Torquay or Brixham....

Doesn't really matter which one you go for 'cos as an MDL berth holder you can "flit" between the two under the fredom berthing . BTW a contract berth Brixham is a lot cheaper than torquay
 
Downsman said:
If the Brixham Marina crew are the same as worked there a few years ago, I'd say without hesitation, go there. I ran in there in a rising gale in the early hours of the morning with a split diesel tank and 75 litres + sloshing about in the bilge. They were absolutely brilliant and couldn't have been more helpful..
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+1 for the Brixham welcome, even in early hours and rain, Marina dutyman came down to help us moor- very welcome after a cold wet 25+hr overnight from Chi Bar to there 16/17th May, no wind or on the nose all the way.

After crashing out all day and moving slowly round showers, etc, on a dreary Thursday out of high season, we missed the kitchens at the Prince William(21.00), they cheerfully directed us to the one still open chippy, who were just closing the doors, but happily sorted some chips and sausages etc out for us.
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
+1 for the Brixham welcome, even in early hours and rain, Marina dutyman came down to help us moor-
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Not my experience. Last year in Brixham, short handed, I had a difficult get-out from the space they'd shoe-horned me into with an awkwardly placed F6. Asked the staff if someone would mind just holding the bow line to keep the nose in while I reversed out. I was told flatly "no": company policy dictating they couldn't help anyone with lines in case something went wrong and they were held partially responsible. Don't know if this is an MDL-wide policy (I've never asked for help elsewhere) but I would expect a little more "service" for over 40 quid a night
 
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clyst said:
Doesn't really matter which one you go for 'cos as an MDL berth holder you can "flit" between the two under the fredom berthing . BTW a contract berth Brixham is a lot cheaper than torquay
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Subject to availability...and everyone wants to be in Brixham since they started that idea.
 
We are in Brixham as annual berth holders again (we were there for three years before moving around for a couple of seasons) for the last two years, having tried both Torquay and Solent for a season each. If you're a Youngster, you want Torquay, otherwise Brixham, IMO it wins all round as a place. Plenty of Restaurants and pubs. Can be a lumpy night now again in an Easterly and the Swell gets into Brixham worse than Torquay as its less protected. If you are out on the end of C or D there can be a lot of movement - worse in Spring time. Staff in both are fine, very helpful. The guys there have taken my lines several times when its a bit blowy and awkward, never had "policy" quoted at me! Diesel at both, Petrol only at Torquay. MDL diesel at cost - Brixham only.

Torquay does have a crane out service - but not MDL. Brixham only has a very small Council run crane on the quay under 4t, otherwise its over to Torquay or up the Dart, which is where most go. There is talk about a new Marina and boat yard at Brixham, I believe bids have been offered - but its only talk. Brixham Yacht club is nice, very friendly to Power or Sail. Both Marinas have nice (9/10) showers and bogs, both have a laundry. Both offer basic provisions in the Marina office - tea, coffee, milk etc. Car Parking in Torquay is more convenient and secure, but is double the cost annually.
 
Have been a berth holder at both and currently a berth holder at Brixham... I've also lived in Torquay for a short while.

BRIXHAM - Good
20% cheaper than Torquay
Car park is also cheaper
Honest working town, some good pubs, plenty of stuff going on ("Fish Stock" is well worth going to)
Marina more orientated to Sail and easy access

BRIXHAM - Negative
Car park pretty far away from the marina
Swell in easterlies
Bird cr*p everywhere in the off season especially out on C and D (it is a fishing port after all)
Can be noisy from the Fishing fleet
Very few berths available

TORQUAY - Good
Excellent shelter
Car park very close to the marina and better security
Better restaurants, there's a Michelin starred one 5 mins walk away (The Elephant)
If you just go up the road a bit to Wellswood there are some nice shops and bars. The town as some have pointed out can be a bit full on, however I wouldn't say the marina is any nosier than Brixham
Plenty of berths

TORQUAY - Negative
As others have said the town can be like any other city centre late at night (but you dont have to go there!)
Over priced Marina
Car park is small and crowded

I basically flit between the two using freedom berthing, it works for me. The other good thing is that Torbay faces East so the usual cr*p weather we get doesn't chop up the water too much.
 
Brixham - although my info is just a little bit out of date. We used to go northeast (!) to Devon for our family hols in the late 50's - green painted caravans in a park up on Berry Head. My 9d Frog balsa gliders always ended up on the roof of someone else's caravan, though. We had no car, so walked down to town and back - and everywhere else - so I now avoid walking - too slow. I've done my bit for the Green movement. At least we could take the Western Lady (still afloat, I wonder?) across to Torquay. We used to eat in the Ship Café next to King Billy's statue. He always seemed to be turning his nose up at the smell from the fish market. I loved it - a gentler, simpler world. Happy times. :)
No memories of Torquay itself, though, so I guess I wasn't that impressed.
 
Many thanks for the info and links! I'm glad to see that there is a survivor of those days. I remember my Dad telling me that the boats had a history in the military. I haven't been back to Torbay since those days - most of my working life was spent at Heathrow, and I'd pass through Devon on the A30 or A303 (no M4/M5 in those days) in my 1960 Mini (Austin 7, actually) en-route to the folks in Cornwall. Every time I got to Exeter, I'd make a mental note that I must turn south some day, but never did. Paington, Goodrington, Churston (walked, reluctantly, from there to Greenway Ferry) - all no doubt very different now.
 
The Fairmile is in and out of Torquay, Brixham and the Dart most days of the season, she usually sits on a mooring buoy just at the entrance to Brix Harb overnight. I believe one of her sister ships is laid up opposite Dartside Quay now - at least I think its an old Western Lady anyway.
 
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