The Yacht Harbour Association’s (YHA’s) Gold Anchor award scheme has been a big success story since its introduction 25 years ago. Designed to be a credible and objective means of gauging a marina’s facilities, quality and performance, its assessments are based on a range of criteria laid down and explained in an exhaustive (if slightly exhausting) 24-page guide.

Vote for YHA Marina of the Year award

Have your say on which UK coastal and inland marinas deserve recognition.



 

Testing includes a full marina audit, plus a series of ‘mystery shopper’ visits and a survey to help garner the opinions and experiences of existing berth holders. It’s fair to say that even marinas with just one gold anchor need to meet some pretty stringent standards, but those with ratings closer to the maximum of five gold anchors are something quite extraordinary in terms of the service they offer.

 

However, not content with the Gold Anchor system as a means of clarifying the pecking order of the world’s best marinas, the YHA is also running a ‘Marina of the Year Awards’ competition. Held in association with GJW Insurance, the contest is based upon the testimony of everyday boaters like us. With 150 YHA-accredited Gold Anchor marinas to choose from in four key categories – UK Coastal Marina, UK Inland Marina, International Marina and Superyacht Marina – it encompasses the interests of pretty much all of us, whatever kind of boating you do and wherever you choose to do it.

 

Now plainly, as a BMF-related body with a stated aim to help “boat users find good quality marinas” and “marina businesses improve their services”, the YHA is always keen to hear your feedback - but as far as the competition itself is concerned, you’ve only got until December 20, 2014 to cast your vote. So visit the competition website (www.marinaoftheyearawards.com), click on the category that best reflects your area of interest and do your bit to help reward those marinas that go the extra mile.

The BMF is also behind the excellent National Watersports Month campaign as well as the Personal Watercraft Partnership (PWP).

YHA Marina of the year

There is are four categories in the YHA Marina of the Year competition: UK coastal, UK inland, Foreign and Superyacht marinas.



 

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.