good marina suggestions from IOW heading west

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SolentPhill

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This weekend is the start of a 2 week trip where I plan to head west, Ive tried for the past 2 years but the weather has beaten me. I plan to go around the south coast to Poole then Im in new areas.

I have a 40ft cruiser so am not limited to hight anywhere.

Can those who have been before recommend a good marina and a restaurant in that area, I guess weymouth would be next on the plan after Poole, I have the almanac and will start passage planning on Thursday, the lap top,E120, charts and your help should make this a bit of fun. I hear Lulworth cove is nice so lunch at anchor there is planned.

Thanks

SP
 
SolentPhill said:
This weekend is the start of a 2 week trip where I plan to head west, Ive tried for the past 2 years but the weather has beaten me. I plan to go around the south coast to Poole then Im in new areas.

I have a 40ft cruiser so am not limited to hight anywhere.

Can those who have been before recommend a good marina and a restaurant in that area, I guess weymouth would be next on the plan after Poole, I have the almanac and will start passage planning on Thursday, the lap top,E120, charts and your help should make this a bit of fun. I hear Lulworth cove is nice so lunch at anchor there is planned.

Thanks

SP
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Well, the main obstacle is Portland, so you might as well try to time events for slack water around there. Poole is an any old w/e trip, so from Solent head straight for a break/snack at Worbarrow bay, and dont bother with Lulworth car park. Great coastline from Swanage west, so stay inshore.
Then, might be a stop at Weymouth, but otherwise you want best crossing over Lyme Bay for wind/tide as you can get. If that means a day in Weymouth, why not, but Lyme Bay would be my focus. If its better today, save Weymouth for another day, and get cracking. OK, its only 45 miles or so, but it can be a right old slog. If weather is kind, add the extra 10 miles and run along the coast.
When you get to Torbay, you have Torquay- no fuel there-(big marina, funny town)or Brixham -marina 10 mins from town, and town is a true trawler village -and fish and chip front+ fuel. I like it for a change from normal marinas, but dont expect much from the town. Carvery between the marina and town in the pub was pretty good in fact.
Or push on to Dartmouth in one go .
From Dartmouth on, its truly fantasic, and the next stop is usually on 10-20 miles away, so the only problem is you dont do much boating !! Salcombe/Fowey/Falmouth- first time we actually stayed at pendennis, and I'd recommend that of the three marinas.
Only thing is, even in June we had alot of problems getting a berth anywhere, so phone ahead.
But dont rush it; there are alot of small bays,coves,rivers (Yealm of course, and we liked Teignmouth though its a small pontoon));some you might need the tender;some you might just anchor off, but the gem of the whole place is the in between spots, so slow right down and poke your nose in while everyone else roars on to the next well known spot !
And fingers crossed with the weather ....
 
Hi Phil,

I just made a similar trip; Portland marina (next to Weymouth) is a good choice if you don't fancy rafting up on the town quay or going under the bridge...Portland is only a 15-20min bus or taxi ride from Weymouth centre there is a bus stop right outside marina.

Poole town quay marina is also nice but book early if you can as it gets busy, thursday nights they have a firework display just off Brownsea island so the marina is a great place to watch them.
 
Weymouth is obvious first stop. If you have not been to Lulworth cove, go if only to look at it and Doral?? Rock with big hole in it. Weymouth is good fun. Yes you will be in a raft, maybe five boats out. Else you can go to Portland all on your own. Kids will love Weymouth. I like it for the few hours there.

Take the inner passage round Portland Bill, it's dead easy, just keep any rough stuff on your left, and keep going round till it's not rough. Then you can go out.

Now there is a big choice for destinations. All about fifty miles. The choices will be partly weather dependant. If the weather is kind, take the coast route and head for Lyme regiss?? Anchor or take a buoy and go to the beach.

Next stop as above Teignmouth, but only in off shore winds. Forget the almanac, you can go in most any time. Bit old worldy, but well sheltered, cheap and fun.

Torquay if your into big marinas and big towns. I like Brixham better, there is a lovely little cove on the way in if you've time. We like the HM's pontoon best, it's just by the pub restraunt mentioned above and quicker into town.

Then it's on to Dartmouth (Not to be missed). Salcolmbe's a jem. Dont miss out Bure Island, then down to the Yelm. Pick fuel up in Plymouth. Sutton Harbour is best for the town.

