New water sports hub launched in Dundee
The Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub aims to improve water safety and encourage more people to get involved
The Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub has today been launched in Dundee. The Hub consists of many organisations in the area which will work together to promote water safety and develop water sports on the river.
The Hub will also provide the public with information aiming to minimise the number of incidents on the water.
A number of activities and water sports are already provided on the River Tay which has lead to the introduction of the Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub. The Hub is a collective organisation open to all water sports bodies that use the Tay Estuary.
The area covered by the Hub on the Tay runs from Balmerino in the west to Buddon Ness and the Lady Buoys that mark the buoyed channel at the entrance to the estuary.
Some of the activities run by organisations in the Hub include, canoeing and kayaking, rowing, paddle-boarding, personal watercraft, power boating and water-skiing, sailing, swimming, wind-surfing and kite-surfing. Individuals of all ages are encouraged to try water sports in a safe and controlled environment.
The Hub has advisory links with Dundee Harbour (Forth Ports), the RNLI, Leisure & Culture Dundee, Dundee City Council, the Coastguard and sportscotland.
The Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub is part of sportscotland’s community sport hubs programme, and with National Lottery-funded support helps bring clubs and local organisations together to grow the sporting offering in their communities.
Stewart Murdoch, Chair of the Tay Estuary Watersports Hub, said: "The establishment of a Watersports hub for the Tay estuary marks the first time that all the organisations which use the estuary have come together as one collaborative organisation. It has great potential for strengthening cooperation, the promotion of best practice and widening access."
Alison MacKenzie, Community Sport Hub Officer, Leisure & Culture Dundee, said: "The creation of the Tay Estuary Watersports hub has been developed on the back of a strong desire from water sports organisations using the Tay Estuary to work in collaboration with a focus on improving water safety and the development of activities on the water. This is the first water sports hub in Dundee and is a very exciting development for the city. I look forward to seeing the benefits for the whole community from this collaboration."
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive for sportscotland, said: ‘’The launch of the Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub is a great development for the future of water sports in Scotland and will no doubt improve and increase the opportunities for those in the Dundee area and beyond, to participate in water sports and activities. This collaboration between organisations across the Tay, is a great example of how collective efforts can maximise resources and enable participation for all.’’
Members of the Hub are:
- Broughty Ferry Boating
- Dundee Sailing Club
- Dundee Sea Cadets
- Dundee University Sailing Club
- Royal Tay Yacht Club
- Tay Corinthian Boating Club
- Tay Sail Training
- Tayside Sea Kayak Club
- Taymara
- YeAABA (Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association)
- Valhalla Escapes
- Wormit Boating Club and Watersports Hub
