We’ve been sailing for 40 years
While life might begin at 40, yachting types have been having fun at Troon for the past four decades.
Troon Yacht Haven is the finest in Ayrshire and was carved out of an old basin dug in the early 19th century by the Duke of Portland’s men.
It is now a highly successful business and a key ecomomic generator for the area, big enough to take 400 craft at any one time.
To mark its 40th anniversay a five minute movie has been shot, using footage from the sea and from the air.
Giant pumps were used to clear sea water and excavators had to remove more than a dozen feet of harbour mud and detritis in a massive operation to ensure it was deep enough to take large keels.
By 1978 the defunct inner basis was ready for business after being developed by a consortium led by Sir Robin Knox- Johnston. Nine years earlier the sailor had become the first person to circumnavigate the globe single- handed on his 32ft ketch ‘ Suhaili.’
Back in ‘ 78 a young man aged 17 and fascinated by sailing started on the payroll straight from school.
And Duke Darge is still there today running the boatyard and doing much the same as he has always done.
Marina director Stephen Bennie paid tribute to him, saying: “Troon Yacht Haven simply wouldn’t be what it is today without Duke’s incredible loyalty, knowledge and experience.
“He is well- known and highly respected across the Scottish sailing industry, not just because of his commitment to providing a first- class service to boaters here in Troon, but also his incredible yacht racing achievements.”
He manages the 55- ton boat lift and storage ashore, while spending his spare time racing yachts, including One Tonners and Quarter Tonners, around the west coast of Scotland and across the UK.
Troon can handle yachts up to mini gin palace size and has rich visitors who slink in and out on craft up to 130 feet.
There are six main jetties you can get to by foot and a seventh you need to board a dingy to reach.
Small boats under 20 feet can tie up for £ 1100 a year but over that the annual charge is per foot. A 50 footer would pay around £ 5500.
While talking up Troon back in the day Sir Robin Knox- Johnston said: “Yachting on the Clyde was developing. Kip Marina was already full and Rhu Marina was being planned.
“Troon was a sheltered basin and the rock surface was sufficiently low to allow the removal of mud to give sufficient depth for yachts.”
It was far more than just sailors who have benefited from the marina. It was estimated 70 jobs were created in Troon in the 1980s due to the ripple effect of increased tourism.
A further 11 are employed directly by the marina, now one of ten - including Largs - in the Yacht Haven group.
It is open 24 hours a day every day and crucially for sailors is reachable on all tides. There is hard standing space for 150 vessels if they need to get stored or repaird ashore.
The first 40 years were marked by Troon being voted Best UK Marina/ Harbour 2017 in the Sailing Today awards.
May its spinnaker be full for a long time to come.
Troon Yacht Haven has been going for four decades