Moorings in anchorages

[dunedin]

You either pay directly an annual fee to the Crown Estates, or pay a fee to a mooring association who pay the crown estates as part of a “group deal”.

The crown estates fee is low enough that it wouldn’t worry anyone who was going to the trouble of having a mooring laid (and periodically serviced), even if you only used it very occasionally.

There are moorings which rarely if ever get used, but I’ve not been aware of it being the issue that was presented a few posts ago. I’m always cynical when someone complains about their workload - if nobody was applying for moorings they wouldn’t have a job. Perhaps he meant that they are so busy with admin they don’t have time to do site visits? I wasn’t aware of them ever routinely visiting - do they own boats to do that in?

There used to be a Crown Estates guy who inspected the moorings regularly in his kayak, an ideal boat for the purpose.

 

[Aja]

I don't know about "antisocial" scope but was in Canna the other week and one of the yachts there looked as though they let the anchor hit the bottom then stopped no 2 / 3 or 4 times depth . At least there was no wind that night.

Canna is well known for that. They probably believed the anchor was well dug in......



...... the kelp knew better!

 

[ylop]

There used to be a Crown Estates guy who inspected the moorings regularly in his kayak, an ideal boat for the purpose.

That sounds like a great job - wonder where I can apply! I'd be amazed though if someone hasn't done a lone working risk assessment on that and killed it off.

 

[Kelpie]

My figures might be out of date but it used to be £40/yr to the CE if you had ten or more moorings organised as an association, or £80/yr for an individual mooring. Some moorings associations charge more but that's up to them.
In the quieter parts of the west coast it's seen as somewhat optional...

 

[ylop]

My figures might be out of date but it used to be £40/yr to the CE if you had ten or more moorings organised as an association, or £80/yr for an individual mooring. Some moorings associations charge more but that's up to them.
In the quieter parts of the west coast it's seen as somewhat optional...

Your figures are right for 2023 but it will increase from next April to £110 or £55 via a mooring association.

 

[Kelpie]

Your figures are right for 2023 but it will increase from next April to £110 or £55 via a mooring association.

I suppose somebody's got to pay for Charlie's hat.

 

[dgadee]

Found a map of where they seem to be:

Marine Scotland - National Marine Plan Interactive

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The information on charts is just that - information. The anchorage symbol doesn't have any official or legal force - it merely denotes locations where anchoring is usual or common so that boats can keep a lookout for anchor lights etc. On the West Coast of Scotland, there are many places where anchoring is possible and even desirable that have no "anchorage" symbol; it doesn't mean you can't use them, and conversely, moorings can be laid anywhere the Crown Estates permit, providing the relevant fee is paid. The symbol doesn't even mean the location is recommended - it merely means "look out for anchored boats".

I join those who suggest that on the West Coast of Scotland, a 6-1 scope is both anti-social and unnecessary. Loch Ranza is well known to be inappropriate in certain wind directions; there are no "all-weather" anchorages on Arran, except possibly Lamlash. I would never go there without checking that winds in the wrong quarter weren't forecast. Of course, the moorings laid in Loch Ranza are laid with that in mind and are secure (or should be) but they will be exceptionally uncomfortable in some wind directions.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Does anyone know what the legal situation is regarding anchorages shown on admiralty charts? I ask because recently we have tried to use a couple of designated anchorages around Arran - the attached example image is from the Memory Map/UK Hydrographic Office chart of Lochranza. The anchorage area is clearly shown on the chart, but in fact there are now at least six mooring buoys within that area. Which makes it totally unusable when using a 6x rode. Highly necessary here - an anchored yacht was blown onto the rocks earlier this year.

Any advice gratefully received!

Can you not just grab an empty mooring?

 

[dunedin]

Can you not just grab an empty mooring?

Would you put your boat on an unknown mooring overnight? That is taking a big chance.
Many “moorings” in some of these locations are for temporary use and/or for lightweight boats like small RIBs. Very difficult to tell what lies under a mooring.
A few years back I observed a very antisocial yacht owner come in to that location, Loch Ranza, and finding all the visitor moorings occupied it picked up a private mooring further inshore (probably a RIB mooring). Then it decided to “test” the mooring - it engaged reverse gear and pulled the mooring 150m out of position, before simply dropping the mooring and motoring out again. Sheer wilful vandalism.

 

[Minchsailor]

Can you not just grab an empty mooring?

No. As @dunedin says. you have no idea of when it was last serviced, and what is under the water. Very unwise. If you do, should not leave the boat unattended in case the owner returns.

But if you cruise the area, and get to know the locals I have found that I have often been invited to use various moorings.

There is an argument, that as moorings limit the area for anchoring, that subject to careful assessment that borrowing a mooring is OK. Not sure where this comes from.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Would you put your boat on an unknown mooring overnight? That is taking a big chance.
Many “moorings” in some of these locations are for temporary use and/or for lightweight boats like small RIBs. Very difficult to tell what lies under a mooring.
A few years back I observed a very antisocial yacht owner come in to that location, Loch Ranza, and finding all the visitor moorings occupied it picked up a private mooring further inshore (probably a RIB mooring). Then it decided to “test” the mooring - it engaged reverse gear and pulled the mooring 150m out of position, before simply dropping the mooring and motoring out again. Sheer wilful vandalism.

In a place like Loch Ranza, I would check with the organization operating the landing pontoon; ISTR there are contact details at the place where they request donations. There are also quite a few of the usual blue visitor moorings (there are 12, see Lochranza Pontoon), which are maintained and suitable for much heavier boats than mine! Loch Ranza is not the end of the world, and despite my comments about it being an unsafe anchorage in some wind directions, it is one of only three possible havens on Arran (the others being Brodick Bay and Lamlash), and consequently has a local yachting community.

 

[Skip 52]

I’m always cynical when someone complains about their workload - if nobody was applying for moorings they wouldn’t have a job. Perhaps he meant that they are so busy with admin they don’t have time to do site visits? I wasn’t aware of them ever routinely visiting - do they own boats to do that in?

To be fair to the Crown Estates Liaison Officer, he was not complaining about the workload. He merely mentioned the problems to indicate the pressures on space.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I think it is a positive sign that some folks show concern for loss of anchor spaces and that the CE try and maintain anchorages, where moorings could encroach. We carry out our sailing in a time of many threats to our pastime.

 

[vic008]

Slightly the OT. Here in NZ the marine depth has reminded everyone that a lookout is to be maintained at all times incl at anchor, all night long blah, blah blah. Unbelievable!