocated water-skiing in Widegates, just north of the Saltstone, suggested that he should become one of SKEA’s representatives to ensure that the voice of the large sport powerboating community was properly heard. That did not seem to go down well in SKEA and someone else looks likely to be nominated. However this did raise an interesting question: Salcombe is run for sailing boats; apart from me, all the independent members of the Harbour Board own yachts; and, as far as I know, none has a powerful speedboat. Does that matter? Frankly, I doubt it: my priority is to see a woman member on the Board.
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