Local knowledge, River Tamar

[Scillypete]

I'm doing a bit of forward planning as next year I will be attending a function at the China fleet club. Now being an average tightwad I figured that I could sail over and stay on the boat to keep costs down but what I really would like to know is whether it would be possible to anchor somewhere near the premises and just walk in or across their grounds. The boat is a twin keel so can happily take the bottom or mud.

 

[clyst]

Hi Pete not sure if you can anchor close enough to walk across their grounds but you can within easy walking distance . Even on the "free" pontoon berth just upstream of the two bridges .

 

[Scillypete]

Hi Pete not sure if you can anchor close enough to walk across their grounds but you can within easy walking distance . Even on the "free" pontoon berth just upstream of the two bridges .

Just looked on Google earth the 'Free' pontoon looks to be a fair old stagger away and I take it that it is not that good from a security point of view. I will have an inflatable and can see what looks like a small rocky bay right by the car park at the China fleet club, would it be reasonably possible to anchor out from there and row in.

 

[snowleopard]

You might be able to get ashore but there's an awful lot of mud. Even if the tide is right for getting ashore you'll be mudlarking on the way back!

I make it a little under 2 miles from the Saltash pontoon but there is no guarantee you'd get a berth, some people use it as free long-term storage. I'd be reluctant to leave a boat there overnight as it's very close to the pubs.

 

[longjohnsilver]

You can see the Saltash pontoons from the Tamar Bridge webcam. We've spent a couple of nights there without any security problems although the pontoon is open to everyone. As already said there always appear to be permanently moored boats there so getting space can be a lottery.
If there are no spaces then why not moor/anchor just off and use the dinghy to land on the pontoon and then walk/taxi to the Fleet Club?

 

[TiggerToo]

I'm doing a bit of forward planning as next year I will be attending a function at the China fleet club. Now being an average tightwad I figured that I could sail over and stay on the boat to keep costs down but what I really would like to know is whether it would be possible to anchor somewhere near the premises and just walk in or across their grounds. The boat is a twin keel so can happily take the bottom or mud.

as others have said, the mud is the problem. I am not sure China Fleet would let you in with muddy boots! They are rather posh, you now . and I am not sure there is access to their club directly from the water.

I have never had problems with security on the pontoon (touch wood) and we have left Tigger there for a "few hours" at at time. The urchins who populate the pontoon fishing and jumping in the water at Xmas are actually quite OK. As far as I know if there is any worry about security is for the boats on the moorings. But that is not too bad either: just don't leave a flashy outboard hanging off the rails unsecured. If I were you, I'd try and leave the boat on the pontoon and get a taxi (or walk the couple of miles).