I was until recently chairman of the Westerly Owners Association SW and currently am responsible for the organisation of the Dartmouth part of the 2018 Westerly National Cruise which takes place in June.
The part of Nick Walbridge’s letter, May 15, that refers to Westerly Owners Association is totally erroneous.
I registered the cruise with the harbour authority at the end of 2017, I have recently passed to them full details of the 19 boats that have registered to attend and the harbour authority has reserved pontoon spaces for all the boats.
The harbour authority has never declined to accommodate our fleet. We have had a number of very successful visits to Dartmouth in past years.
The 2018 National Cruise fleet is not scheduled to visit Salcombe, it is booked to visit Plymouth, Fowey and Falmouth, there will be 20-plus boats at each port. WOA always take care to avoid regattas and the busiest times of the year and as far as I am aware the Westerly National Cruise has never exceed 40 boats.
I do not know Mr Walbridge and have had no contact with him – he is not a registered member of WOA. Will you please publish this letter as a correction as Mr Walbridge’s letter reflects badly on the Westerly Owners Association and the harbour authority.
John Alker
The Keep Gardens, Dartmouth