Anchoring charges and the law

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners has defended charging £15 a night to a boat owner who complained about "being made to pay to anchor", despite having no intention of using facilities ashore.

- Paul Benns

"We do not charge for anchoring. We do charge harbour dues -and this is raised to pay for conservancy costs," responds Miles Carden, CEO of Falmouth Harbour. "As a trust port, we are financially independent receiving no money from the government and are required to raise all our operating funds from harbour users," he said.

Liveaboard sailor Jimmy Lawrence said he is among many British sailors "outraged at the rate in which charging to anchor in wild, tidal rivers is becoming the norm".

The 35-year-old from Cornwall, who sails a 35ft cat-ketch, said: "I had no desire to use their facilities at Falmouth Haven such as the dinghy park or shower block etc. I simply wanted to drop anchor on the river bed and go ashore. I will be writing to our King to uphold 'our rights to anchor for free' set down by his forefathers. I also encourage everyone in the sailing community to do the same. If enough of us write he will reply and order the harbour authorities to stick within the confines of the law."