Dorset harbours experience fall in visiting boats

Weymouth Harbour has experienced an unprecedented drop in visiting boats this year and is likely to end the year with a loss – although slipway income has more than doubled.

Figures before the next harbour’s committee show 1,597 visiting boat nights this year, compared to 5,126 in 2019, according to the Dorset Echo.

But the report highlights slipway income up from £6,170 in 2019 to £15,800 as people rushed to the harbour during the good weather, with a similar increase, from £3,450 to £6,490 for jet ski launches.

Bridge lifts were down year on year – from 1,105 to 835, as demand dropped for larger vessels using the inner marina.

West Bay is reporting a similar pattern to Weymouth – with a drop in season ticket sales and visiting boats, but an increase in single launches, while at Lyme Regis season ticket sales went up from 39 to 54 and single launches went down from 217 to 213.

Budget figures for all three harbours have been affected by the unusual season.

At Weymouth, income is currently put at £113,700 with expenditure at £268,300 – producing a deficit of around £154,600; West Bay’s figures show an income of £21,200 with £44,200 in expenditure; while at Lyme Regis the end of year position is expected to be favourable, by about £6,000.