Cornwall Local advise.

graham

graham

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With this season drawing to a close rather than contemplate all the refit jobs i am giving some thought to next season.

General idea is to get out of the Bristol Channel and spend part of the summer in Falmouth area.

As my boat is small and my time off is often in breaks of less than a week,I need to think about bolt holes on the way where I can not only escape any bad weather before it arrives but also possibly leave the boat unattended for a week or so.

The area I am concerned about is between Trevose Head and Lands End. I know that the generall;y accepted wisdom is to clear this area asap non stop.But the best laid passage plans can go off the rails sometimes.

My boat has a lifting keel but still requires legs to dry out on sand etc ,she settles in mud very well.

Charts and Pilot books never really give the full story so I would appreciate any input from local s or those that have used any of the harbours successfully or otherwise.

Newquay PortReath and St Ives are the ones that stick out.looking at the chart Portreath seems to offer good shelter ?

Thanks in advance Graham



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Not local but I used to live there. Don't try entering Portreath in anything with North in it. In fact I would not attempt it at all unless you had been in in calm seas and know it well as the entrance is tiny and seas can be 'orrible. Between Padstow and St Ives there is only Hayle. OK when you are in but not to be approached in a blow. St Ives is good shelter if you need it and a reasonable stop over in good weather even if you dont but there is never much room. You can anchor off in about 3 metres in Carbis bay or Porthminster bay nr St Ives if the wind is offshore though and if it's SW you will find this comfortable enough but get out if the wind goes NW above 4. Frankly I would want to get around from Padstow to Newlyn ASAP in one go and stand well off lands end in SW winds on the way round if you only have a small boat. Also watch the seas off lizard point on the way. Try to do it on neaps with a fair wind and tide if you can. Why not get in your car and drive down first? Hayle is nice if you can lift your keel over the bar. Portreath too in settled weather but I think you would have difficulties leaving your boat there as it is full of little fishing boats.

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was down at Lelant near st ives recently and the hayle estuary seemed very sheltered though it dries mostly to sand. might be worth enquiring. about berthing there.

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only enter hayle at the top of the tide, never on the ebb as it can cause a standing wave, and that would ruin your day, once over the bar, beware as the tide generally runs at a good lick, there is a hbr master there but afraid don't know his number....st ives.....if your boat is solidly built there are..or were visitors moorings but these exposed you to some terrible pounding as you took the ground, as been said on previous post anchoring off carbis bay in fair weather is very pleasant in anything other than wind with north in it.....keith

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Thanks to the 3 of you for the advise.

I think that unless the met are almost guaranteeing good weather for a few days we wont venture past Padstow.Or even Ilfracombe/Watermouth.

Trouble is that there seems to be an invisible line in the sea drawn between Milford Haven and Padstow which every year I find difficult to cross.If its not the weather its the job or something that allways conspires to keep us this side of the line./forums/images/icons/frown.gif

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the stretch between the bristol channel and south cornwall is certainly a daunting bit of coastline that i'd be reluctant to tackle in a 22 footer. you could find yourself taking weeks to get there between working and weather windows. have you thought about getting down there by trailer? it might be expensive unless you have a mate with a land rover and trailer but at least it would be over in a day and you could get on with sailing.

once down here a small boat has lots of opportunities to visit the little harbours that are out for the rest of us, looe and polperro for example.

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If you can dry out a trip to Bideford is worth while.

The odd boat also creeps up to Barnstaple too -- I did it once in the dark in a sailing dinghy on a falling tide, (probably not very bright I know) but made it up. Only tricky part was finding the channel by Heanton court where it crosses from one side of the river to the other.

Once there, there are a few boats moored up on the south side of the river, or you could try at Rolle Quay.

No one ever tries sailing up there anymore, but it's worth a visit I think, and certainly very sheltered.

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Blimey; I don't think I'd fancy going up the river to Barnstaple, though it's nice when you get there and I concede that it's no doubt do-able if you go up with the tide. If you get there, it is very sheltered, so would be a good place to leave the boat.

Last time I was in that part of the world, two years ago, I saw a couple of guys in one-man hovercraft going up river; I think that's the only way I'd care to try it!

If you have a bike on board, the "Tarka Trail" goes right along the side of the river, so maybe worth mooring at Bideford, Appledore or Instow and doing a recce by bike (the entire route is flat: bliss!).

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho
 
Did you ever think about having your boat put on a road trailer and go overland to Falmouth? With a lifting keel it should not be difficult. You might even pick up a second hand trailer and tow it yourself.... Just a thought?


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The channel isn't maintained any more -- last big stuff teh Arco Tamar I think it was stopped going up there about 20 years ago, but the river carves a deeper water channel all the way up.

I wouldn't try it in a boat with a fixed keel, but his is a swing keeler I think. That mud is really in a class of its own for stickiness depth and smelliness and well I used to wade across the river at low water when I was a lad, I wouldn't do it now!
A low water recce is definately to be recommended!



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I have been in and out of Appledore a couple of times.taking a workboat to Appledore Shipbuilders for refits.Departed the Estuary once in a strong Westerly .Quite impressive seas over the bar!

The small boat side of the yard did some really good quality work.Both on workboats and RNLI Lifeboats.Are they still in business or has the whole operation closed down?Be a shame if they have .

My little Anderson is an ideal estuary explorer .about 4 foot 6 draught keel down and about 2 foot 6 keel up.Also very capable sea boat for its size.

At least 2 of them completed the Minitransatlantic race some years ago.One of them grounded on a reef and was abandoned. The boat managed to free itself and was recovered again.

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appledore shipyard

went into receivership last year but has now been bought by DML (devonport dockyard management) who hope to generate some work for them.

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