"We do not charge for anchoring. We do charge harbour dues -and this is raised to pay for conservancy costs," responds Miles Carden, CEO of Falmouth Harbour. "As a trust port, we are financially independent receiving no money from the government and are required to raise all our operating funds from harbour users," he said.
Liveaboard sailor Jimmy Lawrence said he is among many British sailors "outraged at the rate in which charging to anchor in wild, tidal rivers is becoming the norm".
The 35-year-old from Cornwall, who sails a 35ft cat-ketch, said: "I had no desire to use their facilities at Falmouth Haven such as the dinghy park or shower block etc. I simply wanted to drop anchor on the river bed and go ashore. I will be writing to our King to uphold 'our rights to anchor for free' set down by his forefathers. I also encourage everyone in the sailing community to do the same. If enough of us write he will reply and order the harbour authorities to stick within the confines of the law."
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Shearwater sloop sailing in the 1960s
Genevieve Leaper shares her late father John Leaper's recollections-compiled from handwritten notes-of cruising the Channel
Timing an Atlantic crossing
Professional meteorologist and sailor Chris Tibbs shares his knowledge of how to choose the best time to sail 'across the pond'
Transatlantic first
It's 70 years since Ann Davison became the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic. Katy Stickland looks back at her achievement
Going dizzy on an island sailing odyssey
Ken Fowler becomes the first sailor to circumnavigate every island in England and Wales-and all done in a 4m dinghy!
Boats for coastal cruising
Duncan Kent chooses a selection of the best sail and motor boats under 40ft most suitable for adventurous cruising along the coast
Industry view on HVO
The RYA, IWA and CA are working to help recreational boating transition to a Net Zero future, as the CA's
HVO RENEWABLE DIESEL Myth or miracle?
A new generation of biofuel that's cleaner, greener, better for your engine and less prone to microbial growth sounds too good to be true... but the facts beg to differ
Little ships and the wrong sort of waves
Why the correct manoeuvres for the sea conditions will reduce hogging and sagging stress on both ship and crew
Watching boats, saving jerseys
It's amazing what you can see from a hospital window if it's the right hospital
Sweating the mooring asset
Sam Llewellyn looks at ways of getting top value out of his boat's swinging mooring
