The second is to establish secondary pontoon facilities in key locations between half and a day's sail from the main facilities – ‘a safe haven to sail to’. Both objectives will be eligible for grant aid, yet to be defined.

In keeping with the need to encourage full marine trade involvement a meeting will be held for all interested parties in at Scottish Enterprise at Atlantic Quay, Glasgow on Tuesday June 5 at 11.00. More information from annemarie.burns@scotent.co.uk

‘The object of the exercise is to grow the Clyde as a sailing venue, to double the number of yachts and motor cruisers using the Clyde within the next 10 years and add another 3,000 pontoon berths’, said Robin Cole of Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic development agency, funded by the Scottish Executive.