Our very own Jonny Boys recently had the absolute pleasure of being invited to share his ideas with Jo Cox, Harbour Master, and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy about the future of boating. As someone who grew up sailing in Chichester Harbour, Jonny’s passion for the water runs deep. His presentation focused on finding the perfect balance between tradition and sustainability.
In his talk, Jonny shared his personal connection to Chichester Harbour, where his love for boating began. He explained how we can keep the harbour’s natural beauty while also embracing new technologies and ideas. “The future of boating isn’t just about trends or new tech. It’s about making sure harbours like ours can grow in a way that respects the past while looking ahead to the future.”
A big part of Jonny’s vision is making boating easier and more eco-friendly for everyone. He talked about how electric and hybrid boats, flexible boating options, and community hubs could all be part of Chichester Harbour’s future. Jonny asked, “Why wouldn’t we have harbours where everyone can enjoy the water on their own terms by 2030?”
Jonny also highlighted the trend towards flexible, eco-friendly boating. Many people are choosing practices like dry sailing or joining boat clubs instead of owning a boat full-time. He mentioned the great changes made at Trafalgar Wharf in Portsmouth before its sale in November 2023, like solar farms and electric charging stations, which support greener boating.
Jonny stressed how important education is for responsible boating. “We need to explain the ‘why.’ Boaters who understand how their actions affect the environment are more likely to follow the rules and help protect our harbours,” he said. By focusing on education rather than just rules, we can all help take care of Chichester Harbour for future generations.
Jonny took the time to re-record his presentation so we could share it with a wider audience. You can watch the full presentation here.
We’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or get in touch with us!
Thank you again to the Chichester Harbour Conservancy for the warm invitation and for the great conversations had around the subject.
The Trafalgar Group, Northshore Boatyard,
West Itchenor, Chichester, PO20 7AY, United Kingdom
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