Regretfully we are cancelling the next Beach Clean in Carrick Castle on 3rd May 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions.
We will rearrange a date in the future.
Douglas Locke, Secretary (Voluntary)
Carrick Castle Boat Club
E: Secretary@carrick-castle-boat-club.co.uk
Phil Horton, RYA Planning & Environment Manager gives us the low down
There is increased interest among the boating community in alternative mooring systems and the replacement of conventional sinkers and risers with more technically advanced designs. As these are perceived to have significant benefits for the environment, they have been referred to as eco-moorings in the past. However, there are a number of potential advantages for users as well – both mooring owners and boat users – so the term Advanced Mooring Systems (AMS) has now come into use.
There are two main elements to AMS, and either or both can be applied. The first is the replacement of the “sinker” with a helical screw fixed into the seabed. This is already common practice for larger moorings such as in the Thames estuary, but is not in common use for yacht moorings. The second main component is the riser.
The helical screw offers a number of advantages, both technical and environmental:
The riser (rode) is where more research is being undertaken, in order to address technical and environmental concerns:
Various combinations of sinkers, screws, floating chains and elastic rodes are being trialled around the UK and further afield. Research is on-going, though most experiences to date have been positive. The RYA is a partner in an EU LIFE funded project, led by Natural England, called ReMEDIES – Reducing and Mitigating Erosion and Disturbance Impacts affecting the Seabed. One element of the scheme is the installation of trial AMS, alongside a monitoring programme. The RYA’s involvement is focused on outreach to the recreational boating community through The Green Blue, its joint environmental programme run in conjunction with British Marine.
The RYA will continue to be actively involved in projects researching AMS, and we are interested in people’s views on their suitability. If you have experience (good or bad!) of using or installing such systems then please let us know via environment@rya.org.uk
Top tips from The Green Blue
As a boating community we enjoy getting out on the water and experiencing the beautiful environment around us. We therefore play an important role in helping to protect our marine and inland waters and safeguard the wildlife and habitats with which we share our boating environment.
The Green Blue is the environmental programme of the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine, supporting the UK recreational boating community to be part of the solution by adopting and facilitating environmental good practice to minimise any impacts on our inland and coastal waters.
Whether you’re continuing your journey or want to make your first steps to making your boating more sustainable, here are some of The Green Blue’s top tips to help you #GoGreenBlue in 2020:
Engine Efficiency
An efficient engine is not only good for the environment, it will give you a better ride on the water and a less painful experience filling up at the pump!
Boating Around Wildlife
As boaters we are always delighted to encounter wildlife when out on the water or when onshore. Be it dolphins riding the bow wave, a group of seals and their pups resting on a rocky outcrop or a Heron stood majestically amongst the reeds.
Follow these good practice tips to help protect the wildlife we share our waters with.
Anchoring with Care
Anchoring is an essential part of boating, whether you are stopping for lunch or sheltering from stormy conditions. Some important seabed habitats, particularly Seagrass and Maerl beds, may be sensitive to anchoring activities.
There are many simple things you can do when anchoring to both prevent damage to your boat and reduce your impact on the environment too.
Deploy your anchor correctly to avoid drag: Use the appropriate length of chain and warp to help reduce scouring of the seabed; Even if you think the anchor is holding well, check it periodically to make sure it is not dragging. If your anchor is dragging, raise it and re-anchor.
Antifouling
While antifouling does a great job of keeping our hulls clean, and even has some environmental benefits such as improving fuel efficiency and preventing the spread of invasive non-native species, it is toxic to aquatic life. Some of the compounds found in these antifouls can accumulate in marine organisms, and can find their way into marine wildlife further up the food chain.
Boat owners can play a vital role in preventing concentrated paint residue and scrapings from entering the water. Follow the antifouling best practice guidance developed by the British Coating Federation (BCF), The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) and The Green Blue as part of the ‘Protect, Collect, Dispose’ initiative. Including:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 
The Green Blue helps boat users, boating businesses, clubs and training centres to reduce their impact on coastal and inland waters, wildlife and habitats. The Green Blue raises awareness, supports practical projects, runs outreach activities and offers easy to follow advice to make boating in the UK as sustainable as possible. Visit the new Green Blue website www.thegreenblue.org.uk to find out more.
