Tay sailing charity Taymara has launched a new craft to replace its vessel that will remain “stuck” in Dundee harbour for the forseeable future.
A rigid inflatable boat has been bought to take over some of the operations of the flagship Marigot that has been trapped behind the broken gates in Victoria Dock.
Taymara development officer David Kett said the organisation is investigating options for using the inflatable they are calling Catalina in memory of the flying boats based at Woodhaven during the Second World War.
“We carry out Royal Yachting Association training for people like prisoners awaiting release from custody, and this is one of the groups who would be able to learn in a craft like this,” he stated.
“There are other groups we serve for whom the inflatable might not be suitable, groups like children undergoing long-term medical treatment and people with learning disabilities.
“It will not do everything the Marigot did, but at least it gives us an option, and we are looking into exactly how much we can do with it.”
Taymara’s activities have been severely restricted by the broken dock gates, a problem that may cost a reported £3 million to rectify.
The Badger was also trapped, but harbour owners Forth Ports lifted out that vessel, which Taymara took to Tayport to carry out a more limited sailing programme.
“We are very grateful to the Tayport Harbour Trust and Forth Ports have also been very generous to us,” Mr Kett continued.
“They offered to lift out the Marigot too, but we couldn’t accept that as we didn’t have a safe winter berth.”
The dock gate problem has caused great frustration to Taymara in curtailing the charity’s sailing activities at a time when demand for services has grown.
“We are increasing our range of clients with organisations like the Scottish Prison Service involving us in employment training for prisoners, and BBC Children in Need for therapeutic and educational river excursions for children with long-term illnesses,” he explained.
“The Badger continues to fulfil a programme of dolphin watching river trips and charters from Broughty Ferry, but with only that vessel we have been able to take just a fraction of the 1,500 passengers a year that we would normally take with two vessels.”
The future of Victoria Dock is the subject of discussions between Forth Ports and Dundee City Council which want to develop it as a marina.