From 1 April 2021, the slipway area at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth will be changed to a non-motorised vessel zone. This means PWC (Personal Water Craft) users wishing to launch will be directed to the nearest slipway in Weymouth Harbour, Commercial Road.
As the new zone arrangements come into effect, and to help make the use of our slipway easier and more efficient for motorised water activities, we are also launching a new online booking and payments system. Customers will be able to visit our website to book and pay for slipway, trailer and/or Motorised Watersports permits, either on the day or for days/weeks in advance.
To safely distinguish between the different water sports via separate sea channels, the Weymouth Bay Buoyage System was first set in place by former Weymouth Harbour Master Cmdr. Peter Tambling, RD*QAVS in 1991. The Weymouth system was approved for worldwide compliance by the International Maritime Organisation and has remained in place for 30 years.
Weymouth Harbour wants to achieve a successful balance between all coastal water activities and the users of Weymouth Bay. Consulting with organisations including Personal Watercraft Partnership, RNLI and Weymouth Town Council, we believe the zone changes will encourage the paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing communities in the Bowleaze Cove area and direct all PWC users wishing to launch to the slipway facilities in Weymouth Harbour, safely away from pedestrian beach users.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment at Dorset Council said:
“Since its introduction 30 years ago, and increasingly during the pandemic, Weymouth has seen a rise in both motorised and non-motorised watersports users.This is a fantastic boost for the water leisure industry, but also brings with it potential safety concerns and risk between the pedestrian beach users and watersports users, so it was time for the previous buoyage system to evolve.
I’m pleased with the balance that these new measures will bring and, on behalf of all the watersports users who visit Dorset’s biggest town regularly, want to thank Weymouth Harbour for their efforts that I know will be warmly received.”
Weymouth Harbour has already received positive feedback on the new scheme:
“I had chance this morning to bike down and take a look at the new area being allocated for PWC’s after the closure of the Bowleaze approach. I can honestly say I think this will be a major improvement for safety all round as the new area will be far quieter of holiday makers and beach goers in mid season. Also with the closure of the slipway at Bowleaze and therefore all ski’s having to launch from the harbour it far better to monitor and police. So yeah a 10 out of 10 from me.”
The Weymouth Harbour Team and Personal Watercraft Partnership have created updated signage and there are new Notice’s to Mariners in place, which all users of Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Bay should familiarise themselves with before going to sea.
Full zone chart and other information can be found on the harbour website.
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