Robin Cole, team leader of Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, which commissioned the report, outlined the opportunities for grant and funding assistance and indicated a willingness by SE to help foster 'bottom-up' schemes. The emphasis was on new facilities and developments will increase the number of destinations which, due to steady expansion in the number of leisure craft on the Clyde and West Coast, need to improve their infrastructure.

This was illustrated by a case study of the project at Loch Ranza (on the Island of Arran) to establish a landing pontoon – typical of what is needed.

Howard Pridding then outlined the BMF's 'top-down' role in influencing government and local authority thinking about our industry, which to date in Scotland has been virtually disregarded as a contributor to the economy. With new figures indicating economic benefit in excess of £250m, those with influence at the top may start to pay attention.

The seminar was followed by Sail Scotland's AGM. After the formal business, the membership showed a lot of interest in the idea of a Scottish Boating Alliance and resolved to form a group to refine and present the ideas of harbours and marinas, charter companies, sailing schools, and inland waterways.

Now that localities realise the value of marine tourism, and the industry has statistics to prove it, the combination of 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' pressure may begin to have the desired effect.