Overwater Marina is the First Marina on the British Waterways Network to be Awarded Five Gold Anchors.
The Yacht Harbour Association today announced that, following a recent assessment, Overwater Marina, near Audlem, Cheshire, has achieved the maximum five Gold Anchors in its prestigious Gold Anchor Award Scheme. A spokesperson for the association said that this is a very commendable achievement for a marina in operation for only 18 months and moreover it is the first marina in the British Waterways network to achieve Five Gold Anchors.
Image: Overwater Marina
The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) provides support for marinas and related business throughout the UK and internationally. The Gold Anchor Award Scheme is a voluntary assessment programme which is focussed on customer service and providing quality moorings for the boat owner. The ratings range from one to five Gold Anchors and provide assurance of the credibility and quality of the marina when assessed against the technical criteria based on the Code of Practice for the Construction and Operation of Marinas and Yacht Harbours.
Overwater Marina is set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. The beautiful and peaceful setting is enhanced by the marinas unique lakeland design and features an island which forms a wildlife sanctuary. Moorings are based in small groups around the marina’s edge and separated by grassy promontories. The marina has been designed to not only fit in to its surroundings, but to actively enhance the environment with a range of new habitats which have been created and to make use of renewable energy technology to provide hot water and heating for its facilities building. The Marina was recently audited by The Green Blue, the joint environment programme created by the British Marine Federation and the RYA to reduce environmental impact on inland and coastal waters and has also been awarded the “ICOMIA Clean Marina Award” as part of the Gold Anchor accreditation.
The marina facilities are numerous; a slipway for boat lift out and repairs and an excellent workshop provided by the Audlem Boat Company, pump out and chemical toilet facilities, as well as gas, solid fuel and diesel sales. The Marina Reception provides toilets, showers and a small shop and launderette, as well as being home to the Overwater Coffee Lounge which provides a tempting array of homemade hot and cold food. Boat sales are managed via the established Rugby Boats Sales, with viewing supervised by marina staff, Janet Maughan describing trade this year as “being brisk, an encouraging sign that boating is afloat, despite the recession”.
Gareth Turnbull, General manager of The Yacht Harbour Association said that “Janet Maughan and her staff have to be congratulated for their attention to detail and the high standard of customer service they offer in this first class marina”.