A visit to Exmouth?

[mainsail1]

Winds in the SW again this coming week. As I want to go to Dartmouth without the beat I have had the thought that I might sail from Portland to Exmouth and then plod down to the South towards Dartmouth. My yacht draws 1.5m. Anybody been into Exmouth recently who can give advice on whether my plan will work?

 

[Seagreen]

I was going to say something rude about Exmouth as I live here, but thought better of it...

So, draught of 1.5m. I would suggest, just so you don't give yourself a heart attack, to enter on a rising tide, no earlier than 2 hours after Low water Neaps or 2.5 hours at Springs. I would suggest you don't try entering on the Ebb later than 2 hours after HW. I draw 1.42m, and I'd enter no later than half tide as the ebb runs quite strongly and can really slow you down especially at springs. (I once had a boat with an outboard that wouldn't do much more than 5 knots and it spent 2 hours in the same spot fighting a spring ebb one night- should've anchored, but live and learn.) The current runs strongest past the docks, in the Bight, and the beach. If you have a southerly breeze, be aware that quite steep waves can build up in the entrance channel on an ebb tide over Pole Sand.

The new channel is well marked with a good line of bouys, but the banks on either side are very close, so don't stray out of the channel. Avoid getting too close to the beach west of the NCW lookout tower (brown brick tower on seafront by cafe) as the beach shelves rapidly. Also, don't be tempted to shave the corner with the red can bouy opposite the docks. At both flood and ebb, there are strong cross currents when the water is over the banks to sweep you off course, but these die away when the banks uncover. There is a large pontoon S of dock entrance for visitors, but this is usually covered in scrap and bits of fishing gear. No, I don't know why either. It isn't a good advert for the town. There are a couple of visitors' yellow can bouys in the bight, but if you get in early, you can get all the way to the visitors' yellow cans up at Turf lock (by the Exeter canal entrance). If you arrive late in the afternoon, the water taxi isn't bothered about going all the way up river to charge you for the mooring. Turf hotel does good food and beer. You may be able to dry out in the mud along the quay at Topsham but Trouts Yard pontoons only has 1m at low water springs. Topsham does have good shops/pubs and frequent bus/rail to big supermarkets, and is very picturesque - like Maldon without the gaffers.

Exmouth dock has a few visitors berths but getting in and out can be a challenge as there is usually a stiff current accross the entrance. Dock is mainly for local mobos and fishing craft. It also has a pedestrian footbridge which has to be raised. Whats to see in Exmouth itself? A question I ask myself often. Has the usual town facilities- great little cafes for fry-ups by the docks, (Tesco/somerfield) Cinema, many pubs, small local galleries and the usual high street names. Prices a lot cheaper than Dartmouth for food. Good rail/bus connections with Exeter, which has a lot more to see and do. Did I mention I used to live in Exeter?

Hope this helps.

 

[mainsail1]

Thanks

Thanks for the comprehensive reply ,Sea green. Hmm..... and there was I thinking Exmouth would welcome visitors from the sea with lovely pontoon berths, showers and toilets - and a nice dredged channel!
I guess that's why I have never visited Exmouth before in a boat. Thanks again.

 

[hlb]

Go to Tiegnmouth, much easier to get into and nicer.

 

[dukes4monny]

Go to Tiegnmouth, much easier to get into and nicer.

I'll second that........you'll need a tender for the visitors pontoons. The Ship Inn is well worth a visit.
Avoid trying to get in on low water springs. Keep the Lucette light in line with the gap in the painted white squares on the training wall, that's what they use to dredge the channel.

 

[mainsail1]

Thanks

Thanks guys. Teignmouth sounds a better option. Reckon I should be there Wednesday night if the crew is up for it.

 

[dukes4monny]

Thanks guys. Teignmouth sounds a better option. Reckon I should be there Wednesday night if the crew is up for it.

What is your yachts name? I'll be out racing on Wednesday evening, so will give you a wave when we go passed............

 

[mainsail1]

Yachts name

My yacht is a Warrior 40 called Carolyn Anne. Having looked at the tides for Wednesday I guess we could not get in until about 1800 or maybe 1830.
All the Best

 

[Seagreen]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply ,Sea green. Hmm..... and there was I thinking Exmouth would welcome visitors from the sea with lovely pontoon berths, showers and toilets - and a nice dredged channel!
I guess that's why I have never visited Exmouth before in a boat. Thanks again.

Oh well, another customer lost...

 

[dukes4monny]

My yacht is a Warrior 40 called Carolyn Anne. Having looked at the tides for Wednesday I guess we could not get in until about 1800 or maybe 1830.
All the Best

I think that your timing is about right. My advice would be, keep to the left of the channel going in, keep your speed down in case you bump the (sand) bottom.
The V pontoons sit in an eddy, so try and moor facing up the river and also try and get on the inside if you can as there is a slight cross current which will push you onto the pontoon if you are on the outside.
Have fun.