First birthday and new developments in the pipeline
The Brighton Marina Berth Holders’ Association (BMBHA) has celebrated its first birthday with a party at Brighton Marina Yacht Club.
The club has worked with Premier Marinas, Brighton Marina’s operator, to help coordinate feedback from members and to ensure the successful establishment of an RYA Berth Holders’ Charter – the first for the marina.
The BMBHA’s membership has grown steadily throughout the year, to its current level of around 400 – approaching 25% of all the marina’s berth holders.
The BMBHA has organised a series of events including a Boat Jumble, with a programme of regular social, practical and educational evenings, including a weekly members’ night.
It has also hosted members’ meetings, which have enabled discussion and open debate on marina-related issues, and have resulted in positive changes being made within the marina.
Run on a voluntary basis, the association has negotiated discounts for its members with some 30 marina retailers, restaurants, suppliers and service providers.
John Boyce, chair of the Brighton Marina Berth Holders Association, commented: “It has been a very busy and successful first year for our association.
“Brighton Marina had a genuine need for its berth holders’ interests to be represented in this way, and we have had excellent support from Premier Marinas, and from the RYA.
“The real driver behind the association’s achievements has been the tremendous efforts contributed by the committee members and by the commitment shown by our membership in general.
“We would also like to acknowledge the numerous companies and businesses in and around the marina that have generously donated raffles prizes for our social events.
“We look forward to extending our events programme into our second year, and to supporting our membership across all aspects of the Brighton Marina boating community.”
Andrew Garland CMM, General Manager of Premier Marinas at Brighton, responded: “We welcomed the creation of a berth holders’ association in our marina, and it is proving to be a valuable communications medium, successfully complementing our own endeavours.
“The establishment of the RYA Berth Holders’ Charter is a particularly notable achievement, and we are very pleased that our commitment to providing a high standard of service has been recognised – with Brighton Marina retaining the Yacht Harbour Association’s prestigious five gold anchor award for Quality, Management, Health and Safety, Standards of Service and Environmental Awareness.”