Eleven people turned up in the pouring rain to clean the beaches in Carrick Castle as part of the National Beach Clean long weekend. There were boat club members, residents from Carrick Castle and from Lochgoilhead – thank you to all. We collected the equivalent of six full bags of rubbish from the beaches in 30 minutes!
The Carrick Castle Boat Club have arranged a second beach clean this year to coincide with the National Beach Clean Weekend (20th to 23rd September) and that of the Lochgoilhead Beach Clean.
Club members and residents of Carrick Castle are all invited to attend the ”Carrick Castle Beach Clean” on Sunday 22nd September 2019 from 11 am to 12 noon.
Please meet at the club’s notice board next to the village board and post box opposite Castle Carrick by the car park.
We will supply litter pickers, gloves and black bags of which 50% were funded by the Lochgoil Community Trust by grant and 50% by the boat club. Please leave full bags of the rubbish collected by the roadside to then be taken to be piled up next to the litter bin by the bus shelter in the car park for the A&B Council to collect.
Your help will be appreciated!
Carrick Castle Boat Club helping to keep our local environment clean.
Boat owners are being urged to ‘Protect, Collect and Dispose’ as part of a new initiative promoting best practice for antifouling vessels.
The RYA and British Marine joint environment initiative, The Green Blue, has joined forces with the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and The Yacht Harbour Association in a drive to encourage boaters to seek the best method for protecting boats and the environment.
Launched today (April 25) at the 2019 Marina Conference in Bournemouth, the Protect, Collect and Dispose campaign offers plenty of advice for those who antifoul their own vessels, as well as for marinas and boatyards which offer professional antifouling services.
Kate Fortnam, Campaign Manager for The Green Blue, says: “We have developed guidance with the BCF for antifoul application, removal and disposal to ensure hazardous paint does not enter the environment during these processes. The guidance explains how to best protect yourself and the environment, especially with regard to collecting paint debris and disposing of waste.
“This isn’t just an opportunity for marinas and individuals to ensure they are adopting best practice but to encourage others to do the same and help raise awareness of the main environmental issues.”
While antifouling does a great job of keeping hulls clean and preventing the build-up of marine organisms, and even has some environmental benefits such as improving fuel efficiency and preventing the spread of invasive non-native species, it is toxic to aquatic life.
Since the banning of TBT in 1987, most antifouls are now copper or zinc based. Some of the compounds found in these antifouls can accumulate in marine organisms, and can find their way into marine wildlife further up the food chain.
Trevor Fielding, Regulatory Affairs Manager at the BCF, comments: “This new initiative is intended to raise awareness of environmental issues relating to antifouling amongst the boat-owning community and our UK boatyards and marinas. Everyone wants to do the right thing but either they don’t know how and/or they lack the facilities to do so. We hope that the information provided will help to improve the practices followed by DIY antifouling paint users, as well as those applying antifoul professionally.”
Look after your boat and the environment
When antifouling your boat:
For further information and detailed advice visit the RYA website and The Green Blue website.
Help to deliver the message
An informative leaflet has been produced explaining how to best protect yourself and the environment, especially with regard to collecting paint debris and disposing of waste. A weather resistant poster is also available for display in chandlers, marinas and boatyards. For these and other awareness raising materials, visit http://www.safeantifouling.com
The Carrick Castle Boat Club assisted by members of the Carrick Castle Community Trust and some visitors carried out a Beach Clean in Carrick Castle on Sunday 5th May 2019 between 11 am and 11.45 am filling seven bags of rubbish. This annual beach clean ensures the beaches remain free of rubbish for most of the year. Thanks to over a dozen people who helped this year.
While you’re enjoying your cruising, have you considered that you might be attracting unwanted guests to your vessel?
Invasive species can hitch a ride on the outside of vessels and in spaces within them, as well as on equipment and clothing, and it’s all too easy to unknowingly spread animals, eggs, larvae and tiny plant fragments from one body of water to another.
The RYA and British Marine’s environment campaign, The Green Blue, is supporting Invasive Species Week (13-17 May), giving clubs and cruisers a chance to get involved and protect the UK’s waters from non-native species.
Around 2,000 non-native plants and animals from all over the world have been introduced to the UK by people. Invasive non-native species can block up waterways, make navigation difficult and cause irreparable damage to the environment. Once in a waterway they can disperse rapidly, adversely affecting recreational facilities, reducing fish populations and restricting navigation.
