Local post, re Plymouth/ Fowey areas

[Mavis]

This is a long shot, because of the local nature of this post I fully expect a very limited reply or interest; however I am keen to establish whether any of those sailing between Fowey and Plymouth would ever consider Looe as a place to moor up and stop the night if the authorities could be persuaded to provide visitors mooring buoys just off the beach or attract more boats to anchor where in offshore or calm conditions it is perfectly safe to do so.

Throughout the summer scores and scores of boats sail right past Looe, mostly Plymouth based yachts heading for a weekend Jolly in Fowey. I am sure that most businesses in Looe are oblivious to this fact and the lost trade that literally sails by.

In the almanacs and guides it is says that the harbour is not very inviting for yachts due to the fact that it is a drying harbour, but it actually is perfectly accommodating for bilge keelers or anyone who is confident to lie against the quay where there is visitors berths for four of five rafted up, you just need to enter the harbour around high tide. Whether you want to eat, drink, shop, walk or just relax Looe can match anywhere.

I have no business interest in this at all, but a few of us local yachtsmen can see what Looe is missing out on and would like to see a few visitors mooring buoys being made available.

 

[skisimon]

Sounds like a good idea to me - though like you say, it would be rather weather and sea-state dependent, what with it not being the most sheltered spot along the south coast... (Could be worse though).

I live in Plymouth, and a couple of us had a little day trip down to Looe a month or so ago after we'd missed the Waitrose turning in Saltash. It's certainly a lovely little town, and I was amazed by just how unbelievably clear the water was as it flowed into the harbour.

I'd certainly see Looe as a nice addition for a relaxed weekend, cutting down the sailing distance when you're on a deadline to return a charter boat would be quite nice.

 

[Scillypete]

I spent a very enjoyable night there a couple of weeks ago, good berth at the wall (I have bilge keels so its easy) and the harbour staff are extrememly welcoming and accommodating. I don't really think there is a requirement for mooring buoys outside as if the weather is fit to stay outside anchoring would be fine. I would have thought the town was busy enough in the summer but businesses in town would always be glad of the extra no matter where it comes from. perhaps its down to lack of advertising

 

[doug748]

I have anchored off in the past.
I guess any visitor buoys could easily be damaged in a S or SE gale.
At one time there were foul areas (fisherman's gear?) off the beach which did not encourage anchoring, have they gone?

 

[RUSSH]

I think it’s pretty much as Scillypete and doug748 suggest. It probably just wouldn’t make economic sense in terms of laying, maintaining and collecting fees. HM hasn’t got a boat to go and collect dues and suitable depth of water may even be out of Harbour jurisdiction.

Times have changed and I think with the steady decline in the number of fishing vessels using the port there is an increasing realisation that the leisure market is worth nurturing. Demonstrated by the extra trot of leisure moorings recently added in the river. (Much to the annoyance of some residents who don’t approve of the colour of the new bright orange buoys!)

Geoff Penhaligon (Formerly Isles of Scilly HM) is the Harbour Master and very approachable. Give him a ring or drop him an e-mail and ask him. See link for contact details.

http://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=169

I work in Looe so next time I’m passing I’ll ask him. It’ll be dreckly so don’t wait up for an update.

Lovely little harbour to visit. But Fowey’s better.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

We stop off at Looe whenever we're down that way. Lovely place to visit for a night or two. Usually we have the wall to ourselves but, occaisionally, we've had to raft up.
Harbour staff are always friendly and the ferry men are always helpful. The little shower block for visitors is a real benefit.

I can't see any point in having visitor moorings laid as we would be happy to lie to anchor if conditions permitted

 

[Lady Campanula]

In close on 40 years sailing, much of it around there, I haven't once been into Looe from the sea. Geoff Penhaligan has brought a fine reputation with him and, if I thought there was a fair likelihood of a safe 'alongside' berth overnight, I'd certainly come and have a look.

There are a few questions to be addressed, however. One of them is security.

 

[whisper]

Security - too true!!

In close on 40 years sailing, much of it around there, I haven't once been into Looe from the sea. Geoff Penhaligan has brought a fine reputation with him and, if I thought there was a fair likelihood of a safe 'alongside' berth overnight, I'd certainly come and have a look.

There are a few questions to be addressed, however. One of them is security.

