Brixham to ?????

[paulburton44]

Taking our boat to Brixham next week. Parker 235. We are going with family and staying in a cottage. The boat will be in the marina
We will mostly be day sailing around the bay etc. BUT may have one night on board. So where do we go ??? I'm thinking Salcombe.... any other suggestions....

 

[Athene V30]

Not been since 1983 but Dartmouth was always nice.

Hear it is pricey these days but can always go up river to Dittisham

 

[MidlandsOnSea]

It'sd obviously going to depend on the weather. Easterly winds in that area are not pleasant.

You have to pass the entrance to Dartmouth en route to Salcombe. And, you cannot reserve space at Salcombe. So, why don't you see how you feel when you reach Dartmouth and decide then whether to press on for Salcombe.

Both Dartmouth and Salcombe are very pleasant

 

[Skyva_2]

Babbacombe is good for a day sail / lunch stop.

Up the Dart at Galmpton there are visitors moorings which are a good overnight stop.

 

[whisper]

As MOS says, Dartmouth and Salcombe are lovely places to go to. Dartmouth is near enough to daysail to from Brixham so for a longer sail then Salcombe would be better. On the other hand a trip up the Dart is lovely and there are also vis. buoys off Stoke Gabriel which is a pretty little village.
If you would prefer to spend the night in a marina, rather than at anchor, on an isolated pontoon or on a buoy, then Dartmouth is the only option, of the two.
For children - probably more to do at Dartmouth but Salcombe has nice beaches whereas Dartmouth has none.

Neither places are cheap!!

Hope you have a nice time.

 

[bobgoode]

Agree with all that has been written. However if / when you reach Salcombe there is bugger all to see or do and the shops / eateries are pricey. Dartmouth, on the other hand, has loads to do and masses of choice and prices range from cheap and cheerful to pricey but worth it to suit all pockets.

Day sail to Dartmouth and then explore up river...it is the finest you wil find anywhere.

 

[ebbtide]

Sorry to mention it, but Salcombe does have a dangerous Bar (the drying sort) and going west you'll arrive at about half-tide. Could be fun. So is the race off Start Point.
PM me for more - I grew up in Dartmouth, worked in Brixham and chartered out of Salcombe.

 

[Dipper]

We got stuck in Dartmouth the week before last due to too much sunny weather (Ha ha!). There's loads to do and see. One day we took the steam train ride from Kingswear to Paignton and back which your children might like (the steam train not Paignton).

The pontoons were pretty empty when we went but it might be busier when you go. The harbour staff are very welcoming and I believe the dues are less than Brixham. If you went to Salcombe, you would hardly have any time there before you had to come back and as already mentioned, apart from beaches there is nothing else there to keep you amused.

 

[TrailerSailer]

I went there a couple of years ago and had a great time sailing from the marina. Our boat is a little longer and heavier, but a word of warning about the slip in the harbour. Recce it first before towing the boat down - narrow roads and quite tight once in the launch area - especially if lots of tourist cars parked. Also the slip is VERY steep. I ended up ripping a jockey wheel off along with a bunk due to the steepness of the slip , the change of angle at the top and the boat floating off too quickly at the stern before the bow was ready to float. Even a Disco did not hold the weight on a clean slipway.

That said we also did day sailing to Dartmouth and as far as Teighnmouth. Spent a fun day just of Babacombe with the kids swimming.

If you are in the marina they used to do a pass for the multi story car park opposite which make life a little easier. The zoo is good; easiest by car but I reckon you could go to the harbour and get a bus. Harbour dries so timing is everything, but the harbourmaster was really friendly. Finally there is a reasonable little theme park just behind Dartmouth in case the weather is not up for sailing.

hae fun.

 

[whisper]

Salcombe Bar doesn't dry so half tide with his boat will be no problem.
That is UNLESS it is Spring tides, on the ebb with a strong Southerly/S.Easterly wind when I agree there are some very heavy seas. I'd hope he wouldn't be out then anyway as it gets pretty lumpy off Dartmouth in those conditions as well.

 

[RobinA]

It is true that Dartmouth is not a long sail from Brixham but in my view taking a shoal draught vessel all the way up to Totnes is some of the most stunning "sailing" (you'll be motoring quite a bit) you'll do anywhere in the country. Don't bother drying out at Totnes - we found it rather uneven at Baltic Wharf! Instead head back down (having made sure you arrived early at Totnes) and get a quick pint at the Maltsters which is in Bow Creek at Tuckenhay. Then nip back down and either pick up a visitors mooring at Dittisham (beautiful setting, nice pub and village) or keep going and get an alongside berth at Dartmouth if you'd rather something a bit livelier. I've sailed many of the rivers from Ipswich in the East along the south coast down to Fowey in Cornwall, and the Dart is definitely my favourite.

Salcombe is also very nice, but you'll be bouncing up and down whilst rafted up on a vistors buoy

 

[BrendanS]

[ QUOTE ]
Salcombe is also very nice, but you'll be bouncing up and down whilst rafted up on a vistors buoy

[/ QUOTE ]

The Bag is pretty sheltered, and there are visitor pontoons there, though not walk ashore, and you'll need dinghy or use water taxi (true of all of Salcombe, but just making the point that visitor pontoons are not walk ashore and quite a long way from Salcombe proper)

 

[photodog]

I would endorse Dartmouth as well, Salcombe is expensive, if you role up without a dinner reservation forget eating....

How about something completely different, with the lift keel maybe try Teignmouth, Go east along the cliffs, a really nice sheltered run, the entrance is exciting with the strong tide, but if you call up the HM they will probably (IME) come out and bring you in over the bar,, in fact you will need local knowledge to get in as the entrance shifts all the time.

They have a tidy pontoon, and I have to say it was one of the most satisfying arrivals I have ever made!

NEver got ashore so cant comment on that, but something different none the less!!

 

[Dipper]

Since there is so much to do in the River Dart especially as you have a lift keel, why not keep the boat there for most of the week? Much more fun than just sailing out of Brixham, round in a few circles then back to the marina again. I assume you will have a car with you so it will be easy to pop down to the boat (but you may need a dinghy depending on where you keep it).

 

[photodog]

I would second your comment, having kept a boat at Brixham, we seemed to spend all our time on the Dart...

If you keep her on at Darthaven, then theres parking, and its only about 10-15 minutes drive from Brixham. I dont think there is a slip their, (But there is a hoist) but their is one next to the Chain ferry in Dartmouth itself, The pontoon births are good , and there is a good water taxi, if you dont want to stay in the marina.

You could catch the steam train across to the boat!! Kids would love that.

 

[gjgm]

nothing so magical as the a little way up the river Dart on a summers evening.

 

[paulburton44]

Thanks for all your comments...

We are staying in a cottage above the marina in Brixham so the boat will be launched on the slipway and kept in the marina.
I am hoping to get a sail most days, even if only for an hour.

I will print this thread and take it with me. With there being 6 of us going and not all over keen on sailing I am thinking only the one over night stop. All the rest will be day sails.

 

[LadyInBed]

Dartmouth, and go up to Totness if you can take the ground as it dries.