Dear Editor

I thought I should take this opportunity to write a few words to try and clarify one or two points raised by yourselves regarding marina charges and how they go up.

I don’t know much about the South of England, so I’ll try and explain our position.

Creran Moorings is a small business, run by Jock and myself. We do try to give value for money, as I’m sure those who have been here will confirm, but, each year we have to fork out more. The rates on our shore facilities have more than doubled this year. We have to pay the Crown Estates for the right to have our slipway and moorings. The moorings need their annual servicing and have to be insured. We have half a mile of access road to try to keep a little bit flat so as not to damage your boat and car suspensions too badly. Is that enough? We are not millionaires; we’d love to do it all for free — after all, we were trailer-sailors ourselves once.

I hope this woebegone tome does not put you all off coming up to this beautiful bit of Scotland and taking advantage of what we are trying to do for you. Better still, why not have a sailing meet here? Jock loves organising things, so drop him a line to give him an idea of what you’d like to do and when you’d like to do it — ‘Bob’s your uncle’, no fuss, no hassle, everything organised. I’m afraid Spring Bank Holiday 1991 is already booked for the 5th year by the Drascombe Association; other than that we’re at your service.

So make 1991 the year that you brush up on your navigation, grease your wheel bearings and bring the family to Scotland to take advantage of remote anchorages and a Highland welcome. Jonquil & Jock Slorance Creran Moorings (0631 72 265)