Firth of Clyde Forum Annual Conference 2007

The Growth Of Marine Leisure on The Firth Of Clyde

• Conference Home
• Conference Programmme
• Keynote Presentation
• Additional Presentations
  • The Growth Of Marine Leisure on The Firth of Clyde
  • Industry Initiatives
  • The Clyde’s Cool Seas: The Marine Conservation Society in Scotland
  • Paths Around the Water
  • Sailing in the Clyde Estuary
  • The Economy of the Coast
  • The Majestic Line
  • Marine Wildlife Watching on the Clyde: The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code
• Speakers' Biographies
• Conference Exhibitors

Carolyn Elder from Largs Yacht Haven described the growth of marine leisure on the Firth of Clyde and how the Clyde has become the second largest yachting centre in the UK.

Working in conjunction with the Scottish Sailing Institute Largs plays host to many national and international sailing events with a full calendar of events already in place until 2012.

The leisure scene in the 1970s consisted of approximately 1000 boats in the Clyde, with swinging moorings and limited use of boats, mainly between April and September. Upper Clyde boatyards were busy, yachtsmen wanted quiet anchorages and social life centred around Yacht Clubs. Boating was a low cost activity with few motorboats, no petrol available for boats and no service and repair centres for support. Only Troon, Kip and Rhu Marinas were in operation and yachts sailed mainly on the Clyde and used the Crinan Canal to access the west coast.

The leisure scene in 2007 has changed considerably. There are now very limited swinging moorings (Rhu, Gourock, Holy Loch, Fairlie) and 3000 boats in 8 marinas. The development of new berths at Largs, Ardrossan and Holy Loch has increased berthing capacity by 400%. The extended season means that there is much more use of boats and yachts are now sailing further afield due to improved technology. Visitor moorings and pontoons have improved the economy of island communities, eg Tarbert and Rothesay, but clubs are in decline due to marina activity. Marina costs have increased the boating budget but many jobs have been created to service yachts.

There has been a great increase in leisure activities include sailing and power boating, charter boats, tuition, diving, sea angling, sea kayaking, wildlife trips, river cruises and aerial viewing by sea plane.

Facts And Figures

UK

• 500,000 boats
• Boating tourism spend is approx £2 billion
• 7% of population (4 million people) participate
• 49,000 marina berths
• 236 coastal marinas
• 22,000 marine related jobs

Scotland

• 15,000 boats
• 20 coastal marinas
• 4200 marina berths
• Boating tourism spend is approx £250 million
• 7000 marine related jobs
• In Scotland sailing contributes the same amount to the economy as golf

The Clyde Estuary

• 5000 yachts
• 8 marinas
• 3000 marina berths
• Tourism spend is £44 million
• Resident berth holder spend is £8,000 pa
• Visitor spend per night is £130

Growth

The growth of the marine leisure industry is due to a number of reasons: increased disposable income; low cost flights to Prestwick and Glasgow; berthing costs are cheaper than the south coast; a marketing drive through Sail Scotland; Loch Lomond and Lake Windermere speed restrictions; a huge increase in power boating through aggressive sales companies; boats have become cheaper waterfront cottages; and, improved facilities for yachtsmen.

The Future Of Marine Leisure

Recently there has been a growth in water related events, including the Tall Ships 2011, the Glasgow River Festival and the QE2. The future holds: additional marina developments at Greenock, Glasgow Harbour, Port Bannatyne, Ardyne and Portavadie; increased visitor pontoons and moorings in small communities encouraged by an Industry Steering Group; benefits to the tourism sector from increased activity; more motor boats and RIBs; larger yachts; increasing charter and sailing schools; and, marinas becoming leisure destinations not just boat parks. However, the threat of diesel price increases could curtail motor boating.

What Next?

Marine leisure is now a major contributor to the local economy and sustainable jobs around the Firth of Clyde. We Need:

• More public investment in infrastructure in small communities
• Greater support to market Scotland as an international sailing destination
• Better training opportunities to develop skilled labour to support a growing industry

The Clyde is now the second largest yachting centre in the UK and Largs Yacht Haven, in conjunction with the Scottish Sailing Institute, has a full calendar of events already in place until 2012.

Further information on Yacht Havens including the Largs Yacht Haven can be found at www.yachthavens.com