River Yealm and Newton Ferrers

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BlueSkyNick

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Starting to plan our summer (early June) cruise to the West Country, along with others in the SC, and one place suggested for a stopover is Newton Ferrers.

The almanac says the entrance is easy except in strong SW/W'lies. Butg there is a chuffing great sand bar across most of the entrance. Just how wide is the channel at this point?

There is also a comment about manoevring room in the harbour being limited in certain conditions.

What's it really like for a 13m boat, albeit with a shallow keel (1.5m) ?
 
it is narrow once you are in the moorings and the entrance can be be bad in strong SW's with the wind blowing into the channel. Generally though the entrance is easy in good light/vis and you follow the markers for the channel correctly. The dog leg on the way back towards the headland and the starboard hand bouy it is narrow as the bar encrouches at this point. Generally once past and following the channel with the land close on each side the water deepens. As you approach the mooring you may see that it's crowded in the summer and a bit of a squeeze but there usually enough space. You can swing round here OK.
 
These pictures were taken about 4 years ago which gives you some idea, but I don't know if the bar has advanced more in recent years, going in:

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looking back out:

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The pilotage instructions are pretty good in the almanac - you do wonder what you are heading into the first time - not to be missed.
 
Make sure you pick out the entrance correctly, and follow the mark in, stay close (VERY CLOSE) to the port hand bouys as your coming in, then watch the leading marks......

The current can run quite quickly once inside.

There is a SECOND bar in the middle of the moorings, make sure that you leave the port hand marker to PORT as you approach the two main visitors bouys.... There is a very nice house right on the waters edege on the north side of the chanel which is basically were the inner bar sticks out from....

Make certain you are familiar with this feature and are looking out for the port hand marker, I suspect more people come unstuck on that feature than the outer bar!!

There are two big v moorings which can take 3 or so boats rafted, plus two big pontoons which can take quite a few boats... with 1.5 meters draft you wont have a problem,

Just keep a good lookout for other boats manouvering and keep in control, If the tide is running. I draw 2 meters and usually leave 2 hours either side of low water for comforts sake.....

Water is available on the pontoon at the HM office, showers are excellent, We always take on Drinking water in seperate containers from the tap next to the shower block.... Very nice water.

HM helpfull, I have left the boat their before for a considerable time due to weather.

The Lower pontoon gets more light in the evening, but is a bit more rowdy, try to get on the inside and be prepared to raft.

Water taxi guy is nice enough, with a good boat, but unreliable and short hours... youll need the dingy.

Spar 10 minute walk from the HM.

Its a great spot.

Once you have done the entrance youll wonder what the fuss was all about.

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Its a very sheltered spot, well worth visiting, all of the pubs are good.
 
The Ship Inn in Noss Mayo serves fantastic food. In my view one of the best small harbours on the South Coast.
 
I wouldn't worry too much. We draw 2.2m and visit regularly - spent all of August 2007 there as working nearby. Very little in the way of wifi, phone or tv signal so did resort to the cruel amusement of watching the overconfident underestimate the tidal flow when mooring. However, if you are sensible there is no problem.

The visitors' moorings offer more privacy (although be prepared for 3 boat raft in peak season) but pontoons can be sociable. Harbour patrol visits daily for fees - very helpful and pleasant.

Great walking in the area if you like that sort of thing. Hope you enjoy your summer cruise.
 
I think that I rafted up next to you in the last weekend or so of August, Dont you have a little dog on board as well??

I didnt see mention on your website... if I recall I think that we shared the mooring on that weekend with a big IP 42....

But you were on one of the V moorings down from the pontoon.....

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We go regularly, dont bother with tide table or charts.

You do need to get into centre of bay before turning in. The rockes either side, a bit horific. But still, you have a mile or so to play with.
Once in the bay, the enterance is quite obvious, it is quite easy.

You dont head for it in a storm, as Plymouth is so close.
 
If it was a naughty little black and tan terrier then it was definitely us! We did end up next to a big IP 42 with a couple who were planning on going off cruising - massive thing for the LOA.

Our website is a bit out of date...we're not too techy and hence rely on daughter to update for us. Hence we have our last major trip on there but not the latest stuff....like our new baby - a 13 foot Falmouth Oyster punt (circa 1900) which we re-launch tomorrow!
 
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Nice couple though! We were on t'other side, even though we are a bit tall for 31 feet, you probably didnt notice us!

We have a little ginger dog that wears a LJ when on deck.....

Its a Bavaria (Shock horror) 31, Talisman........

Nice weekend that one.... I think there was a old wooden boat coming back from a rally on the other mooring with a guy playing guitar, seemed to be particularly keen on all the James Blunt stuff....

Are you back in Falmouth now?

The Punt sounds great, Maybe we'll see you next year!

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Theres load of room really. But coming from the East, head about half way across the bay. Then turn 90 deg, to starboard. Heading for the church. Once the chanel opens up, to starboard, do another 90 deg to the east. The chanel is well marked and easy to follow. Once inside Just look out for the port side marker, which may be hiden behind boats. Theres a bit of a bar sticks out.

Ahead you will see a pontoon. in the river. Moor there.Or there is another further up. You maybe have to raft.

The pubs are all in the drying reaches. You can go ashore and walk. Or take the dinghy, with any tide. Take a torch, it's quite good fun findind the boat /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif when sloshed.
 
As you don't draw less than a metre with 2 x 250HP to get you out of difficulty I do hope you WILL refer to charts and pilot books (some debate elsewhere about whether Mark Fishwick's opus is the best for you).

Look closely at the second of lescargot's (brilliant) pics: there's an interesting passage INSIDE the Mewstone when the tide serves (another at the entrance to Dartmouth is more obvious - just follow the tripper boats.)
Should be easy peasy for the Club's Cruiser Captain, so lead on McDuff!
 
As others say, the entrance is very straightforward as long as you identify the marks correctly. If you see a yellow bouy ahead you've got it wrong!

There is one danger that can catch you out though - if you sail a straight line between the entrance and the outside of the Mewstone you'll be uncomfortably close to an unmarked reef (it's clear enough on the chart but hard to spot at HW in calm weather).
 
I think it would be best to do two things from my experience here is One have a local alternative port and two contact the harbour master as the draught and bar seems to change.

I contacted the harbour master and was given a lot of good current info, but it applied to that particular time.
 
Smashing spot. As has been pointed out, as you go in the rocks on the right will seem very close, this is OK as it is pretty steep to. Your draught is fine but you will not have much clearance at LW springs, where much of Cellar Bay goes down to maybe 1.9m, BTW this bay (just past the bar in front of the two red bouys in the photo) is a great place to anchor for a swim. With sufficient rise of tide, local boats go over the bar as it is clean hard, flat sand. Turning is not a problem but be very aware of the tidal flow, which can run hard. Loads of boats will be going in and out in June, if in doubt eyeball their course; there is room to pass each other in the narrow part of the entrance.
 
In our opinion, the friendiest place along the whole south coast. As already mentioned, the HM is great. Our engine failed as we were approaching the bar so had to sail in - no problem. We were "stuck" there for 9 glorious days whilst we fitted a new engine. Everyone was so helpful. We asked at the yacht club if there was a launderette nearby and was told not to bother as there was a washing machine and tumble drier upstairs that we could use at anytime, they even provided the powder. A week later we mentioned to a local boat owner moored near us that we were running out of clean clothes and he insisted on taking a bin liner full home with him and said to call by that evening to collect. Regular inexpensive bus service into Plymouth. We will be calling in again this year and really looking forward to it.
 
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