There are so many sailboats on Lake Balaton that there are not enough docks!

Sailboats on Lake Balaton Kékszalag regatta

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There are so many sailboats on Lake Balaton that there are not enough docks, or they are too expensive. Therefore, hundreds of owners would like to keep their boat mooring. However, nobody remembers around Lake Balaton where and how mooring can be done properly.

Sailboats without a docking opportunity might end up as hazardous waste

According to sokszinuvidek.24.hu, Lake Balaton ran out of free docks, or they became too expensive for sailboat owners. Therefore, more than 210 of them signed a petition demanding authorities to enable them to keep their boats mooring. As a result, local settlements formed an expert team to chart the possibilities. Mooring was popular at Lake Balaton in the 19th century. But no longer remembers anybody around the lake how and where it can be done properly.

The situation is getting worse, and authorities have to find a solution quickly. Sailboats without a docking opportunity might end up as hazardous waste if they drift away on the lake.

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Mooring places disappeared

András Gerő, a member of the newly formed expert team, said he realised there was a problem when he kept receiving letters of complaint. Therefore, he asked for help from those he believed might know what to do. Afterwards, they skimmed through the relevant laws and rules to find a solution. In theory, mooring is not forbidden on Lake Balaton. On the northern side of the lake, mooring was very common until the end of the 19th century. However, mooring places disappeared after the development of ports began.

Currently, hundreds of sailboats cannot find a docking place at Lake Balaton – he said. Some of them are tied to tractor tires paved over. However, not only is it environmentally unfriendly but also very dangerous. If the boat sinks, another sailboat might get into trouble if they collide.

Mr Gerő said that the Water Rescue Services of Hungary lifted out a sunk boat recently because its owner did not have enough money to pay for it. Therefore, they started a public donation campaign. Gerő highlighted that they would like to create a safe mooring opportunity on the lake involving the authorities – hirbalaton.hu reported.