Falmouth and Helford River queries

[YachtAllegro]

Hi

We're hiring two Cornish Shrimpers next week to potter around the Fal and Helford rivers with our three kids. I've not been in the area since sailing a Corribee there with our first child, then 18 months old. Since then, we've moved to Scotland and have sailed almost entirely on the west coast of Scotland for the last decade or so. As a result I have a couple of questions, particularly about the possibility of coming to the end of the day and not simply finding a deserted bay to anchor in!

Firstly, I'm aware there are several marinas within the Fal estuary, and also a number of pontoon moorings which attract a charge. Is there any charge to simply anchor? And any restrictions on where to do so?

Secondly, the chart of the Helford river is full of warnings about no anchoring due to oyster beds, yet the pilot books wax lyrical about exploring the upper reaches of the river in a small boat. The two seem slghtly contradictory to me - if we sail up the Helford river is there anywhere we can stop other than the boatyard at Gweek and, I believe, the sailing club at Porth Navas? What about anchoring in depths that will dry out at low water, is that also forbidden? I'd be keen to explore the Helford river, but part of exploring is, for me, stopping and going ashore...

Cheers
Patrick

 

[WestwardBound]

The West Country Cruising Companion book is a good resource. If you find a deserted anchorage there next week you really will have to be asking if it is somewhere you ought to be (but you might be lucky). You can certainly anchor in the Helford river. There are places that you can go ashore and at least one place that you may not (I think) despite the appealing kiosk on the beach. Depending on conditions and timings, anchoring may well be preferable to rafting on a mooring. You can ring up the respective harbour masters for the latest info.

http://www.helfordrivermoorings.co.uk/general.htm

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

You'll get better advice from a local, but here's what I learned in the last few weeks.

There were several boats anchored to the west of the moorings in Helford, and plenty of room around them (we joined them briefly so that we could take a dinghy to Frenchman's Creek). Certainly no sign of anyone anchoring further west than them though. Plenty of boats anchored in the various places as you enter Helford but again, bags of room for more.

Anchoring near the Falmouth Haven marina is not cheap, according to someone next to us in that marina who was moving his boat out there, about £13 for his 32ish feet. St Mawes was a reasonable £5 for lunch on a visitors buoy (37ft).

 

[FWB]

If you are hiring local boats.....from Mylor perhaps?....then there will be no charge for anchoring apart from off Falmouth Haven..used to be called Visitors Yacht Haven. There is a charge for all boats using the pontoons in the Fal. Non local boats are charged for anchoring in the Fal..Truro Harbour Master.There is no charge for boats anchoring in the Percuil (St Mawes) although there is now a new Harbour Master at St Mawes who may invoke charges in future,hopefully not.
There are lots of places to anchor in the Helford, no charge. West of the Oyster fishery there are restrictions but mostly ignored and many people anchor off Tremayne Quay. The Oyster Fishery is closing down next year.
Showers and food at the Helford River Sailing Club. Also at Porth Navas.
In an East wind the best shelter is in St Just Pool which is opposite Mylor.....go and visit the stunning church!
St Just pool...

The church..

Anchorage off Durgan in the Helford..

Enjoy !

 

[NPMR]

For some reason, people prefer to congregate at anchor off Durgan but we prefer the other side of the estuary, as you get better sunsets and somehow, the boat seems to sit facing up-river pretty much all the time (nice and quiet on the anchor). If you can dry out, you even go alongside Tremayne Quay.

You can anchor off the Trebah Garden beach as well - May be even possible to get an ice cream?

All Helford assumes no Easterly.

Top of Carrick Roads has several anchorages that are free, right up to quite close to Truro - but no facilities.

If you want beers and pub grub, you'll need to pay but essentially, there are loads of places to stop, including the Helford. At this time of the year, the places should be easy to spot - just look for the other anchored boats or use the big scale Helford Imray chart.

The fact that we look for the places where there are no other boats just lets you know we're a bit anti-social .... ? But welcome to this superb sailing area. We hope you enjoy it.

 

[Birdseye]

With a lifting keel dinghy like a Shrimper, you should have no problem finding congenial places to anchor overnight. They wont be as solitary as in Scotland because there are rather more people down here. And you might or might not be charged depending on how well hidden you are - the HMs at Falmouth and Truro are fairly active, Helford and St Mawes less so. Dont forget that there are some nice little places down the Lizard peninsula if the weather is good enough. And if the weather is really carp then you can always head up towards Truro.

 

[fisherman]

All Helford assumes no Easterly.

.

In which case you can slip into Frenchman's and dry out, or anchor in the mouth of Port Navas creek

 

[peter bush]

I am surprised that no one has picked up on the fact that "non local " boats are charged for visiting/anchoring in the Fal.How is "local" defined?

 

[jdc]

...How is "local" defined?

By whether you have already paid dues which include the local charges. If your boat is kept at a local marina or mooring, then you have paid and so are local. It's not a question of where you live or were born!