River Yealm

clyst

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Aug 2002
Messages
3,233
Visit site
We have walked through Newton wood alongside the river to Shortflete creek with the dog many times and have often commented and wondered what caused the demise of the trimaran covered in seaweed just inside the creek . Any one know the history ?
BTW anyone noticed how the yealm is fast becoming one huge boat park ? The fairway now is unrecognisable and the spite buoy is lurking hidden away amongst the mooring almost unrecognisable to the first time visitor .
Still a nice place to visit though ....... Even if you can't find a slot for your dinghy on the Yealm steps pontoon .
 
Even when we last visited 3 seasons ago I thought that it was getting more crowded with moorings... With the tide running it can be a challenge to get even a smallish boat like ours turned... It used to be easy upstream for the downstream pontoon ... Now even there I think is tight...

I did watch Snowy spin his cat there a few years ago in a fast tide and held My breath... But the spit bouy needs to be watched for...

May1.jpg


May2.jpg


May4.jpg
 
There used to be an obvious channel through the pool & into the kitley but now I would agree, it's quite hard to find, especially if tide & wind are swinging boats about!
Don't know the story of the trimaran, but it's been there a long time :confused:
Perhaps worth sticking on fleabay as a do-upper :)
 
Slight Thread Drift, but here are some pictures we took on a recent visit "home". You can see the Spit buoy centre right of photo, which was taken on 28 April., around LWS.

P1220185_zpsf8791dbf.jpg


P1220178copy_zps0ae56ef8.jpg


Second picture clearly shows the sand bar at the river entrance (and a couple of guys walking on it), and the bar buoys.

P1220152_zpsd9a9d92c.jpg


Here is a view into the Pool, with the yachts lying across the river.

P1220150_zps7a367ff2.jpg


Looking down river, the channel is fairly clear, although when moored yachts are lying across the river, it does not leave much room.


Cheers,

Michael.
 
I used to really like Newton Ferrars but after the last two visits I dont go there any more. Not only is it like an NCP for boats but there is an air of rapaciousness about the way the HM coillects dues. The last twice we have called in the HM has been there hand out whilst we were still tying up. Contrast that with Salcombe where the guys in the dories these days lead you to a buoy and even thread your rope through the ring for you without asking for money. How things change!

The Helford seems to be going the way of Newton Ferrars too.
 
Contrast that with Salcombe where the guys in the dories these days lead you to a buoy and even thread your rope through the ring for you without asking for money. How things change!

The Helford seems to be going the way of Newton Ferrars too.

You are joking aren't you! I have found one of the guys at Salcombe consistently the most obnoxious person I have had the misfortune to speak to. I always seem to raise him on the radio which leaves me with a sinking feeling for the rest of the weekend. In this world, manners are free of charge!
 
The last time I was in Salcombe, we motored in late of an evening, carried on up past The Bag, and anchored 'Sovrana' a mile further on just below the Salt Stone. Later, in the quiet moonlight, a Harbourmaster's RIB came tearing past, stopped for dues by two or three other boats up in Frogmore Creek, then came tearing back past. He waved to us, and continued on his way.

The last time I was in The Yealm, it was winter and we were the only boat on the pontoon in the Pool. The evening stroll to and from the pub at Noss Creek was a delight and, in the morning, the harbourmaster came by in his launch, waved cheerily to us, and continued down river. Half an hour later he came back, waved cheerily, and passed on back to his slip.

Sometimes, just sometimes..... ;)
 
I did watch Snowy spin his cat there a few years ago in a fast tide and held My breath...

Oh ye of little faith. Anyway I don't go there any more. There's only one buoy I can use and it's occupied 24/7 from April to October. On one occasion I went to the pontoon for water and it was tighter to turn among the moorings than most marinas.
 
Last edited:
May 2012.......
We found the pontoon full and not one boat would willingly let us raft up. Something I've never experienced before.
We eventually imposed ourselves upon one boats skipper who relented and took us alongside.

The pontoon berths are supposed to be for 2 boats which is why they charge extra for multis. Unfortunately the HM isn't around to enforce that and a lot of selfish people try to prevent rafting. It would be nice to see them charge the surcharge for monos who won't raft.
 
I don't know what the fuss is all about.

The Yealm is a delightful place, but not exactly huge, so its bound to get a bit tight sometimes.

I went in there for the first time last August on my way West and was allocated a swinging mooring downstream from the visitor's pontoons. Stayed for two nights and happily paid the not unreasonable visitor's dues to the polite HM.

On my way back in September, I was on the inside of the pontoon, this time just overnight; the HM remained prompt and polite.

Leaving my hard tender on the landing pontoon, I was offered a lift to the pub/YC by two commercial fishermen. At the pub, I was 'watered' most excellently and shown great friendliness by local sailors. At the YC I was invited to join the said locals at their table, and ate a superb meal.

I met two beautiful young women, one from Plymouth, and her friend who was walking the SW Coast Path.

I watched the local gig-racing on the river and cheered them on.

I gave a lift in my tender to a visiting landsman who couldn't get across the river.

Before I left to catch the flood tide up to Dartmouth, I had a perfect fish and chips lunch at the Ship Inn in glorious sunshine, sharing a table with an intelligent and attractive retired lady schoolteacher.

So... a truly nasty place, to be avoided like the plague!
 
Top