Anchoring in the upper Dart.

[doug748]

Anyone got any tips about anchoring in the Stoke Gabriel reach between Bow Creek and Gurrow Point? Good places, foul ground etc?
32 ft boat 6ft draught. Thanks.

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[longjohnsilver]

You can anchor just past Gurrow Point, about 30m from the shore. There’s a decent size deep water pool that’s plenty big enough for 6 boats or more. It’s quite clearly shown on the charts. A lovely quiet spot to spend a night or 2. We once watched 3 women swimming past towards Dittisham, each one closely followed by a seal! We love it there.
And another nice anchorage in a deep pool, just before you get to Bow Creek, again shown on the charts. From there you can dinghy ashore to Stoke Gabriel where a dinghy pontoon was installed a few years back. Or alternatively after about half tide, take the dinghy up to the Malsters Arms, Keith Floyds old pub, which is a lovely place to eat and drink.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

I went up there once to escape a blow from the South which was making Dartmouth/Kingswear “rock and role”, but I didn’t escape the Harbourmaster’s launch and request for dues!

 

[Allan]

We we're there recently, there's a place you can get ashore at all but low water springs. If you find that it's just a short walk to the community pub and shop. We also walked to the Malters from there. It's one of my favourite anchorages.

 

[Frogmogman]

The two Daves do a bit of anchoring up the Dart in their latest video….

 

[LadyInBed]

You can anchor just past Gurrow Point, about 30m from the shore. There’s a decent size deep water pool that’s plenty big enough for 6 boats or more.

I'm surprised that it isn't all clogged up with moorings!

 

[ColinR]

Anyone got any tips about anchoring in the Stoke Gabriel reach between Bow Creek and Gurrow Point? Good places, foul ground etc?
32 ft boat 6ft draught. Thanks.

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just west of White Rock, deep water, no moorings, beautiful spot.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I'm surprised that it isn't all clogged up with moorings!

Too remote for most folks

 

[KompetentKrew]

For the benefit of anyone else, Gurrow Point is at the north end of this chart:

Stoke Gabriel and Bow Creek are just to the west of it, cut off by my scanner and the margins. See pages 183 & 188 of the 8th edition (2017) of the Shell Channel Pilot.

 

[Bilgediver]

t I didn’t escape the Harbourmaster’s launch and request for dues!

Just carrying out his duties like Danny and others before him. No escaping the harbour launch as he knows all the hiding places.

 

[Blueboatman]

I do remember once being invoiced and paid my dues with the HMs boat tied loosely alongside as I sailed/drifted down the Dart one morning on the tide many years ago
I had the distinct impression he did this quite a bit..
( and to be totally fair he said to keep all invoices, there was a pay 5, get 1night free sort of deal ..90s

Lovely up above the anchor stone

 

[KompetentKrew]

( and to be totally fair he said to keep all invoices, there was a pay 5, get 1night free sort of deal ..90s

When I was in Salcombe they were still doing this - I'm not sure how official it was, the fees collector just told me "if you're still here on Friday then I won't charge you for the weekend".

This week Google Photos has been reminding me that this was exactly 2 years ago.

 

[doug748]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions and to KK for taking the trouble to scan the chart.

I wen't for a look round there expecting the water to be a bit thin and restricted, one of my pilot books says: " most of the good anchorages are filled with moorings" What nonsense.

I eventually anchored in 3m just off Sandridge Boathouse, loads of room. One other anchored boat in view, a quarter of a mile away. Magnificent in this Indian summer weather. I look forward to checking out the other places in future.

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[Moonbeam]

Doug, it's also a very nice anchorage west of Blackness Point port marker and the mouth of Dittisham Mill Creek (which is nice to row up with the tender at HW) where it's marked 2.4m on the chart, plenty of room and depth for your 6ft draught. But if the other boat you mention being a quarter of a mile away is in that spot then you probably won't fancy the bother of moving. Lovely day today.

 

[Bilgediver]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions and to KK for taking the trouble to scan the chart.

I wen't for a look round there expecting the water to be a bit thin and restricted, one of my pilot books says: " most of the good anchorages are filled with moorings" What nonsense.

I eventually anchored in 3m just off Sandridge Boathouse, loads of room. One other anchored boat in view, a quarter of a mile away. Magnificent in this Indian summer weather. I look forward to checking out the other places in future.

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I noticed loads of moorings when I checked earlier in this thread. Are these all Dart Harbour buoys and are they available short term?
We spent a lot of time on the Dart when the kids were young. We hired A Drascomb Dabber from Bill Quick at Dittsum. Great for creek crawling.