HACI: Recreational Moorage and Winch usage on Cortes Island

Roy L Hales. Cortes Currents - Moorage for recreational boats is even more limited on Cortes Island this year and vessels intending to stay more than 3 nights must make prior arrangements with the Harbour Authority Cortes Island. In addition, Small Craft Harbours regulations for using winches have changed. The manual winches at Mansons Landing and Whaletown have been decommissioned. The winch at the Squirrel Cove dock is available for commercial users who make prior arrangements through the Harbour Authority. The general public is no longer allowed access except through certified staff provided by the Harbour Authority.     “Over the last few years, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of requests for moorage spaces.  We are Small Craft Harbors owned facilities and so we are mandated to provide priority mortgage to commercial fishing vessels, aquaculture and then other commercial vessels. If there is space available after those priority needs have been met, we offer it to the community,” explained Harbourmaster Jenny Hartwick. “There's more and more applicants for the limited  number of spaces that we have available for recreational moorage at every one of the docs. And so we just want to remind users that if you are looking for  anything over 3 nights mortgage at 1 of our docs, you must apply in advance and you must have a signed and approved moorage agreement in place.” “Several of the docks on Cortez are now full for the summer season. We are no longer taking mortgage requests for the Whaletown Dock or the Cortes Bay Dock. We do have some long term recreational spots available still at Mansons and at Squirrel Cove, but again, as the season progresses, those spaces do fill up. So please reach out to the Harbour Authority and ensure the documentation is in place prior to bringing your vessel to the dock.”  “Small Craft Harbours recently changed their requirements for winch usage.” “We have removed the manual derricks at the Mansons and Whaletown docks. At this point in time, those winches have been decommissioned. They are owned by Small Craft Harbours. We're waiting to hear what their plan is for those pieces of infrastructure.” “In order to access the winches or the derricks on the Squirrel Cove dock, you now need to be a commercial user and provide proof of WCB coverage  as well as sign a winch user agreement with the Harbour Authority. The winch is no longer available for drop-in public use without first contacting the Harbor Authority. We can still arrange that we do have certified trained staff who will come down and have to be on site if the winch is being operated by a non-commercial user. Please reach out to the Harbour Authority. We can facilitate that.”