New hub to promote water safety on Tay estuary

The new project, based in Dundee, will bring together many organisations to promote the water safety message and develop water sports on the river.

The hub will also provide support in providing the public with information to minimise the number of incidents on the water.

As a whole it includes a range of organisations that support canoeing and kayaking, rowing, paddle-boarding, personal watercraft, power boating and water-skiing, sailing, swimming, wind-surfing and kite-surfing.

Groups including Broughty Ferry Boating, YeAABA (Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association), Royal Tay Yacht Club, Tay Corinthian Boating Club, Tay Sail Training and Dundee Sea Cadets have already signed up for the initiative, which is open to all water sports bodies that use the Tay estuary.

The hub also has advisory links with Dundee Harbour (Forth Ports), the RNLI, Leisure & Culture Dundee, Dundee City Council, the Coastguard and sportscotland.]

It will cover the area from Balmerino in the west to Buddon Ness and the Lady Buoys at the estuary’s entrance.

Stewart Murdoch, hub chairperson 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 co-operation, the promotion of best practice and widening access."

Alison MacKenzie, community sport hub officer for Leisure & Culture Dundee, also said that the hub’s development had been developed at the behest of water sports organisations in the area.

The groups have been keen for some time to collaborate and improve water safety as well as to support the development of water-related activities.

She added: “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."

Further information about the Tay Estuary Water Sports Hub can be found online at www.leisureandculturedundee.com/tay-estuary-water-sports-hub.