Where you wanna go next??
 
You have some good sound advice and tips there...I truely hope the weather is better than just recently. I've been away since 1st August down the west coast to Salcombe and it's been miserable. Windy most of the time, cloudy nearly all the time rain on and off.
I'm sitting in Dartmouth today and it hasn't stopped raining all bl..dy day. Can't see Kingswear for the mist!!!!!!!
Good old english summer...typically I missed all the good hot summer weather we had in June/ July due to work commitments!
 
crazy4557 said:
You have some good sound advice and tips there...I truely hope the weather is better than just recently. I've been away since 1st August down the west coast to Salcombe and it's been miserable. Windy most of the time, cloudy nearly all the time rain on and off.
I'm sitting in Dartmouth today and it hasn't stopped raining all bl..dy day. Can't see Kingswear for the mist!!!!!!!
Good old english summer...typically I missed all the good hot summer weather we had in June/ July due to work commitments!
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We turned round at Plymouth when we saw all the rain scheduled (and ran back to Poole in one afternoon then back home to Tonbridge - seeing you're round the corner')!

To the OP

Crossing Lyme Bay you have the option to tender in at Lyme Regis for lunch or afternoon tea, which worked for us - then you pick Torquay, Brixham or Dartmouth at will. If the conditions are good and the tender's handy then a lunch stop at Hope Cove on the run across to Plymouth(but care where you anchor ie stay just outside the basses(?) rocks., Burgh Island for tea or sneak into the Erme estuary on a good tide for a picnic. The latter 3 need care with time and tide.

Marina wise Torquay town marina was the cheapest by miles (if that's a relevant factor), and a wide range of eating options. Whilst QAB looked after us really well in Plymouth you might prefer Sutton Harbour. Lot's of restaurant choices. We didn't eat out at Dartmouth and gave Salcombe a complete miss.

Hope you get the weather.
 
SolentPhill said:
This weekend is the start of a 2 week trip where I plan to head west, Ive tried for the past 2 years but the weather has beaten me. I plan to go around the south coast to Poole then Im in new areas.

I have a 40ft cruiser so am not limited to hight anywhere.

Can those who have been before recommend a good marina and a restaurant in that area, I guess weymouth would be next on the plan after Poole, I have the almanac and will start passage planning on Thursday, the lap top,E120, charts and your help should make this a bit of fun. I hear Lulworth cove is nice so lunch at anchor there is planned.

Thanks

SP
Click to expand...

You've had plenty of good advice here.
One marina to miss is definitely Dart Marina - on P side above Higher Ferry. VERY expensive.
Darthaven is the best choice here IMHO.

If you can bear to sleep tied to a buoy then Dittisham - 2 to 3 miles upstream, is the place to go - lovely spot with atleast one excellent pub serving good food.
 
Agree with all the above, but you are missing out the best spots if you restrict yourself to marinas only...:(
 
Will be in Dartmouth/Torquay/Brixham for 2 weeks from sunday, these are my favourite places, have booked a berth on Torquay (MDL) for a couple of nights, the town marina is not much cheaper and the facilities are not as good, Brixham (also MDL) is good, my poor dog walks miles around there as we go to many places from marina and he loves the fresh fish, Will spend a few days up and down the dart based at darthaven, these places are all different experiences and will keep us ocupied for the 2 week break
Dont be put off by Lyme bay as although it can be quite nasty it can also be very nice, I usually pass portland bill about 4-5 miles off and have been ok
 
jimg said:
Agree with all the above, but you are missing out the best spots if you restrict yourself to marinas only...:(
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Forgot about all the other places in between, theres plenty of places to drop anchor if the weather permits, my favourites are Babbacombe bay and Fishcombe cove however there are many more to choose from.
 
Our cruise in company kicks off on Wednesday 18th - first stop Weymouth - we are booked on the pontoon in front of the HM office. Then down to Torquay (MDL) for two days with a BBQ at the Carery Arms. Then back to the Solent via Lyme Regis on 22nd August.

We will be 14 boats so any of you lot around - come and say high.
 
Solitaire said:
Our cruise in company kicks off on Wednesday 18th - first stop Weymouth - we are booked on the pontoon in front of the HM office. Then down to Torquay (MDL) for two days with a BBQ at the Carery Arms. Then back to the Solent via Lyme Regis on 22nd August.

