Hundreds of visiting mariners have benefitted from free nights in Guernsey since the island signed up to a new European scheme, with Guernsey Ports saying it’s put us “on the map”.
Passeport Escales is a boating network across the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain which allows boaters to enjoy the first two nights in foreign marinas for free – with the fee paid by the boats home port.
Any boater with a mooring can enjoy up to 10 nights free of charge at qualifying marinas, including Guernsey berth holders, with around 100 locals registering for Escales so far.
Guernsey Ports signed up to the scheme in April and has welcomed over 300 people to the island off the back of it.
“As it’s a reciprocal agreement, Guernsey Ports is now promoted across a vast network of participating marinas and regions. This has helped put Guernsey on the map and promote our excellent cruising grounds to a whole new audience,” Assistant Harbourmaster Kieran Higgs said.
“The main driver behind our enrolment in Passeport Escales was to provide our mooring holders with increased value by offsetting travel to a superb range of marinas, giving them more reasons to use their boats this summer.
“In the short time we have been a member, we have welcomed a number of first-time leisure visitors from Europe, who have gone on to stay longer than two nights, while it has also prompted some previous visitors to return to our waters again.”
You can register to be part of the scheme by contacting the Marine Services Centre on 01481 220654 or emailing marine.services@gov.gg.
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