West Highland Anchorages and Moorings Association

News

Coll

After a short period when visitors moorings were not available at Arinagour, Coll CMAL have stepped in and replaced the former moorings with new moorings, anchors and risers. Some adjustment to their position may be necessary but the main thing is they are back in place. Payment is by honesty box on the stone pier or at the hotel.

Branra Rock

The old unlit basket beacon on Branra Rock near the entrance to Loch Creran has been replaced by NLB with a modern lit beacon. This is undoubtedly a plus but the new beacon is surprisingly difficult to pick out in daylight from certain angles. However, after a comment by WHAM NLB are considering ways of improving the beacon’s daylight visual impact.

Tobermory

Many boaters will be aware that the pontoons have been extended at Tobermory to give an extension to the hammerhead and 2 12 m berths. This has relieved some pressure on the facilities and given another boost to Tobermory.

New Members

We welcome Morvern Community Development Company and the Isle of Gigha Trust to membership of WHAM. Morvern’s new pontoons appear to have been a big success having even had the Royal Navy alongside. Gigha’s moorings have been busy and the installation of pontoons is planned.

NLB Consultation on the future of major lights

We have been consulted on the future of some major lights, mostly in Orkney and Shetland, the North Coast and Moray Firth but including Turnberry. We joined with RYAS to comment that we had few observations to make other than to suggest that a beacon might be advisable at Turnberry to facilitate craft running for shelter close by.

The May storm and its consequences

One of the unfortunate outcomes of the May storm was the failure of the moorings for a large number of craft of all types and sizes - over 200 at one point. By no means all the craft were lost but damage was widespread and substantial. Informing all the owners was a difficult and time consuming task and, even now, not all owners are aware they have a problem. This is remarkable but true. It emphasises the importance of secretaries having up-to date records of their association members’ addresses.

Kames Judgement

After due notice The Crown Estate lifted the offending moorings in Kames Bay, Bute in November 2010. They have made it clear that, in future, illegal moorings (ie those laid without consent) will be removed after due notice. This is a consequence of the Court of Session judgement in their favour in June 2010. This judgement made it clear that the sea bed is theirs to control notwithstanding some ancient acts/legislation(?) dating back >400 years. They are slowly but steadily extending their search for unauthorised moorings up the West Coast and, if experience in Glenuig is a guide, there will be no great difficulty in finding some!

Ob n’a Acarseidh, Torridon

The pipes mentioned in our previous news are, or were still, there this summer (2010). Hence the anchorage is still obstructed. However it is expected that they will be moved this winter and will thus free up this small but attractive anchorage for boaters of all types.

Puillodobhrainn

WHAM is happy to report that NW Marine swept the anchorage by diver on February 8 thanks to the generosity of The Crown Estate. Sailors will be glad to know that amongst the objects removed was an entire 12 ft aluminium dinghy(!), sundry steel objects of varying size and provenance, a battery, plastic sheets etc. Hopefully the anchorage is now free of objects with the potential to snare anchors.

If you do get caught in one of these situations in this or any other anchorage, it is very important and helpful to buoy the place after ‘escape’ so that remedial action can be undertaken without having to search a large undefined area.

Update 8/9/11

Very recently - late August - a report was received from a yacht with a retractable keel of an obstruction at the extreme south western (shallow) end of the anchorage. This yacht hooked a chain and anchor there and fortunately reported it to Crown Estate and WHAM. Steps are in hand to deal with this but it will not be removed during the 2011 season. This is a regrettable occurrence especially after the effort to sweep the anchorage. However, the obstruction is in very shallow water and should not affect the vast majority of yachts.

Glenuig

After a meeting in of all interested parties at Glenuig a satisfactory solution has been found to the difficulties there. It was brokered by The Crown Estate and assisted by the decision of SNH to dispense with the need for a diver survey after access to aerial photographs. There are likely to be one or more visitor moorings there.

Loch Creran

Discussions have been held by WHAM with SNH about anchoring in the loch. This was occasioned by concerns expressed by a member Mooring Association about charter boats(?) picking up private moorings.

ATONs ( Aids to Navigation)

NLB have made or are proposing to make a number of changes to their marine aids to navigation. The main ones affecting WHAM’s area of interest are shown below.

Branra Rock and the Small Isles beacon lit. Opinion is sought on lighting R Seanach (S Kerrera) and Heather Island. Ardluing buoy has been changed to a S cardinal and slightly re-positioned and B Ghair changed to S Cardinal. A new Cardinal is in position at Little Stirk.

Consideration is being given to a light at Am Balg, S of Cape Wrath.

Red Rocks to have a sector light and Sg Ulibhe to have a beacon or S cardinal - both in the Stanton Channel. Note that buoyage in the Cope Passage has been discontinued.

The red sector at Ushenish is to be discontinued while Dunvegan light is to have the sector cut-offs improved.

In Inner Sound, Bo Golach, Bogha Dubh, Sg Thraid and Sg Goblach to be lit or buoyed.

Referrals

Some 80 referrals have been dealt with over the year. Two have caused us concern. The first was the application by C MAL for a Harbour Empowerment Order at Lochaline. WHAM, RYA, the local MA’s, and others objected, some on the grounds of lack of necessity which turned out to be an unacceptable basis of objection as the HEO was tacitly supported by SG! However all felt that the area sought was quite unnecessarily large. After extended correspondence the area sought was reduced and WHAM found that just acceptable when faced with the inevitability of the HEO being granted. WHAM remains quite unclear about the need for these things despite an erudite explanation by C MAL - or maybe because!

A second concern arose from the application for two more moorings in Easdale Sound. The Sound is already crowded with moorings and obstructions and we have objected strenuously to additional moorings here in the past. These two appeared to be situated behind one of the reefs and an explicit undertaking was sought that neither craft could, under any circumstances, especially at LWS, swing into the navigable channel. This undertaking was given and WHAM did not object further but we view this as a test and will object in the strongest terms if this undertaking is violated.

Last updated 17/9/11