[Randi]

The beach at the Surf Club had instituted a new rule that no Bimini chairs (those are the ones with the roofs on them) could go past the third row of huts. This actually worked out very well as it did allow more room for more lounges and the Bimini's didn't go flying all over the beach due to the wind.

However this year a whole new concept developed on the beach.... large canopied tents! This was troubling as there were about ten tents and unless something is done, I fear more will arrive next year. Here is the situation:

The tents get put up and they stay there for the duration of the stay. Many are attached to a tree which has/could be used by someone who would like a little shade and can't/don't get a hut. This in a sense is like a permanent reservation while the rest of us have to go down every morning and find a space for chairs. Some people started renting umbrellas which I don't have a problem with as they are taken out daily and that makes each day "fair game" as far as getting your area on the beach.

I was told by a "very reliable source" that the tents do need a permit from the government. When the government person was asked to come and issue permits originally they agreed but then said no once they heard there were ten tents to issue permits to. In addition, the police said they wouldn't be checking that the tents were removed nightly!

I worry that once people figure this out the beach will be over run with tents which makes things difficult and unfair to the rest of the beach users. While I certainly understand the issue of shade and not a lot of huts, the SC has lots of Bimini's to use and the huts/Palapas also take up a lot of space at the beach which minimizes the area for the rest of the people to use the beach.