Parking on mid stream pontoon

[Geoff Shilling]

The is a likely hood of more boat damage especially oars and gates. If you want a place to change crews an alternative is Fouly Island near to pontoon. Please avoid pontoon. Geoff

[Anne3]

Dear Geoff and all, Please may I ask that if we do that we avoid areas where birds are roosting. I fear it would reflect badly on the Club if we were seen to put up clouds of resting wildfowl and waders from this important sanctuary. Many thanks, Anne. Apologies if this post is out of order.

[Geoff Shilling]

Hi Ann. I don’t think us popping into Fowler Island with have much effect on birds roosting. Nothing went up when we popped in at high water. Geoff

[nigel]

The name of the island is FOWLEY island, and yes I think Anne has a good point. Birds ( in this case Brent geese) WERE put up yesterday from their feeding grounds as our group travelled towards the pontoon changeover point.
 I, and my crew in Lady, noted the steady stream of Brent travelling overhead towards Northney farm fields, the Brent having decided to quit the area to the west of FOWLEY island as we passed to the south of that area.
Re:- the pontoon in Emsworth channel near FOWLEY RYTHE. We can still visit other landing points which don't prejudice the wildlife we so like and love to see in the harbour.
 There are at least 4 obvious ones in Emsworth, the most obvious being the Conservancy pontoon at Fisherman's Hard, (but not the EYC, which has restricted entry during covid) and there are ones at Langstone (other than our start point) and Northney which are suitable for different wind directions. We just need to be careful of the boats in landing/mooring-up situations.

[James Griffin]

Hi Everybody
I live in Northney and walk my dog all round here every day of the year.
The Brent Geese follow the tides ,there is nothing for them to eat at high tide so they fly to the farmers fields that have been planted with winter wheat etc and feed on that . The farmer is allowed to fire bird scarers to drive the geese away and does so on a regular basis but the geese come back. When the tide is out/falling/rising the geese get to the mud to feed on the crustaceans contained therein. Same goes for all the other waders etc
I can walk right past very large flocks of geese, I have counted up to 5,000, with my dog off the lead and we all keep a respectful distance from each other and the geese keep munching the growing (when it's warm) shoots.Much to the farmers displeasure.
They will all leave for Northern Russia in the spring and come back in the autumn as they do every year
Wildlife and humans live together. Boats or no boats. Jet skis are banned in Chichester Harbour .The speed for other boats is 8 knots.
Roosting ,by the way ,takes place at night time.But they will seek shelter from the elements usually in the old lake opposite the new housing development at the site of the old holiday camp or/and opposite the marina.      

[John Child]

Geoff writes of 'more boat damage'. For those of us not there could we know what happened,  why it happened, and lessons learned to avoid it happening again rather than just avoiding pontoons. Names do not have to be named nor blame attributed!!

[nigel]

There was no damage, John.
.....

[Geoff Shilling]

There was no damaged last time at pontoon , but the gates get stuck under the pontoon. When I was there last the movement in the boat allowed the boat to get stuck under the pontoon. It is very difficult to place fenders in a satisfactory position. However on the previous occasion there was a broken oar. Geoff