Question re Salcombe

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dom

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I've never been to Salcombe, would like to visit, but would prefer to avoid the massive summer jam.

I'm trying to get a feel for when the high-season kicks off: I'm guessing June/July? I'm thinking of going later this month.

Also is it true that the place turns into Chelsea-on-Sea during the high season?

Tks
 
It does get crowded and rafting up can be a bouncy affair. I prefer to anchor round the corner North of the Bag. The harbour staff are more pleasant than they used to be, I think they actually let you set your anchor before demanding money. I had a mooring there many years ago, but glad now to be in the Carrick Roads.
Avoid Merlin Rocket week!
Useful link...
http://www.salcombeyc.org.uk/
Nice beaches
CopyofUntitled-1.jpg
 
I keep my boat at Dartmouth, so am a regular visitor to Salcombe.
Yes it does get crowded in the holiday season. Any time from Summer half term holidays onwards,
(end of May this year).

The main channel is swamped with the local dingy racing at any time during day light hours - but its
a lovely place with a real buzz to it.

I've always found the harbour staff to be very helpful - they will always get you in somewhere .... meeting you
in their launch as you enter. If there is a spare visitors mooring, maybe rafting up, they'll put you there, or on the
visitors pontoon round the back.

When those places are all gone, they'll let you raft on a private mooring round the back where its nice and peaceful.
Don't be put off by the crowds !!
 
We were there in late June last year, moored up at the Salt Stone a bit further up river, water taxi available, and not too busy.

A lovely place, friendly staff, clean showers with lashings of hot water. Perhaps the idyllic sail, bright sunshine, a F4 in the right direction the day we left have tinted my glasses!

Looking forward to going back.
 
Don't buy fuel there!!!!!!!

I don't know if the fuel barge is still there but when we used it (just the once!) a few years ago, it was by far the most expensive fuel we'd ever bought.
 
Thanks guys that's all really helpful - looking forward to the trip now!

I'm coming from the Solent, so the plan for going west is usually to wait for the wind to swing into the east, with a forecast for it to be back in the west a few days later. That brings Salcombe within easy daylight range in the summer and the possibility of an asymmetric powered broad reach both there and back ...well that's the plan anyway :D

As for foeu's photo -- ooh I so want to jump into that Laser :encouragement:
 
Be aware that private school holidays are not fully in sync with state schools and Salcombe is a mecca for the type of people who pay for private schooling. The prevailing accent in Salcombe the week before the state schools break up for summer is very "ok yaa, mummy daddy".
 
Goldie said:
Don't buy fuel there!!!!!!!

I don't know if the fuel barge is still there but when we used it (just the once!) a few years ago, it was by far the most expensive fuel we'd ever bought.
Click to expand...
I bought 5l of outboard fuel there once, so the price was not to important. When we apologised for the tiny amount we are buying, the chap told us that the kids with speedboats/ribs are give a cheque for £1000 by their dads and when it is used up they just ask for more.

Of course, the reason it is popular is because it's a nice place. I am always happy to be there during Merlin week. The racing is fun to watch and you can still get a shower at the YC as long as you choose the right time.
 
dom said:
I've never been to Salcombe, would like to visit, but would prefer to avoid the massive summer jam.

I'm trying to get a feel for when the high-season kicks off: I'm guessing June/July? I'm thinking of going later this month.

Also is it true that the place turns into Chelsea-on-Sea during the high season?

Tks
Click to expand...

No more so than many Solent stopping places. These days Salcombe is fairly welcoming, much more so than the Yealm for example. The harbour launches will always find you a place though in high season it will likely mean farting on a buoy. But its one of the better places to stop all in.
 
Don't miss the fish & chips on the main street, a right turn from the tender tie up pontoon.

The Winking Prawn offers a great vantage point for oogling Yummy Mummys.
 
Many happy memories of sailing a dinghy in and around Salcombe Hr.
With a deep-ish fin keel boat, it seems to me, the fun is likely to be more limited. The deep part of the harbour is unpleasantly full of moorings, and the best parts of the harbour are towards the heads of various creeks (where also are sundry pubs), but of course the creeks dry out at low water. There are also some very fine beaches, but getting there also requires a dinghy, or else ferry to Portlemouth.
Also some marvelous walks around the headlands (Bolt Head/Tail, and towards Start Pt) on both sides of the harbour.
 
I'd say it's busy here during the summer but the six school holiday weeks are a bit mad. However, it's only a small part of Salcombe that gets rammed. I'm very lucky to be able to take advantage when conditions suit.
 
Very helpful harbour staff.
Beautiful surroundings but very busy in the main school breaks including half terms. Not a single visitors mooring occupied today, but a few boats taking advantage of the early season special deal on Normandy pontoon.
As others have said it is an acquired taste in high season, and my pet gripe- the standard of waterman ship/ seamanship from the average visiting RIB driver ,is appalling.
At the moment the early season deal means no mooring fees just harbour dues, but that still means paying about£10 a night for buoy or anchorage.
As a lifelong east coast sailor I found this pay everywhere whatever you do approach a bit strange, but you get used to it, and a round trip of 40 miles to the boat is much cheaper than one of 180 miles.


Not a
 
birdseye said:
No more so than many Solent stopping places. These days Salcombe is fairly welcoming, much more so than the Yealm for example. The harbour launches will always find you a place though in high season it will likely mean farting on a buoy. But its one of the better places to stop all in.
Click to expand...

Only when the wind gets up :encouragement:
 
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