Sciliy Isles trip Q1 - Newlyn

S

SimonFa

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 Feb 2013
Messages
6,434
Location
Me North Dorset. Venezia in Portland.
Visit site
I'm planning a trip down to SI next June. I'll be short handed and my mate gets sea sick if he has to go below during a passage for anything longer than a trip to the heads.

With that in mind I'm thinking about a long passage from Weymouth to Falmouth, about 24 hours, then a rest before going round to Nelyn for a bit of a longer rest before making the trip across. I'm thinking of doing it this way so we arrive fairly fresh as it's the first trip there and I don't want us both tired, worse still him sea sick, in case something goes wrong when we get there.

Anyway, looking at the Shell Guide it isn't exactly full of high praise about Newlyn and implies that visitors are tolerated, at best, and my be shoved somewhere uncomfortable. VisitMyHarbour is a bit better and says that there may be some improvements in the number visitor berths for 2015.

So does anyone know what's going on for 2015 and is Newlyn a good place to rest before going on to SI?

Thanks in advance,

Simon
 
I always preferred Penzance but it has tidal lock so either anchored off or picked up a visitors mooring in summer while waiting. Facilities adequate and very friendly staff, fuel berth outside lock.
 
I have done the trip to Scillies many times (Don't call it Scilly Isles you will upset the locals!) Always departed from Falmouth which from Lizard onwards puts your heading due west which will in most cases mean close hauled all the way but doable in decent conditions, Generally allow 12-14 hours for the trip. Leaving from Newlyn puts the prevailing wind dead on the nose so you will have to put in some long tacks and that will extend the time significantly, probably a lot more than 14 hours.
You really do need to choose your weather for Scilly it is not an easy place to sail to, you are into the Atlantic for real and the swell/waves can be big if you are heading into it. If you can avoid any wind from ssw-nnw do so and if you are going to hang around waiting for suitable weather then Falmouth is hugely more fun than Newlyn, some great sailing around the area if the sea is too much outside the harbour. You really do not want to spend too much time in Newlyn.
Good luck and once you get to Scilly you wont want to come back, but when you have to it is invariably a cracking good sail! I once did the trip from Tresco to Penzance in a 14 foot dinghy in 6.5 hours!
 
I have never visited Newlyn (or Penzance) but the trip from Falmouth isn't arduous - 12 hours for 60 miles as long as you get the tides round The Lizard right.

So perhaps have a break in Falmouth - there's the Maritime Museum, The Chain Locker and of course you have to explore the Truro and Fal rivers.

To give yourselves a 5 mile head start you could then spend the last night in the Helford River - truly a beautiful spot and The Shipwright's Arms is only a short dinghy trip away.

When you make it to the Isles of Scilly do make sure you visit The New Inn on Tresco as well as The Turk's Head on St. Agnes. Both islands offer superb scenery and walking / nature spotting opportunities as well as the warmest welcome you could ever wish for.

Also there are some interesting pilotages you can take on depending how confident you feel - just remember it's all rocks down there.

Enjoy.
 
Like you had heard Newlyn didn't welcome yacht's but when I rounded Lands End this June I called them up day before - before leaving St Ives - and a very helpful lady said we would be very welcome just come in and berth - she gave directions where the yacht berths were - tie up and the berthing bloke would be along.

Shortly after we got there berthing bloke rolled up and couldn't have been nicer - said they keep berths free now for yachts as it's good quick income and not to believe all you read about inhospitable attitude

Newlyn itself is what it is - - a fishing port but personally I like a bit of honest working character.
 
If Land's End is the wi$$y of England then Newlyn is a septic spot!

Anchor off Mousehole, tucked in near the entrance, is a much better bet. Put an anchor light on though - lots of fishing louts steam through.
 
Falmouth to Scilly is fine as you can carry the tide the whole way if you get it right! I'd consider leaving from Helford , just gives an hout or so's start. Going into Newlyn or Penzance is a bit of a deviation.
 
H
Crowblack said:
Like you had heard Newlyn didn't welcome yacht's but when I rounded Lands End this June I called them up day before - before leaving St Ives - and a very helpful lady said we would be very welcome just come in and berth - she gave directions where the yacht berths were - tie up and the berthing bloke would be along.

Shortly after we got there berthing bloke rolled up and couldn't have been nicer - said they keep berths free now for yachts as it's good quick income and not to believe all you read about inhospitable attitude

Newlyn itself is what it is - - a fishing port but personally I like a bit of honest working character.
Click to expand...