Sorry to be a dissenting minority here but I've been in to Looe twice in the middle of Summer and IMHO it's awful. It's full of yawping drunk teenagers and screaming kids, or atleast E.Looe seems to be. W.Looe, where the vis berth is, is rather better.

 

[Mavis]

Thanks for the encouraging replies. The aim is merely to encourage more visiting yachtsmen to come and sample what we have, and having a boat as I do, I know how important first impressions and word of mouth is when visiting other harbours. Anything that can be done to facilitate this will benefit everyone, and if it is a few mooring bouys and a water taxi that is needed, or better security, etc then I am up for proposing it.

Jeff and the commissioners have been doing an excellent job gradually improving the harbour and have recently installed new centre moorings for local boats, and I believe they are currently upgrading the visitors shower block. So all in all things are looking up.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I think it’s pretty much as Scillypete and doug748 suggest. It probably just wouldn’t make economic sense in terms of laying, maintaining and collecting fees. HM hasn’t got a boat to go and collect dues and suitable depth of water may even be out of Harbour jurisdiction.

Against that I can see two positive effects of having visitor moorings. Firstly, they give a subconscious signal that "This place is OK to stop off at." There's a hint that visitors are welcome, there's a landing place, that sort of thing, which may well attract anchorers.

Secondly, visitor moorings can make a drying harbour more attractive, as they give somewhere easy to stop off while waiting for the tide. Peel harbour, on the IoM, used to have four moorings outside the harbour entrance for just this reason.

It might be that a couple of visitor/waiting moorings outside Looe wouldn't directly pay for themselves in user fees, but they might well help generate other income for the harbour and town.

 

[Tom Price]

Don't you dare!

I started cruising by drying against quay walls in harbours like Looe. Please leave them that way for us old-fashioned (some would say adventurous) sailors.

You'll be trying to 'modernise' Polperro next . . .

 

[doug748]

Of course, some might argue, if it were France a lock would have been built 20 years ago, paid for by the EEC.

 

[Scillypete]

Security whilst we were there was fine, its a small cornish seaside port not a council sink estate. to my mind it beats Fowey by the fact that you can lie alongside and it is nowhere near as pretentious.

The visitors facilities just to the right of the picture were being refurbished during our visit.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I have dried out alongside in the past - fin keel and leaning against the wall. We were made very welcome by the harbour staff. We anchored outside Looe a few weeks ago, but it was a tadge uncomfortable in the SE wind and the slight chop and we went round to Fowey to have a more peaceful nights sleep. We will try again in a few weeks time, and perhaps find it a more peaceful anchorage.

I was struck by how quickly a local tripper/fishing boat came and offered his services as a water taxi - even though we has a tender on davits (with O/B already mounted) on the back of the boat easily available to get ashore in. I quietly admired the chaps efforts to supplement his income.

 

[T_C]

Very timely post since I am toying with the idea of going into Looe this coming Saturday evening.
Been there many times by road, but never by boat, and my previous concerns have been based around lack of space for visiting vessels. We are a bilge keeler and don't really relish the idea of rafting next to something drawing a couple of feet more than we do (given the available depth that's not going to be too big a differential, just makes me feel uneasy).
I'd like to be able to dry out in the middle of the harbour but that appears to be off limits according to pilot books.

In answer to Tom Price, Polperro already has visitor moorings outside the harbour, which is what the OP was mooting?

 

[Mavis]

Just so that everyone is aware, Looe is hosting the bi Annual lugger weekend this weekend and hopefully the bay will be full of traditional sailing vessels of all types. We usualy get a few larger ones come over from France and Brittany and it is quite a sight.

 

[boaterbaz]

Mavis, stick to the redswing, have I got you right?

 

[TiggerToo]

No moorings please: leave it as an anchorage. We all have anchors, right? And they work... right?
Even CQRs work off Looe!

Looe is a delightful place, no need for moorings of tidal gates.

Top star ratings for the shower block (it was free!)

 

[Mavis]

Mavis, stick to the redswing, have I got you right?

Ha Ha, thought you could spell

 

[RUSSH]

Spoke to Harbour Master today. Additional to some of the reasons already expounded it is a safe anchorage in suitable conditions so mooring not necessary. There was a few vessels of varying types anchored off the beach this afternoon. Looked lovely and made me wanton. Hopefully POETS tomorrow and get out on the boat myself.

Regards.