We will be 14 boats so any of you lot around - come and say high.
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Will do, keep us informed of your movements and will try to meet up
 
aquapower said:
Will do, keep us informed of your movements and will try to meet up
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Easy really - 18th Aug we will be in Weymouth, 19th & 20th Torquay. Option here is to take the guys either to Salcombe or Dartmouth - may be both. Then 21st we head to Lyme Regis - not a known stop over but we know the HM and he is keen to welcome us. smallest boat is our 7 meter rib which will act as pathfinder, Motala, our Storebro will be running with Powerskipper at the helm running tail end charlie and I'll be aboard Sealine T51 (Lady C, formerly Jenny Wren!). In between we have 4 Targa 44's , an Absolute 41, a new Phantom 48, a couple of Targa 47's - that will do for starters!!
 
Solitaire said:
Easy really - 18th Aug we will be in Weymouth, 19th & 20th Torquay. Option here is to take the guys either to Salcombe or Dartmouth - may be both. Then 21st we head to Lyme Regis - not a known stop over but we know the HM and he is keen to welcome us. smallest boat is our 7 meter rib which will act as pathfinder, Motala, our Storebro will be running with Powerskipper at the helm running tail end charlie and I'll be aboard Sealine T51 (Lady C, formerly Jenny Wren!). In between we have 4 Targa 44's , an Absolute 41, a new Phantom 48, a couple of Targa 47's - that will do for starters!!
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Hi David,

We were hoping to be the 5th Targa 44 on your cruise, following the recent purchase of our new boat "Breeze" , however due to work our weeks holiday now starts on the 20th with a Fri night in Yarmouth, then a trip West hopefully across Lyme Bay straight to Salcombe or Dartmouth (weather permitting) for the Sat night. Sounds like you have a short cruise planned, as it seems you're heading back East on the 21st? We hope to spend the week in the West Country (weather permitting...there's a theme here!!) and head back to the Solent on the following Sat/Sun/Mon?
We'll keep a look out for you and hopefully say Hi.

Regards

Phil
 
Solitaire said:
Easy really - 18th Aug we will be in Weymouth, 19th & 20th Torquay. Option here is to take the guys either to Salcombe or Dartmouth - may be both. Then 21st we head to Lyme Regis - not a known stop over but we know the HM and he is keen to welcome us. smallest boat is our 7 meter rib which will act as pathfinder, Motala, our Storebro will be running with Powerskipper at the helm running tail end charlie and I'll be aboard Sealine T51 (Lady C, formerly Jenny Wren!). In between we have 4 Targa 44's , an Absolute 41, a new Phantom 48, a couple of Targa 47's - that will do for starters!!
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Phew, thank heavens I'll be back in Stratford by then!!!
Only joking - it would have been nice to meet up with such stalwarts as yourself and Powerskipper off the forum.
Hope you are blessed with good weather for the trip.
 
Solitaire said:
and I'll be aboard Sealine T51 (Lady C, formerly Jenny Wren!).
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Shame we wont be around to greet you, David.
It would have been good to have seen the old girl again.

Ohhh - memories......

JennyWren-Front_Small.jpg


I'm sure she wont let you down - she was always good to us.

JennyWrenRunningShot2_Small.jpg
 
Illusion said:
Sounds like you have a short cruise planned, as it seems you're heading back East on the 21st? We hope to spend the week in the West Country (weather permitting...there's a theme here!!) and head back to the Solent on the following Sat/Sun/Mon?
We'll keep a look out for you and hopefully say Hi.

Regards

Phil
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The length of the cruise was dictated by the group really. Our original plan was to do a X channel but general consensus was to make this route more favourable. Most participants felt a full week was too long for some.

Last years cruise over the same period was a great success so we will see how this one goes.

Maybe see you on next years cruise Phil?
 
Hurricane said:
Shame we wont be around to greet you, David.
It would have been good to have seen the old girl again.
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Yes, shame you will be sunning yourself in the Med! Well, weather looks set fair for next week so we will make the most of it.

Brian will be single handed so following my little confrontation with a taxi earlier in the yera I'm going to "crew" for Brian. The "Old Girl" is running well and Brian loves her.
 
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