cloud7
Well-Known Member
Any information about Berthing in August ( marina ) much appreciated & is it worth the trip
Thanks
Thanks
Isles of Scilly
- Thread starter cloud7
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Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
There isn't one!
roaringgirl
Well-Known Member
Easy - there is no marina. You can pick up a (green visitors') mooring ball in St. Mary's harbour or anchor just outside it. Make sure your charts are up to date and pay attention to tides and depths. Have a good look at the rocks on the charts before you decide to go anywhere. If the weather's horrible then the best you can do is a soggy dinghy ride to shore and a few pints in the Mermaid, if the weather's good then it's like the Caribbean.
dom
Well-Known Member
roaringgirl has it. As for the second question I'd say most definitely Yes! Definitely worth it. It's actually great in almost all conditions as there's always somewhere safe to anchor
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you need to ensure you have a good pilot guide and charts before you depart (as clearly not researched berthing options). A good anchor and confidence to use it is needed to fully enjoy the Isles of Scilly.
With that, and the right weather (not this weekend!) it is a stunning place to visit.
cloud7
Well-Known Member
Spot on the online guide tells you about visiting pontoon / water / electrics , but pilot does not . Hence post
G12
Well-Known Member
Go and buy yourself the RCC pilot book for Scilly, read it, become familiar with the place before you go.
Is it worth it? God yes. And if you're a confident navigator you can usually find a place where everyone else isn't.
My own thoughts are to always have full fuel and water tanks before leaving for Scilly. Both are a pain in the ass to get hold of there, you'll end up doing a dick dance in St Mary's harbour with several other yachts if you find you need either.
EDIT: I'm not sure what visiting pontoon you've read about but there isn't one that'll take a yacht. There's a very wobbly plastic pontoon for dinghies in St Mary's harbour and that's about it.
Is it worth it? God yes. And if you're a confident navigator you can usually find a place where everyone else isn't.
My own thoughts are to always have full fuel and water tanks before leaving for Scilly. Both are a pain in the ass to get hold of there, you'll end up doing a dick dance in St Mary's harbour with several other yachts if you find you need either.
EDIT: I'm not sure what visiting pontoon you've read about but there isn't one that'll take a yacht. There's a very wobbly plastic pontoon for dinghies in St Mary's harbour and that's about it.
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johnalison
Well-Known Member
In our limited experience we have generally had a more restful time in New Grimsby Sound than St Mary's.
BlueChip
Well-Known Member
Agreed, we took take extra water cans, it's a pain to fill up in St Marys with yachts often rafted up and others waiting.
We found a tap on the quay at Tresco and another by the HM office at St Mary's and could fill three 25l cans and take them back in the dinghy
One of those low cost 12v liquid transfer pumps make filling the tank from cans in the dinghy easy and painless.
Fuel and gas is very expensive on the islands so make sure you are are topped up before you go.
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david_bagshaw
Well-Known Member
to add to the above,
Although there are mooring buoys at Tresco, StMarys, Tean sound, to name a few, in August, there are a lot of French and Dutch visitors. So confidence in anchoring , both in gear and technique is a must, but it is worth all the effort!
Food shopping, a coop in st Marys and private supermarket on Tresco, and the nicest small post office on St Martins
Eating ashore is good, and dont miss the steaks at the Turks Head on St Agnes
St martins looking south
St Marys towards the quay Hugh Town
Old Grimsby towards tean and st martins
Beach Tean sound nr karma hotel, St martins
At anch Watermill bay, st marys
looking over towards Turks Head on St Agnes, (white building left of light house)
The buoys off Tresco, New Grimsby
Just a reminder there are plenty of rocks around,
just a tip, dont block the landing quays, they are in use all the time by the inter island ferries.
Pics taken this June.
Although there are mooring buoys at Tresco, StMarys, Tean sound, to name a few, in August, there are a lot of French and Dutch visitors. So confidence in anchoring , both in gear and technique is a must, but it is worth all the effort!
Food shopping, a coop in st Marys and private supermarket on Tresco, and the nicest small post office on St Martins
Eating ashore is good, and dont miss the steaks at the Turks Head on St Agnes
St martins looking south St Marys towards the quay Hugh Town Old Grimsby towards tean and st martins Beach Tean sound nr karma hotel, St martins At anch Watermill bay, st marys looking over towards Turks Head on St Agnes, (white building left of light house) The buoys off Tresco, New Grimsby Just a reminder there are plenty of rocks around, just a tip, dont block the landing quays, they are in use all the time by the inter island ferries.Pics taken this June.
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Balbas
Well-Known Member
I was considering getting down there this August too. Looking at the long term weather, perhaps I'll save it for next year...
AIUI the only real place to tie up alongside is the wall at St Mary's, and then only whilst filling water etc.
AIUI the only real place to tie up alongside is the wall at St Mary's, and then only whilst filling water etc.
ScillyPuffin
Member
You can sometimes tie up on the other side of the wall at St Marys, in front of the Mermaid, but keep an eye on the tide...
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If you need batt charging you can lie alongside the wall at Hughtown for ~4hrs over HW (2m draft) and pay £2 for 'leccy.
A good excuse, if one were needed, to enjoy the Mermaid Inn.
A good excuse, if one were needed, to enjoy the Mermaid Inn.
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Jaluda
New Member
Head for Peninnis Head and go through St. Mary's Sound as it's a wide channel. Turn to starboard for St. Mary's road. Pick up a mooring or anchor in St. Mary's.
Heckler
Well-Known Member
A big ten four, if the op is nervous, he can pick up a buoy there. Do they still do a three for two deal there? I bought diesel in the tourist hotel centre there. Delivered in bidons to my dink on the beach! Water available off the jetty with a bit of faff, otherwise bidons again. It is a superb magical place. Make sure to stock up well on supplies, there is a supermkt in St Marys but not cheap.
Boathook
Well-Known Member
There is also a good small shop / postoffice on Bryher as well.
Boathook
Well-Known Member
A decent anchor, etc plus being able to take the ground opens up a lot more locations.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
A bilge keeler is definite advantage in the Scillies.
Scillypete
Well-Known Member
Loads of visitors moorings available this morning but that’s mainly due to the forecast for the weekend, it’ll probably remain fairly quiet for the rest of the season unless we get a spell of easterly winds.
Whilst in the islands stay abreast of the forecast and move around accordingly to find the best shelter and comfort, just hanging on to a visitors buoy in a west or northwest blow will not be very comfortable or restful.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Nice pics David.
Having spent probably the best part of 6 months aboard in Scilly over the past 20 years, I decided 1 night on the mooring buoys in St Mary’s was enough for me.
Our favourite place are the Cove, between St Agnes and Gugh, Old Grimsby Sound , and St Helens Pool, which is great in any weather with shelter available within minutes from wind blowing from any direction.
Having spent probably the best part of 6 months aboard in Scilly over the past 20 years, I decided 1 night on the mooring buoys in St Mary’s was enough for me.
Our favourite place are the Cove, between St Agnes and Gugh, Old Grimsby Sound , and St Helens Pool, which is great in any weather with shelter available within minutes from wind blowing from any direction.
