All,
If you are planning to come to Weymouth then please read on because I need some decisions from you! I need to know:
1. Do you want to keep your boat in the marina or store it on its trailer at the Academy each night? (See below for full background to this, but for 20' boats the cost is the same and I suggest we use the marina).
2. What you do want to eat on the Saturday night (menu attached)?
That's the short version. Here's the full update & background...
I spent this afternoon at Portland while Oliver (son) was sailing there. The Sailing Academy are expecting us and, subject to space, they should be able to allocate us a dedicated area for rigging, etc. The Academy's standard charges (
http://www.wpnsa.org.uk/day-membership ) give you temporary membership and provides full access to their facilities. However, I have asked for a reduced rate for those who will keep their boat in the marina and thus won't require repeated use of the slipway and the Academy's facilities. They agreed to that and while the cost will be dependent on how many boats want this arrangement I assume it will be approximately the £15.75 Launch/Recovery fee on their website. That means for those attending for 2 or 3 days with anything bigger than a Trouper it is now the same cost or cheaper to use the marina rather than launch/recover each day and store the boat overnight in the Academy.
I then spoke to the marina and negotiated a 5% discount if 5 or more boats use the marina - standard cost is £2.95/m/night. I felt flushed with success until I realised the discount was worth 90p per night per boat! If a group of us wants to use the marina then they should be able to put us together on a group of finger pontoons.
Unless you want to launch/recover each day then, given the costs are the same, I recommend using the marina because the facilities are excellent, it is even more secure than the Academy and, of course, gives immediate access to the water. I think it would be great to have the boats all moored together at the marina. If possible please let me know whether you want to use the marina or will recovery your boat each day and store overnight at the Academy. You can decide on the weekend, but it would help if I can confirm rough numbers in advance.
While at the Academy I asked whether the £18 charge for campervans still applies for those who have also paid for day membership. That was on the basis that I think you're paying for the facilities twice. Unfortunately there is no discount for day members. Therefore, for anyone considering whether to sleep in a campervan at the Academy versus on your boat in the marina I would definitely opt for the latter. The marina's facilities are better - the Academy's showers/loos are like sports centre changing rooms whereas the marina is much smarter - and you save £18/night.
To whet your appetite I have attached 3 photos taken today from the Academy cafe's balcony. These show the Academy's slipways, the marina, Portland harbour in the background and then the open sea and coast beyond that. Let's hope for weather like this but with a tad more wind!
On the Saturday night we are eating at Harbour Lights restaurant. This is immediately next to and overlooks the marina. I spoke to the restaurant today and we agreed that it would be best if you could all pre-order food. This isn't essential but if most of us can decide food orders in advance then that should make things run more smoothly on the night. Attached to this post is a PDF of their menus - there is an à la carte menu and bistro menu (you can mix the two). Please send me an email or forum message with your orders.
I promised Paul that I would check out the Pebble Bank and Swallows' Rest camp sites. Both look OK if not inspiring. You drive through a housing estate to get to Swallows' Rest and that feels a bit odd! The camp site is a well maintained field that has great views over Chesil Bank to the sea. Look behind you and you see that estate but the views on the other 3 sides make up for that. The land around the camping field is a bit scrubby but as a place to camp it's OK and the closest to the sailing. A photo is attached of the Swallows' Rest field. Pebble Bank is a larger and smarter site. It is mainly a site of static caravans but also has a touring field. The area around the site is a bit less scruffy than with Swallows' Rest although you are surrounded by static vans. Neither would be my first choice for a camping holiday but they look fine if you just want somewhere to camp when not sailing.
For those staying in the Royal Breakwater hotel I took the opportunity to walk there from the restaurant. It only takes 8 minutes and is flat so if you want a drink I recommend you leave your car at the hotel or marina/Academy (free and plentiful parking at both) and walk. I will provide a map nearer the time!
So, I would be grateful if you could let me know the following, if possible by Saturday 28th June:
1. Assuming the costs are as described above, do you want to use the marina or store your boat on its trailer at the Academy each night?
2. What you do want to eat on the Saturday night?
Let me know if you have any questions but I will be providing more details during the week before the rally.
