The local beach down here has had about 25 spaces to park cats for the past 20 years or so, and it has been recently shut down. All of the boats have had to move due to one incident. A few weeks ago an extreme high tide and a large south swell came up and washed a boat into the rocks. There was moderate hull damage. It's a known fact that during conditions like that it's best to set an anchor down the beach or better yet move the boat off of the sand and into the iceplant. Easy. And the warning is stated in the paperwork when you sign up for a spot. Several other boats set anchors and were fine.
Apparently, and this is info from (a source) I haven't been in contact the boat's owner to find out his side of the story, but the owner went straight to the city offices all pi**** off threatening to sue and whatnot. The city, like chef Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen said, "Shut it down!" And that's what they did. Gone forever.

The moral of the story: If you go around threatening to sue people, you might just bum out a really cool thing.

So he wanted to sue the city for his irresponsibility?

All these sue happy people in this country is crazy! There is always someone that can be blamed and sued for others stupidity.

Why doesn't he sue King Neptune?

tragic.

we are having to get permits for limited overnight parking, and getting new rules signed into law on july 2

But i should add the town has been very accommodating, and working with us.

I would get back in there and not let one person ruin it for all.

Not good as I have use Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara as an example to our locals that beachcats are good for the beach.

Oh well, I'll take this to the 'what have you done for cat sailing thread.

Beach Access is not a right... it's a privilege... and you probably have to pay for that privilege.

Our state park overlooked that requirement for Insurance liability coverage for them for the 36th annual regatta. This year they did not overlook that detail.. 800 bucks later they were covered but the cost of the game just went up for the sailors.

Luckily for me the other local cat friendly beach right in front of my shop which holds about 200 boats is safe for the moment. I've been waiting for the scenario above to play out here on Harbor Beach every time some yahoo makes a bad decision and gets their boat crushed in the surf. I hope it never happens...

Selfishly speaking, I gained a few more boats on Harbor Beach today. The cost of losing a very cool semi-secret launch spot just isn't worth it though.

J

Whats even more sad is that we wouldn't even be having this discussion were it not for our lawyer-happy society that has bred a generation of wasteful biomass that thinks that everything that happens is somebody else's fault.

Absolutely get in there and bring the rest of the fleet while the iron is hot.Sorry snieder I disagree with the privilage thing.They tried to dump the cats in Delray because of one guy with an ego,there was a camp-out system in place for 20 spaces ,a few guys went in to fight to save thier right to sail, not only did they not shut it down they raised it to 60 spaces.It could have gone the other way because the main complaint was homeowners did not want to see the masts across the road.We have had loads of scenarios where boats were not tied down or not tied down correctly during high tides ,freak swells and storms from Hurricanes.Sounds like this beach is in a commercial zone also where no real private damage can occur being across from the Ice factory.You have a natural right to use the beach it is not a privilage

Sure... Use the beach... I agree.

Store your boat on the beach... I don't think so. They have marinas and Yacht Clubs and public launches for that.

Some places allow storage on public property for local reasons ... Obviously it's a privilege because they tossed the cats off willy nilly, at the first provocation.
The natural right argument did not hold much water when it came to boat storage.

In this case the beach is now off limits to all vessels. There were tons of Kayakers, dingy sailors, and cat sailors that just lost access to the water. The next legit launch area is 1.5 miles North to the Harbor where my shop is and the next one south is Moss Landing about 15 miles. It's a short step for some bureaucrat to go from, you can't store your boat here, to no boats of any kind anywhere on the beach, which is what happened.

I just hate to see any access to the water lost. Here in CA there's definitely a shortage.

J

there is/was a carpark next to the thames in london that had signs all over it warning that during a spring tide and/or strong hurricane winds the whole place would flood

every time it did there were cars parked on it by people who said they didn't realise and complained

don't think they got very far...

sounds like your public service is a little broken

but i think we can all be proud of our broken public services in some respect

Personally I would consider contacting the other water users like the Kayakers and organise a very well thought out "drive" (don't want to write campaign) to get the beach access reinstated. It may just succeed after the local government feels satisfied that they have set an example. You may have to propose to form an club around that particular spot where you guys form a board and descipline your own members. Of course, not a single non-member will be allowed to park and launch there, that will be a key feature of any proposal to get it reinstated. This is what we have done overhere when it comes to kite surfing etc after a few incidents.

Wouter

I think you all should tar and feather the pinhead who didn't tie up his boat.

Even when it's important.... it can be hard to get the people to get involved..

I have been working for months (and also last year when it came up) with the local city attorney and parks dept. to get the newly proposed ordnances relaxed (from 2 over-nights a month to 2 nights a week). I have kept about 15 local cat sailors informed of the status (and for input).

when it went to city hall last week, and we had our ONLY chance to speak up... only a handful showed up ... and only 2 (myself included) actually spoke at the meeting... even though this is to preserve our ability to overnight park / camp on the islands.. it still didn't motivate the masses it would dramatically effect.

I think it is completely a privilege, and i expect as soon as someone gets hurt/sued it will end.

I think you are being a litle to kind to this person.... more like superglue and glass shard him (or her)

There is no public access in southwest Florida. To sail, I have to drive 2 hours to Gulfport.

Actually, Pete, there are plenty of places to launch here in Naples. The problem, of course, is that you aren't allowed to park your trailer anywhere.

I've seen plenty of cats up and down the beach with mast-up storage. I suspect most are rentals or private ones in front of the beach houses.

Guess I need to figure out a "roof rack" on my SmartCar that can handle an N20

Or a short-range, collapsible trailer that could be put up there.

That's not a Smartcar, it's the Barbie and Ken Dream-mobile that's taking up all your man-space. Your kids probably don't want you driving it!