Dartmouth to Torquay in 20mph Easterly wind. Bad idea?

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sprocker

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I am looking for some advice from anyone that knows Torbay at all.

I am due to re-launch later this week, and need to get my MF645 around from Dartmouth to Torquay.

The weather forecast for that day is for 20mph gusting 30mph ENE winds.

I am sitting on the fence (assuming no change in forecast) as to whether I should go or play safe and see if I can get a mooring in Dartmouth for a few days until it clears.

I would really appreciate any advice from those that know this coastline.
 
Looking at Xcweather the Easterly is already building and will continue to do so for a few days. You probably know that locals say never go out in anything with an "E" in it.

Tough one, but as the Easterly looks like it is hanging around if it was me I would err in the side of caution and plan to spend the early weekend in Dartmouth.
 
Easterlies are horrible, I wouldn't want to go there in our 48 footer even with stabilizers. I'd suggest you wait till they disappear, and don't forget that Torbay is completely open to Easterlies.
 
Thankyou gents. I appreciate your advice and absolutely agree now that I've put some thought into the situation.

I'll see if I can get a mooring to leave her on until the weekend.
 
sprocker said:
Thankyou gents. I appreciate your advice and absolutely agree now that I've put some thought into the situation.

I'll see if I can get a mooring to leave her on until the weekend.
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I was down there yesterday, loads of space on the Dart Nav pontoons and visitors pontoons so you should have no problem. If you intend visiting Dartmouth for another 10 days or so during the year it will be worth investigating paying for a years Harbour dues, I think there's a 50% discount if paid by May 1st.
 
I'd enjoy a few days in Dartmouth- some days, by the look of it.
Torquay will still be there on Sunday !
 
matthewriches said:
Interested to know how you get on. I am being launched on Monday 25th April in the morning. Im going to Ipswich though!!
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Launched this morning, down the river to Dartmouth and left her on one of the Dart Nav pontoons. I was speaking to one of the harbour patrol lads, and he was saying it was very messy when he stuck his nose out for a look this morning.

The Torquay-Brixham express ferry was cancelled, so it must be bad.

Strangely though I'm sat at home 15 minutes inland from Torquay, and it is very still, hardly any wind at all.

Shows just how strange the weather can be.
 
I was down at Dawlish yesterday and the waves were crashing in, not so bad today. Sunday looks as though it should be pretty flat, still quite a bit of E forecast for the next few days.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Sunday looks as though it should be pretty flat, still quite a bit of E forecast for the next few days.
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Sunday is when we are planning to bring her around, let's hope the forecast holds true.

I did want to say thankyou for your advice on Dart Nav, it's the first time I have used them and they are all very friendly and helpful, especially the lads on the VHF directing me to the correct pontoon.
 
sprocker said:
Sunday is when we are planning to bring her around, let's hope the forecast holds true.

I did want to say thankyou for your advice on Dart Nav, it's the first time I have used them and they are all very friendly and helpful, especially the lads on the VHF directing me to the correct pontoon.
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The Dart Nav guys on the water are great. Did you investigate the Harbour dues reduction if paying in advance? Essentially it means that if you spend approx more than 14 nights there all the extra nights are half price (free at anchor!), although you still pay the pontoon or mooring buoy charges, but no Harbour dues.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Easterlies are horrible, I wouldn't want to go there in our 48 footer even with stabilizers. I'd suggest you wait till they disappear, and don't forget that Torbay is completely open to Easterlies.
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This is interesting to a newbie fellow Plymouth boater. Is it Torquay locals that won't go out in an Easterly not Dartmouth locals? As divers we would prefer to avoid anything with an S in when diving out of Plymouth, which is nigh on impossible. If we also have to avoid E's I'll have to think about moving my boat :)

I came across this topic because I'm looking for info for our first trip to the Dart, after the bank holiday. For one night, we don't need electric or facilities and have a dinghy. I would prefer not to risk someone rafting up so assume picking up a buoy is the better option? At what point should we contact Dart Nav or will they come and find us?
 
Cathy* said:
This is interesting to a newbie fellow Plymouth boater. Is it Torquay locals that won't go out in an Easterly not Dartmouth locals? As divers we would prefer to avoid anything with an S in when diving out of Plymouth, which is nigh on impossible. If we also have to avoid E's I'll have to think about moving my boat :)

I came across this topic because I'm looking for info for our first trip to the Dart, after the bank holiday. For one night, we don't need electric or facilities and have a dinghy. I would prefer not to risk someone rafting up so assume picking up a buoy is the better option? At what point should we contact Dart Nav or will they come and find us?
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I'm also a diver of 1st dive from Fort Bovisand in 1982, makes me feel old! depends which part of Plymouth you want to dive, just need to look at the chart to find protection from the wind at the time, although I've never found anywhere really great within Plymouth Sound, but probably others with more experience of the area will say something different (almost all my 2000+ dives have been in Lyme Bay).

As for Mooring in Dartmouth, my home port, any of the visitor pontoons towards the higher ferry should be fine for you, almost certainly no rafting at this time of year. Call Dart Nav on vhf 11 after you've passed the castles, they'll direct you to where you need to go.

Have fun, it's a great river.
 
longjohnsilver said:
I'm also a diver of 1st dive from Fort Bovisand in 1982, makes me feel old! depends which part of Plymouth you want to dive, just need to look at the chart to find protection from the wind at the time, although I've never found anywhere really great within Plymouth Sound, but probably others with more experience of the area will say something different (almost all my 2000+ dives have been in Lyme Bay).

As for Mooring in Dartmouth, my home port, any of the visitor pontoons towards the higher ferry should be fine for you, almost certainly no rafting at this time of year. Call Dart Nav on vhf 11 after you've passed the castles, they'll direct you to where you need to go.

Have fun, it's a great river.
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Thank you that's really useful. We don't dive in the Sound unless it's really nasty for trainees then the breakwater fort does the job.
 
If you do not need shore power and have a dinghy you might also consider going a little further upstream and picking up a buoy at Dittisham (pronounced Ditsham). Nice pub and lovely spot. As LJS says the Dart is beautiful and well worth going up to Totnes although you'll need to be careful with the sand banks, so better on a rising tide until you become familiar.
 
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