Boat Park Security

Published 16:16 on 4 Mar 2018

As the season draws closer, the issue of boat park security is still very much on your General and Sailing Committees minds. We have now met with the local marine police who will be keeping a closer eye on things. Also your reports of thefts and damage are getting through to the land police who are making more frequent visits to Oyster Tank Road, so please continue to formally report any theft or damage online via https://report.police.uk/?asb as it helps the police to build a picture for any future prosecutions.

Most importantly of all, please remove all loose equipment from your boats between outings. We know its a pain to have to take things home, but the boat park is impossible to secure and all equipment is left at the owner's risk so the less you leave the better. Also if you are leaving your boat on a road trailer please ensure you fit a ball hitch or wheel trailer lock so its not easy for someone to just hitch up and drive off. Simple hitch locks are available from Amazon, etc, for just £10-20, which is so much less than the cost of a new trailer.

Finally, please can we ask everyone to continue to be vigilant. We know that the person or persons undertaking many of these thefts and acts of vandalism clearly knows about sailing as they don't just steal things, but they have on several occasions removed top quality equipment and replaced it with old equipment and ropes, and in doing so they have re-rigged kicker and outhaul systems and other gear which you would only be able to do if you knew about sailing. If you see someone in the dinghy park apparently changing gear on a boat you don't think belongs to them please immediately speak to an officer of the club or call the Commodore, Fiona Brown, on 07711 718470 (please do not take the risk of confronting them directly on your own).

We all very much hope that the new see an end to this spate of theft and vandalism, but please do all you can to help us catch the culprits if they still haven't got the message.

Thanks!

Last updated 12:29 on 4 March 2024