It is estimated that the threat to biodiversity from these invaders is second only to that of habitat loss. There are about 140 aquatic non-native species in Britain. Many species thrive in both salt and fresh water. Their main means of spreading is via boat hulls or propellers, or within bilge or engine cooling water systems.
Everyone can help to prevent their spread by following the Check Clean Dry routine and by putting up a sign to remind fellow boaters to do the same. Sharing a photo of biosecurity in action on social media under #InvasivesWeek will also help to deliver the message.
Since the launch of the Check, Clean, Dry campaign in 2011, The Green Blue has provided a wealth of information and guidance to inland and coastal clubs and boaters about the steps they can take to minimise the spread of non-native species.
The Environmental Audit Committee has launched a new inquiry to consider the impact and threat to biosecurity from invasive species. It is hoped this will act as a reminder for people to report sightings of non-native species, providing useful biological records to inform the GB Invasive Non-native Species Strategy. Find out how to record sightings here: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=81
Carpet sea squirt http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1209
American lobster http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1736
Slipper limpet http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1028
For more information, visit www.thegreenblue.org.uk. Follow the campaign on Twitter @CheckCleanDry and @TheGreenBlue #InvasivesWeek
Invasive Species. It’s your chance to get involved and protect your club waters from invasive aquatic species by taking advantage of free signs and materials!
Invasive aquatic species block up waterways, make navigation and paddling difficult and can damage boat engines and props. Many can be spread from tiny fragments, and survive out of water for over two weeks in damp conditions.
Everyone can help to prevent their spread by following the Check Clean Dry routine. Put up a sign to remind fellow boaters and share a photo on social media under #InvasivesWeek to promote your club!
Freshwater (http://www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=807):
Marine (http://www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=1251):
Don’t let aliens hitch a ride!
Since the launch of the Check Clean Dry campaign in 2011, The Green Blue and the RYA have provided a wealth of information and guidance to inland and coastal clubs about the steps they can take to minimise the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS).
INNS are animals and plants that have been introduced by human activity (on purpose or by accident) to parts of the world where they are not normally found. These species can hitch a ride on boats and equipment and when unknowingly spread from one area to another, they can have a damaging impact on British plants, animals and ecosystems – by spreading disease, competing for habitat and food and direct predation.
How can I get involved?
If you’re inspired by the great work going on to prevent invasive non-native species from spreading and reduce the impacts of those which already have, why not get involved?
For more information, visit http://thegreenblue.org.uk/
The Green Blue is launching a new wildlife guide for boaters today [Friday, 3 March 2017] to coincide with and celebrate United Nations’ World Wildlife Day.
The UK has an amazing array of marine wildlife, from the magnificent basking shark and the bottlenose dolphin to the unmistakable puffin and stunning razorbill. It’s not uncommon for recreational boaters to come across these and other curious and charismatic creatures when they’re out on the water.
The Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters, the latest addition to The Green Blue’s suite of handy leaflets, is designed to advise boaters on how to get the best experience out of their wildlife encounters by acting responsibly and cautiously to minimize the risk of disturbance while keeping participants and their boats safe.
With beautiful illustrations created by Pete Galvin, the key message to boaters who find themselves close to marine wildlife is to think speed, and be steady, predictable, quiet and cautious. The guide also provides up-to-date contact information for boaters who wish to record sightings, or who come across strandings. It also signposts boaters to further sources of information on protected species and relevant legislation.
Jane Swan, The Green Blue Project Manager, said: “Boaters are always keen to learn more about the wildlife they enjoy while out on their boats. This new guide offers some very practical tips on what to do if you spot something or if something chooses to approach you. The excitement of the moment is understandable, but it’s always important to know how to enjoy the experience without risking you, your boat or the animals themselves.”
To complement the guide, The Green Blue is also launching Writing a Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters to help non-boating specific organisations when developing local codes of practice for water users.
RYA Planning and Environment Manager, Emma Barton, commented: “We’re delighted to be launching these guides in time for the summer boating season ahead, and very pleased that Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation, Scottish Natural Heritage and The Wildlife Trusts are supporting this initiative. It’s important that we all continue to work together in this area to encourage best practice as widely as possible.”
To find out more about The Green Blue visit www.thegreenblue.org.uk