Council confirm visitor moorings available ahead of sailing season
Posted on 29 Mar 2023
BOATING and sailing enthusiasts will be welcomed into our islands over the coming weeks after it was confirmed visitor moorings will be available.
North Ayrshire Council has agreed a three-year contract with North West Marine to install, maintain and repair the visitor moorings at Arran and Cumbrae.
These are set to be available from Easter throughout the sailing season until October.
The Council provide visitor moorings as part of an economic development and regeneration initiative to promote the marine tourism sector of North Ayrshire and to encourage boats to visit the islands and support local businesses and communities.
The moorings are for visitor use only and are located at Millport, Brodick, Lochranza, Pirnmill and Whiting Bay.
A visitor is welcome to berth for up to three nights on a visitor mooring.
For longer stays visitor berthing is available at Lamlash and at Largs Yacht Haven, Fairlie Quay Marina, and Clyde Marina at Ardrossan.
The Council’s visitor moorings are blue hippo-type buoys to be used on a first come, first-served basis.
Boats must weigh no more than 15 tonnes to berth on a mooring. Visitors are responsible for ensuring that their vessel is suitably moored and does not interfere with other moorings or vessels. Local boats, dinghies and other marine craft are asked to leave the moorings free for visiting and cruising boats.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change, said: “This is really great news for our island communities who rely so much on tourism over the warmer months. It’s really important that we are welcoming and visiting boats and cruising charters have the option to stay rather than to move on elsewhere.
“We have some of the best views and coastlines in the country and our islands are always a popular destination for sailing and boating enthusiasts. We are sure they will be delighted that they will have the opportunity to leave their boat in a safe and secure spot so they can relax and explore what our islands have to offer.”
Please ensure you understand how to pick up a mooring safely before you set off. We would encourage you to visit:
- how-to-pick-up-a-mooring-buoy-under-sail (rya.org.uk)
- how-to-pick-up-a-mooring-buoy-under-power (rya.org.uk)
We ask that all sailors visiting North Ayrshire to protect the environment and take their litter home for recycling. For information on how to operate your boat in an environmentally sustainable manner, please visit www.thegreenblue.org.uk.
For information regarding personal, commercial or association moorings visit the Crown Estate Scotland website at https://www.crownestatescotland.com/scotlands-property/coastal/marine-leisure
General Information, http://www.welcome-anchorages.co.uk/view-publication/ and https://sailscotland.co.uk/
Contacts: North Ayrshire Council, contactus@north-ayrshire.gov.uk