  High-resolution time series of sunspots have been obtained with the Swedish
1m Solar Telescope between 2003 and 2006 at different locations on the solar
disc. Proper motions in seven different active regions have been studied. The
analysis has been done by applying local correlation tracking to every series
of sunspots, each of them more than 40 minutes long. The sunspots' shapes
include a different variety of penumbral configurations. We report on a
systematic behaviour of the large-scale outflows surrounding the sunspots,
commonly known as moat flows, that are essentially present only when preceded
by a penumbra not tangential but perpendicular to the sunspot border. We
present one case for which this rule appears not to be confirmed. We speculate
that the magnetic neutral line, which is located in the vicinity of the
anomalous region, might be responsible for blocking the outflow. These new
results confirm the systematic and strong relation between the moat flows and
the existence of penumbrae. A comparative statistical study between moats and
standard granulation is also performed.
