I was neither shocked or surprised.....The gin swilling platforms / caravans pay them good money, and are knee deep on the waiting lists. From what I hear, a lot of marinas are trying to price out the smaller and less shiney boats, as well to make space for the higher profit plastic fantastic!

Still maybe you can take solace in this thought? If they build more marinas, and fill 'em up with all the shiny gin swilling platforms / caravans, it will make more room on the water for proper sailing folk, cos the aforementioned as you say, hardly ever go anywhere!

You could possibly without too much difficulty, find yourself a nice mud berth, and chances are that it will be very much cheaper, and more peaceful?.......I mean, do you really want to have to put up with a bunch of hooray henrys?