I had exactly the same experience in May 2013. Good, new and dedicated finger pontoons for yachts, a limited number, but certainly sufficient at that time. The man who was in charge of berthing was welcoming and helpful. Facilities were basic, but serviceable. And if you're going round Land's End, as we were, you can leave at the time that suits the current, whereas in Penzance you have to wait for the lock to open.
Spent three nights in Newlyn due to weather and was glad I wasn't in Penzance, which to me had something of a floating graveyard with plenty derelict boats.
 
westhinder said:
H

I had exactly the same experience in May 2013. Good, new and dedicated finger pontoons for yachts, a limited number, but certainly sufficient at that time. The man who was in charge of berthing was welcoming and helpful. Facilities were basic, but serviceable. And if you're going round Land's End, as we were, you can leave at the time that suits the current, whereas in Penzance you have to wait for the lock to open.
Spent three nights in Newlyn due to weather and was glad I wasn't in Penzance, which to me had something of a floating graveyard with plenty derelict boats.
Click to expand...

We planned on stopping in Penzance in August this year, turned up and spoke to friendly harbour staff, but looking at the berthing options in the dock decided to carry on to Falmouth. Lots of old uncared for boats which meant we would have to raft 3 or 4 out and trust the commercial traffic would keep well away from us when the lock gates opened. Newlyn unfortunately not an option for us as we had dogs on board.
 
I have stayed at Newlyn a few times,
Always made welcome, I rather like the place

( Few years ago it was a best kept secret harbour, so always room )
alas.... probably not the case now

Only a 6 hour stint ( 1 tide ) to the Scillies
 
We sailed to the Scillies last summer from the Solent, mostly 2 up though various teenage kids joined us for the last "glamorous" bit of the Scillies itself. We found Penzance fun but as others have said the lock opening times are inconvenient for tidal streams so we went to Newlyn which was fine. The harbourmaster was helpful and most of the other yachts were either going to/arriving from Scillies so we ended up doing the passage in company.
 
Crowblack said:
Like you had heard Newlyn didn't welcome yacht's but when I rounded Lands End this June I called them up day before - before leaving St Ives - and a very helpful lady said we would be very welcome just come in and berth - she gave directions where the yacht berths were - tie up and the berthing bloke would be along.

Shortly after we got there berthing bloke rolled up and couldn't have been nicer - said they keep berths free now for yachts as it's good quick income and not to believe all you read about inhospitable attitude

Newlyn itself is what it is - - a fishing port but personally I like a bit of honest working character.
Click to expand...

We occupied the hammerhead for 3 days in August 2013 while waiting for northerlies to pass. It was always part of our plan to visit Newlyn during our trip from The Hamble to Holyhead. I'd telephoned a couple of weeks in advance and the harbour master office couldn't have been more welcoming. As you say, the berthing bloke was very nice, too. Also agree with your comments about Newlyn portraying an honest working character.


While there, I wanted to top up the fuel tank. It was dispersed by container only but I didn't have any aboard my new boat. They took the trouble to dig around to find a few container for me to use. Very generous gesture, they didn't have to.
 
Gwylan said:
If Land's End is the wi$$y of England then Newlyn is a septic spot!

Anchor off Mousehole, tucked in near the entrance, is a much better bet. Put an anchor light on though - lots of fishing louts steam through.
Click to expand...

+1

We did this last year.

The weather was flat and the night pleasant so no anxieties. However, at low tide, and in the dark, the off lying rocks seemed to be getting closer. We chose a spot about halfway between the rocks and the harbour entrance. You need to keep an eye out for pots though because the industrious local fishermen lay them all round the area.

We rose early next day and set off on the voyage towards IoS at sunrise to catch the favourable tides.

In spite of the trepidation that some of us feel going out west as far as IoS, there's a surprising number of French yachts there. They seem unfazed by the sail across the Channel.

Garold
 
Last edited:
Maybe you haven't heard... or not noticed what someone else wrote above. It is the Isles of Scilly.

Our experience of Newlyn has also been great - if you are not expecting a posh marina (we were not). An honest, "real", harbour. Welcoming. Functional.

Those who say it is a bit of a diversion from the direct line, are right. But you way want that. From the to IoS, it is a half day hop.

By the way, did I say IoS? Remember that.

A word of warning though. You'll be entering Paradise.
 
Did it a couple of years ago from Falmouth to Gugh/St Agnes in about 12 hours.
I've now gone by helicopter, plane, yacht and the Scillonian.
The plane is amazing fun!
 
Newlyn is a fishing port and the new pontoons that were installed a few years ago were financed ( by the EU I believe) for fishing boats alone. What this means in practise is that you can normally park on the last three pontoon bays on your left as you go in through the entrance but if the space is wanted by inshore fishing boats then hard luck. That said it has never happened to me.

The other bthing about Newlyn is that they arent set up for servicing yachts - you cant get diesel for example. And it is better to get to Scilly fully provisioned.

I usually stay in Penzance - I prefer it. Diesel leccy and water available and its locked so you dont get bounced around by fishing boats coming and leaving as in Newlyn.

There are some buoys off Penzance where you can stay overnight - supposed to pay but no one ever collects. However the buoys are placed exactly where they get back wash from the harbour walls so if your pal is ever going to be sea sick it will be there.
 
Entrance to Newlyn

DSCF0347640x480_zpse576cc1a.jpg


My boat on the hamerhead

DSCF0357640x480_zps5eb6443a.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top