Maenporth

[T_C]

Any local knowledge for this little cove between the Helford and Falmouth? Thought we might stop there for a lunchtime swim if we can over the next couple of weeks.

Looks pretty reasonable and straighforward from the chart. We went there by road the other weekend to meet up with some friends and I expected to see a few boats out of Falmouth using it as a day time anchorage, but there were none.
The weather was pretty settled at the time, so I wondered if there are any uncharted hazards to be wary of. Anyone know for sure?

 

[barfly4657]

Anchorages between Falmouth & Helford

Both Maen Port and Swanpool offer anchorages off sandy beaches edged with rocks and exposed to E-SE-S and NE-E-SE respectively. There are wrecks and foul ground further North but the approach appears clear. Was there still a café ashore?

 

[gjgm]

Should be fine;its quite a shallow beach, so watch the tide as like a number of the beaches around there, the water runs out a fair distance ! Also try the beach opposite Portscatho, eastwards a bit.. Porthcurnic.

 

[VicS]

Went to Maenporth several times for holidays in our camping days and dinghy sailed from there.

No surprises anywhere that I recall provided you keep clear of the cliffs either side. A very gently shelving beach means that at low tide you'll be anchored a fair way out.

 

[NPMR]

Agree with the other commentators - stay clear of 'the edges' where there be rocks and stuff. Sloping beach so you can go in till you almost touch at low water and then wait for the tide to fill in around you.

At higher tides it will be a long row ashore for an ice cream - melted by the time you get back to the crew with theirs (I know - took ages to clean up the tender!)

 

[VicS]

a long row ashore for an ice cream - melted by the time you get back to the crew with theirs (I know - took ages to clean up the tender!)

All swim ashore, enjoy their ice creams, then swim back to the boat!
No ice cream in the tender
No sand either!

Easiest way to clean out any dinghy is to capsize it!

 

[T_C]

Thanks for all the feedback, with luck the weather gods will shine on us and we will pay a visit to Maenporth later this month.

We are a bilge keeler drawing little over 1m so depth shouldn't be of too great a concern.

In answer to a previous post, the cafe is still on the beach, and there was a rather good restaurant just over the road which served us a wonderful lunch, part of the reason for wanting to return by boat!