With 733 kilometres of coastline and more than 250 islands to explore, Hong Kong should be a paradise for boaters. But the city's marinas are jammed to capacity and a lack of mooring space makes it impossible for most in the city to enjoy sailing or sea-fishing.
A study by Designing Hong Kong and the Harbour Business Forum found that there are twice as many pleasure boats registered in the city - 7,660 - as there are spaces at the 10 marinas and yacht clubs and the 23 designated private mooring areas.
That means many owners have to leave their boats at informal moorings in typhoon shelters and waterways. 'The existing boat berths at private clubs, public mooring areas and marine department private moorings are full,' Tyler Wack, a co-author of the report, said. 'If any moorings at private clubs are available, the boat owner cannot afford the membership and mooring fees.'
The study, called Boating Left High and Dry, was conducted in January and February by a team of students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a college in Massachusetts in America.
It found that owners have to wait years for a public berth, and even those who can afford a spot at one of the city's exclusive yacht clubs might find themselves out of luck.
'We are full,' said Michael Franco from Hebe Haven yacht club in Sai Kung. 'We have more than 200 members waiting,' the general manager of one of Hong Kong Island's two yacht clubs said.
