Dartmouth Royal Regatta
Dart Harbour was delighted at the success of this year’s Dartmouth Regatta. Dart Harbour staff worked tirelessly over long hours to ensure the safety of river users in what is the busiest week of the year on the water.
As ever, the event produced some superb competition and exceptional entertainment.It was very pleasing to see our safety advice was heeded and water users responding to harbour staff instructions with many positive comments received.
We are already looking forward to next year’s events and the opportunity to create some more great memories.
Young Champions
Investigating the need for a bridge across the River Dart led to Dart Harbour awarding a second place prize for the first time in its annual Young Champions Awards.The prize was awarded to Year 4/5 children of Kingswear Primary who designed a questionnaire and carried out a public survey before evaluating the results to arrive at a balanced written argument.
The Primary category was won by Brixham C of E School whose pupils were inspired by a story about hidden treasures.
The standard of entries was so high this year that the judges also awarded a Highly Commended to Dartmouth Academy Years 3/4 and Broadhempston Primary Years 4/5/6.
In the Secondary category, the only entries came from Brixham College, which submitted around 20 photographic works by individual students.
All schools entering the competition took advantage of the free river trips offered by Dart Harbour in association with Greenway Ferries, using the three-hour trip as an inspiration to learn about the River Dart. The competition will run again next year and the Board hopes to offer free river trips to schools again in the spring. More information will be available in the autumn and it is hoped that more schools will use the competition as a basis for engaging students with the river.
Cruise ship visits
Dartmouth has hosted four cruise liner visits this summer and the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone involved must be congratulated.
Two of the four liners entered the river while two, Europa and Azamara Journey, anchored outside.In the case of each liner, DHNA has to make a safety related decision as to where the vessel will moor based on factors such as the length and manoeuvrability of the vessel, and the tidal situation.
In the case of both Europa and Azamara Journey, the tidal regime at the time and the lack of booked towage meant that it would have been dangerous to bring the vessels in with the arrival and departure times the liners required.
Dart Harbour is working strenuously to market the river to generate more cruise ship visits and I have several marketing trips planned to various companies over the forthcoming months to market the port.
It is also pleasing to note that of the two liners which did anchor outside the river this summer, one has already booked to return and the second has contacted us with full intentions of repeat business.
Forward Vision
Dart Harbour held two very positive public meetings last month discussing our Forward Vision proposals which will help shape the future of the River Dart over the next ten years.
The first meeting was held at Dartmouth Guildhall and the second at Totnes Boating Association with presentations from Plymouth University and board members presenting the results of the online survey which asked for river users’ views on the uses of the river.
The comments we received are now being collated and an action plan is being drawn up by our facilitating partner, Plymouth University.It must be noted that while the university is gathering the results and aiding Dart Harbour in its plan, any policies drawn up will remain the responsibility of the harbour board.
The Forward Vision plans are aimed at all users of the river, and an action plan will be unveiled in December at the Dart Harbour AGM.
Moorings policy
Dart Harbour’s current moorings policy runs from 2010 to 2015. At the beginning of the year we will be starting work on drafting the policy for 2016 to 2020.
A public consultation will take place from mid to late summer next year when the public will get a chance to comment on how Dart Harbour runs its moorings portfolio.
Winter maintenance
This includes significant work to the Kingswear dinghy rack improving access to the pontoon and safety related work to the pontoon structure.Additional walk ashore small boat berths will be created by the project.
The second section of our Kingswear deep water pontoons will be replaced – this follows on from work carried out in the Spring replacing the first section.
A new crane for Hercules has arrived and will soon be put to good use in the annual lifting and checking of all our moorings which will take place throughout the winter.
Engineering work will soon be beginning on the Town Jetty – this will mean a slightly reduced number of winter berths available.If anyone needs any help with winter berthing, please get in touch with the harbour office on (01803) 832337 or visit our website at www.dartharbour.org
Contact details
Please ensure Dart Harbour has all your or your agent’s correct contact details in case we need to contact you. Dart Harbour’s door is always open if you have any concerns.
First published By the Dart 2014