A number of deep water berths and anchorages for superyachts are still available at Portland Port, the venue for this year’s Olympic and Paralympics sailing races.
Situated at the end of a peninsula off the Dorset coast, Portland Port also offers helicopter landing facilities adjacent to berths allowing owners and guests to get into the heart of London quickly, although with a no-fly zone in place during the Olympic period alternative arrangements will be have to be made, and Amanda-Jane Milner, commercial sales manager at Portland, advises early planning in that case.
However, Portland Port is not just for the Olympics. An ideal superyacht base on the South coast it has already established itself as one of the best and key deep water anchorage and berthing harbours for loading and discharging of yachts, with instant access to open water and close to the English Channel shipping lanes. The port offers a first class service for secure bonded stores, 24 hour security and CCTV, bunkering, skilled marine engineers, coded aluminium and steel welders, electricians and machinists, joiners and carpenters, fibreglass and hydraulic repairs, high pressure washing and diving specialists, shoreside power and fresh water.
A recent visitor was the 87m Lürssen superyacht Ace, which chose Portland as a discreet, secure port for provisioning, final preparations and hand over to her new owner before her onward journey. 'We provided all the facilities needed and Ace left on time with everything in place,' says Amanda-Jane Milner.