Cattewater Harbour Commissioners continue to be working with superyacht agents to recommend and encourage a visit to Plymouth as part of their client’s itineraries.
Last week, two luxury motor yachts could be seen in the Sound, with their guests having ‘front row seats’ for the spectacular British Fireworks Championships.
Captain Richard Allan, Harbour Master and CEO for the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners said: “We’ve been working closely with agents over recent months to highlight Plymouth as a call-in destination. We’re able to offer a variety of berthing opportunities including the Barbican Landing Stage, two visitor pontoons and a range of visitor moorings within the Cattewater all providing easy access right into the heart of the Barbican.”
With tourism a key part of the Port of Plymouth’s port masterplan and strategy, infrastructure such as the Barbican Landing Stage is key, for visiting leisure yachts, super yachts and cruise ship operators, to visit and grow the city’s visitor economy.
Captain Allan continues: “Plymouth has so much to offer visitors, we just need to sell ourselves, and provide the best service we can. Guests and crew have this year enjoyed boat trips around the Sound, VIP experiences at Home Park concerts, and the delights of the fantastic fireworks championships. We set ourselves a series of modest goals for the number of yachts visits to achieve within this first year since the Barbican Landing Stage was handed back. I’m delighted that we’ve achieved these already, and still with four months to go. We are setting ourselves even more ambitious targets for next year and are confident that we will achieve these too. The relationships we have with yacht agents, crews and guests is paramount and the excellent feedback we’ve received is testament to the hard work, diligence and personal touch provided by my team and the support we provide during the visit.”
At MGMT, the UK’s leading Superyacht Agency, Georgina Baum is promoting and encouraging their superyacht clients to visit Plymouth. Due to Georgina’s background as a former superyacht stewardess, as well as having grown up in Plymouth, she understands what crew and guests look for when visiting a city, and knows the city has lots to offer superyachts. From its vast amount of history, cobbled streets, independent shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, plus sandy beaches, and places like Dartmoor all within easy reach, Plymouth is the perfect city for the yachts to call in to.
Georgina says: “Now Plymouth has options for mooring, and a positive harbour team working with us and the crews, the more yachts we can get into the city! The UK is becoming increasingly popular and this season so far we have had some of the largest superyachts in the world visit the UK, and it’s only going to get busier! I am passionate and keen to continue promoting the city I am from, seeing two of our yachts out in the Sound last week was a real sense of achievement!”
The better understanding other professionals in the city have as to what exactly the yachts require and look for, the more Plymouth can accommodate and bring revenue into Britain’s Ocean City.
Earlier in the year, MY Reef Chief enjoyed a stay on the Barbican Landing Stage, and further bookings are confirmed for coming months.
Bookings for the Barbican Landing Stage need to be booked in advance to ensure capacity alongside commercial businesses that operate from the location. Please contact the Harbour Office by calling 01752 665934 for further information, to book and make payments.
