Arran Visitor Moorings

earlybird

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At the weekend there weren't any of the usual blue visitors' moorings in either Loch Ranza or Brodick.
I'd have expected them for Easter.
Anyone know if/ when they are to be put in position
 
At the weekend there weren't any of the usual blue visitors' moorings in either Loch Ranza or Brodick.
I'd have expected them for Easter.
Anyone know if/ when they are to be put in position

Snap, caught us out too -- plus the ones in Millport are also missing. I'm sure they've alway been out by this time off year before, but no idea why this year is different.
 
It's the local council who are responsible for the moorings.http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/home.aspx

Not sure this can be the explanation because although the Brodick ones are (I think) run by Argyll and Bute, Millport must be Ayrshire County Council, and according to the 2015 welcome moorings publication the Lochranza ones are now run by a local community group.
 
Same - tried both Arran locations also. I also saw that the pontoon at Lochranza is shorter than usual, with the outer section missing. The entrance was fenced-off. Does the pontoon get taken away in winter? I quite fancied going ashore for a while on Friday.

Anyone got any tips on where to anchor at Lamlash? The moorings take all the sensible depth places and I didn't fancy anchoring in 20+ meters! Ended up at Holy Isle, which was lovely on Friday eve.
 
Same - tried both Arran locations also. I also saw that the pontoon at Lochranza is shorter than usual, with the outer section missing. The entrance was fenced-off. Does the pontoon get taken away in winter? I quite fancied going ashore for a while on Friday.

Anyone got any tips on where to anchor at Lamlash? The moorings take all the sensible depth places and I didn't fancy anchoring in 20+ meters! Ended up at Holy Isle, which was lovely on Friday eve.

The Lochranza pontoon is beached behind the castle during winter so maybe just not in place yet.
 
Not sure this can be the explanation because although the Brodick ones are (I think) run by Argyll and Bute, Millport must be Ayrshire County Council, and according to the 2015 welcome moorings publication the Lochranza ones are now run by a local community group.

No Brodick is also looked after by North Ayrshire they took over from HIDB . I suppose you could ask the council what's happening.
 
Anyone got any tips on where to anchor at Lamlash? The moorings take all the sensible depth places and I didn't fancy anchoring in 20+ meters! Ended up at Holy Isle, which was lovely on Friday eve.

It's like that all the way up the west coast. Privatisation of the sea bed via mooring chains. The Crown Estate don't seem to be too worried about it despite their claim, "our unique licensing system manages the provision of mooring space for the benefit of all marine users".
 
I spoke to a lady in the local council office on Arran today. She said they were due to go in last week but there has been some delay. I'm guessing it's down to contractors as the council don't do boats. She said they are due in very soon and will let me know when they are. You can also see them from here Once in place. https://www.millerstewart.com/page/arran-webcam?token=YXJyYW5wcm9wZXJ0eS5jby51aw==. How lovely does that look today?
 
I spoke to a lady in the local council office on Arran today. She said they were due to go in last week but there has been some delay. I'm guessing it's down to contractors as the council don't do boats. She said they are due in very soon and will let me know when they are. You can also see them from here Once in place. https://www.millerstewart.com/page/arran-webcam?token=YXJyYW5wcm9wZXJ0eS5jby51aw==. How lovely does that look today?
Thanks for following up. Info appreciated.
 
Easter was fairly early this year - I wonder if that's why. We had a lovely Easter week cruise around the Inner Sound but the pontoon at Kyle was in pieces and moorings at both Broadford and Plockton looked as if they were in need of a bit of post winter TLC. There didn't seem to be any other boats about, either!CheersPatrick
 
yup no bouys loch ranza , brodick , but there were some at Lamlash , unfortunately wind hadnt seen forecast and we anchored in blissful calm and roasting sunshine on sunday

mooring a catacol hotel was soo mussle encrusted didnt take penant aboard , hinted it hadnt been serviced a while .
 
yup no bouys loch ranza , brodick , but there were some at Lamlash , unfortunately wind hadnt seen forecast and we anchored in blissful calm and roasting sunshine on sunday

mooring a catacol hotel was soo mussle encrusted didnt take penant aboard , hinted it hadnt been serviced a while .

Lamlash visitor mooring are run by the sailing club so they are probably a bit more on the ball than the council.
 
Ah. I was at the lifeboat stn on Saturday and tied for 1/2hr to an unoccupied mooring. How do I recognize the public ones?
Irate owner shouting abuse at you , i would only ever use someone elses mooring in a dire emergency or of cause their permission and expect the same with mine .
 
i would only ever use someone elses mooring in a dire emergency or of cause their permission and expect the same with mine .

... and here we go again! Visitor's moorings are usually in a line and have uniform colour buoys - often blue - and often marked with the tonnage they will hold. Private moorings are the other ones. If using a private mooring consider the size of the junk as to suitability for your vessel, its coverage of weed/mussels as an indicator of its service history - a clean junk means it's in use and the owner may be back soon, and be prepared to move instantly if the owner returns.

I and many others have absolutely no objection to our moorings being used when we are away but get a tad miffed if we come back to an abandoned squatter. For more information search the site for "lassoing mooring buoys".
 
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