Good news from Mull

[JumbleDuck]

From a BBC story today (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-45783984):

I don't know what THA want to do at Aros (a lovely spot which I hope is not to be spoiled) but it will be great to have proper shore facilities at Ulva.

 

[Quandary]

The Ulva thing seemed like a bit of overkill to me, with long term resident boats and the pontoons reserved for the Treshnish bound trip boats there now seem to be only about 2 berths for visitors, last June there were two available but one of those was being used by a liveaboard while the rest were only available for a short stay until the trip boats which seem to have relocated there from Dervaig came back; combined with the tide ripping past it is good that there are so many attractive anchorages close by. But the facilities building will be a big benefit to the day tripper business so not a waste of money, just a limited yachty benefit, and after all day trippers contribute more to the local economy.
I am not happy about Aros Park either, I think THA should leave it alone, but £99k. will not be enough to change things too much.

Yours sincerely
A grumpy old git.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The Ulva thing seemed like a bit of overkill to me, with long term resident boats and the pontoons reserved for the Treshnish bound trip boats there now seem to be only about 2 berths for visitors, last June there were two available but one of those was being used by a liveaboard while the rest were only available for a short stay until the trip boats which seem to have relocated there from Dervaig came back; combined with the tide ripping past it is good that there are so many attractive anchorages close by.

Wasn't like that at all when we were there in July. The only long-term boat was a steel one belonging to Mark Millward, who is restoring it there. Since he is the berthing master, it means he is around all the time, which is A Good Thing. The other side of his finger, both sides of the central finger, the inside of the commercial berth (and the outside overnight) plus three spaces along the pontoon were all free for visitors, so that's, erm, seven slots during the day and eight overnight. Plus they'll put another boat between the two at fingers if they have to, which makes it nine/ten.

About half the visitors I have met there chose to anchor north or south of the pontoons, which they used as a dinghy landing place. That works well too.

There is some confusion about the tour boats. They are supposed to use the outside of the far finger, but generally prefer to use the main pontoon instead. They are very friendly, though, and when we were there they were entirely happy to go where they were supposed to when necessary. I think you must just have been there at a bad time.

I am not happy about Aros Park either, I think THA should leave it alone, but £99k. will not be enough to change things too much.

It depends what they want to do and what the alternative might have been ... turning the area into a private estate, keep out, would have been a bad thing. I suppose they might restore the pier and put pontoons in, but is the sort of person who wants pontoons going to want them a mile and a half of stiff walking from the Mishnish?

 

[scruff]

The Aros corner would be enhanced by a couple of showers ashore - it's a nice corner to stop in and there are already a number of moornings an is a nice sheltered spot to stop, but it's a long dinghy ride to the current shower block.

I also noticed a number of moorings inside the designated anchor area just off the pontoon which is less well appreciated - but that's another point entirely.

 

[Quandary]

I also noticed a number of moorings inside the designated anchor area just off the pontoon which is less well appreciated - but that's another point entirely.

Yes,I noticed that too, in conversation with the new harbourmaster I got the impression he was not too bothered, I suppose because you rarely see anyone anchoring there. It would be a shame if after going to the trouble of clearing a space with moderate depths and close to the pontoon a few years back that it would be lost now. Tob can be busy at weekends with all the moorings taken by early evening but many boats anchor out in deep water, or down at Aros. I think that the problem is that it is not obvious that there is safe depth right up to the shore and more space than perceived on approach.