16/7/2024

Celebrating forty years of Largs Yacht Haven

With 730 berths, and a safe and sheltered location on the Clyde at the gateway to the west coast cruising grounds among its many attributes, it’s not surprising Largs Yacht Haven continues to hold its reputation as one of finest Scottish marinas

Largs Yacht Haven, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is located within the sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde. Yacht Havens built and opened this Scottish marina back in 1984 from a stretch of virgin beach just to the south of the delightful coastal town of Largs and is now a notable Five Gold Anchor marina with a good reputation.

The area to the south of Largs was a natural sandy beach which lent itself to dredging and land reclamation, ultimately creating a new marina for the Firth of Clyde. With the expertise of the Kalis family (of Lymington Yacht Haven, Hampshire) the vision of a new marina village began to take shape the early 1980s. The main concept of the construction was to do a “cut and fill” exercise, using the dredged sand to reclaim the land area and simultaneously provide sheltered deep water behind breakwaters.

Fast forward a few years and Largs Yacht Haven opened its first bridgehead in 1984, providing a new style of marina operation in Scotland. In contrast to many other marinas in the region, Largs permitted marine businesses to freely operate from the site, sub-let refunds were introduced to encourage visitors, and Largs Yacht Haven quickly became a thriving marina village, openly welcoming the public and creating a tourist attraction in its own right.

Not only does keeping a yacht in this marina offer peace of mind in terms of shelter and 24-hour security, but because of its convenient location – approximately 30 miles from Glasgow – Airport, and with train connections – it also attracts commuters as well as locals. The allure of berthing a yacht at the gateway to the west coast of Scotland and spending the spring or summer exploring the western isles has become more and more doable thanks to improved travel links and budget airlines.

Its convenient location, and world class sailing area are also among the reason why Largs has become a favourite venue for hosting national and international sailing events. This Scottish marina is home to Largs Sailing Club, the Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club, Fairlie Yacht Club, and is the Scottish base for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. As you can imagine, it is a hub of activity throughout the year, with the August Bank Holiday Largs Regatta Festival, and the Scottish Two-handed Race Scotland’s two of the most popular local events, which regularly attract a huge following.

 

For further details and to meet our dedicated Yacht Havens team, please visit us at Stand J150 in the Ocean Hall during the 2024 Southampton International Boat Show. Our team will be delighted to provide you with comprehensive information and answer any questions you may have