Summer cruise heading west from the Solent?

[justapheonix]

We've decided to do a summer cruise this year - in spite of the forecasts...

There are lots of possibilities - east to the gorgeous Essex and Suffolk rivers, up the Thames to the big smoke, across to France and perhaps a meander towards Paris, more hideous harbour-hiding in the CI's, or...

...or head west from the Solent, which is something I haven't done before (other than an awful three days hiding out in Newlyn on a delivery).

Could I ask anyone who's done this to jot down some rough impressions, please? Is the reputation for pricey berths deserved in that part of the world? Will we have trouble finding berths (42ft yacht)? Are there many places with stuff to do if the weather turns against us?

Thanks for your help...

 

[Gwylan]

After Newlyn, even in radiant sunshine, anywhere is better. The worst place on the western coast of the UK, unless you have a smelly rust laden fishing boat and a bad attitude!

 

[Skysail]

Its something you should do at least once.

Poole, Weymouth, Torbay, Dartmouth, R Yealm, Plymouth, Falmouth, Helford - Scillies if possible. All worth a visit, and uniformly beautiful coast line all the way - except Lyme Bay! Moorings can be very expensive like Salcombe and Dartmouth, but there are cheaper buoys and anchorages to be found eg up the Dart. Finding berths not usually a problem. If you happen to be with MDL parking is free at MDL marinas.

If wet/windy, there are places to visit - Portland Bill, National Trust, Totnes, Berry Head, Maritime Museum Falmouth, Plymouth Gin - ask if you want more detail.

 

[Scillypete]

"Will we have trouble finding berths (42ft yacht)? "

I take it you have an anchor, in which case your options are many. Why would you want to limit yourself to alongside marina berths? of which there are none in Scilly.

 

[jonjo]

If you don't include the Scillys your West Country port options are a bit limiting for a long summer cruise. Even so it is worth doing once and with the Euro so strong this is the year to head west.

In addition to what has been said I suggest the following for your itinerary:

Multiple mooring locations on the river Dart, try to include the long valley walk from the marina by the steam railway terminus to Greenway.

Fowey, again you can moor here so 42' loa is not a problem. While in Fowey visit the Eden Project just a few miles away. A taxi is the only sane travel option and if you like outdoor summer concerts see if you can schedule your Fowey visit around an Eden Project evening music event.

In settled weather, anchor in Cawsand, Hope Cove, numerous beaches within 5 miles of Dartmouth.

Places to avoid:

Poor shelter for the visitor berths at QAB marina Plymouth and the depressing walk ( book ahead for Sutton Harbour marina instead), Mayflower marina Plymouth but maybe it has sunk by now and Brixham though if you search this forum there was a debate this year about the merits of Brixham, Brixham does have its fans.

 

[justapheonix]

Many thanks for those useful replies.

A couple of responses to points raised:

Gwylan, in the circumstances in which we entered Newlyn, it was heaven to come alongside - a result of rotten forecasting of truly rotten weather. Even though picking our way in before dawn, tired and fed up, was no way to arrive, at least we were safe for a few days. That said, the £1M+ boat concerned did look very much out of place...

Scillypete, no we don't have an anchor; we have three! However, the boat is power-hungry. Sailed short-handed, we rely upon the autohelm, and even with big battery banks, we need to be charging overnight most nights to keep the batteries topped up. Add to that a small child for whom the joys of remote anchorages soon wane and SWMBO who prefers to let someone else do the cooking fairly regularly, and we conclude that marinas are, sadly, the way ahead (how I yearn for my old mobo with no such problems and a tender hanging on davits ready to go...).

One final question: If the plan comes off, I may need to leave the boat somewhere west of Weymouth for a couple of weeks prior to a return trip to her home berth... So can anyone suggest (perhaps preferably by pm!), where might I find a swinging mooring which won't preface the negotiation of overdraft facilities? We have a tender which would get us ashore so long as there's somewhere safe to keep it.

Gratefully, JaP

 

[AIDY]

Dartmouth is a good option for leaving the boat for a few weeks on the HM pontoon and relativley safe at £15 a night. with good acsess home via train from paignton or hire car from torquay.