Westward next week

colhel

colhel

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Looking at heading West from Poole next week.How busy is it down there at the moment? Will we be able to just turn up somewhere and find space without too much effort and pleading?
I'm using edition 6 of the Shell Channel Pilot for reference, has anything significant changed in the last 8 years or so regarding places to stopover for a couple of nights?
Possible places on our agenda at the moment, River Exe, Teignmouth then River Dart and further if time and weather allow.
 
A look at marine traffic website shows a lot of traffic just from sensible ones with AIS . Have you had any replies from locals on the Dart as most marinas there seem too busy to answer the phone .
 
We're on the mid river pontoons at Dartmouth at the moment. Quite busy due to a yacht race which arrived yesterday but I don't think you'd have any difficulties getting on here - if that's what you want. No power or water & not connected but it's a lovely spot. Max 14m
 
colhel said:
Looking at heading West from Poole next week.How busy is it down there at the moment? Will we be able to just turn up somewhere and find space without too much effort and pleading?
I'm using edition 6 of the Shell Channel Pilot for reference, has anything significant changed in the last 8 years or so regarding places to stopover for a couple of nights?
Possible places on our agenda at the moment, River Exe, Teignmouth then River Dart and further if time and weather allow.
Click to expand...
Are your charts up to date. The entrance to the Exe changed a good few years back from Straight Point to a place further west towards the (Dawlish) Warren. Don’t miss the river Exe cafe, closed on Mondays. Depending on the size of your boat you maty be able to moor alongside. Phone ahead and ask to speak to Paul Craven to arrange. If you have time, a few days in the Exeter canal moored up outside the Turf Locks pub is highly recommended. £23 per night, min 2 nights stay. Contact Exeter City Council to arrange.
If wanting to visit Teignmouth it’s advisable to book ahead.
Have fun, there’s loads to see and do between the Exe and the Dart. You might even see me on my dive boat Calypso, about the 6th mooring on your port side as you come into the river, just off the Warren.
 
My experience of West Country harbours was very much a can do attitude. I can't speak for the marinas because we didn't use any but our 50 foot boat was accommodated everywhere we went, even if there was a regatta or the local festival happening.

We go prepared for mid river fully self contained, a generator was the single best investment back in 2007 and we haven't / wouldn't have a boat without one now. In fact I'm getting even softer in my old age and have extended that to reverse cycle air conditioning :) Oh, and a small tender is essential.

The West Country seemed to welcome visiting boats on the basis they don't take them for granted in the same way the Solent does. Once the Hamble, Gosport and Lymington spew out their berth holders and the huge bare boat rental fleets descend you would have to be doing something very wrong not to fill up anything that vaguely resembled a mooring spot in the Solent.

You know what you're doing Colin so will have no trouble.

Have fun.

Henry
 
longjohnsilver said:
Are your charts up to date. The entrance to the Exe changed a good few years back from Straight Point to a place further west towards the (Dawlish) Warren. Don’t miss the river Exe cafe, closed on Mondays. Depending on the size of your boat you maty be able to moor alongside. Phone ahead and ask to speak to Paul Craven to arrange. If you have time, a few days in the Exeter canal moored up outside the Turf Locks pub is highly recommended. £23 per night, min 2 nights stay. Contact Exeter City Council to arrange.
If wanting to visit Teignmouth it’s advisable to book ahead.
Have fun, there’s loads to see and do between the Exe and the Dart. You might even see me on my dive boat Calypso, about the 6th mooring on your port side as you come into the river, just off the Warren.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I think the Exe Café are booked solid for the year looking at posts on local social media recently, although you may get lucky and grab a cancellation.

As mention the entrance through Pole Sands into the channel running along the seafront and into the estuary has moved a fair bit and Pole Sands itself is considerably larger but stick to the channel and no worries.

Exmouth Marina has visitor berthing which can be booked here - Visitor Berths Fees — Exmouth Marina although as John says, carrying on up the river to Turf would make a very pleasant stopover!
 
paddy01 said:
Unfortunately I think the Exe Café are booked solid for the year looking at posts on local social media recently, although you may get lucky and grab a cancellation.

As mention the entrance through Pole Sands into the channel running along the seafront and into the estuary has moved a fair bit and Pole Sands itself is considerably larger but stick to the channel and no worries.

Exmouth Marina has visitor berthing which can be booked here - Visitor Berths Fees — Exmouth Marina although as John says, carrying on up the river to Turf would make a very pleasant stopover!
Click to expand...
Hi Paddy, Yes they are fully booked but there are a number of tables outside which are for those turning up on their own boats which are not bookable.
 
Also, if you're navigating the Exe estuary around low water, make sure to pass green markers 17 & 21 at least 30 metres to port as it's very shallow.
 
I haven't really given the Exe a lot of thought until recently, but it looks a delightful place and will make it our first stopover point.

longjohnsilver said:
Are your charts up to date. The entrance to the Exe changed a good few years back from Straight Point to a place further west towards the (Dawlish) Warren. Don’t miss the river Exe cafe, closed on Mondays. Depending on the size of your boat you maty be able to moor alongside. Phone ahead and ask to speak to Paul Craven to arrange. If you have time, a few days in the Exeter canal moored up outside the Turf Locks pub is highly recommended. £23 per night, min 2 nights stay. Contact Exeter City Council to arrange.
If wanting to visit Teignmouth it’s advisable to book ahead.
Have fun, there’s loads to see and do between the Exe and the Dart. You might even see me on my dive boat Calypso, about the 6th mooring on your port side as you come into the river, just off the Warren.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it's possible we're looking at staying a couple of nights as there's so much to see. Is the Channel well bouyed? We're looking arriving Saturday or Sunday weather permitting, and hopefully before HW in the afternoon.

henryf said:
My experience of West Country harbours was very much a can do attitude. I can't speak for the marinas because we didn't use any but our 50 foot boat was accommodated everywhere we went, even if there was a regatta or the local festival happening.

We go prepared for mid river fully self contained, a generator was the single best investment back in 2007 and we haven't / wouldn't have a boat without one now. In fact I'm getting even softer in my old age and have extended that to reverse cycle air conditioning :) Oh, and a small tender is essential.

The West Country seemed to welcome visiting boats on the basis they don't take them for granted in the same way the Solent does. Once the Hamble, Gosport and Lymington spew out their berth holders and the huge bare boat rental fleets descend you would have to be doing something very wrong not to fill up anything that vaguely resembled a mooring spot in the Solent.

You know what you're doing Colin so will have no trouble.

Have fun.

Henry
Click to expand...

I remember your highly informative and entertaining trip report, and may dig deep into the archives to find it again for reference.


paddy01 said:
Unfortunately I think the Exe Café are booked solid for the year looking at posts on local social media recently, although you may get lucky and grab a cancellation.

As mention the entrance through Pole Sands into the channel running along the seafront and into the estuary has moved a fair bit and Pole Sands itself is considerably larger but stick to the channel and no worries.

Exmouth Marina has visitor berthing which can be booked here - Visitor Berths Fees — Exmouth Marina although as John says, carrying on up the river to Turf would make a very pleasant stopover!
Click to expand...

Thanks Paddy, Turf is definitely on the agenda

Switch said:
I'm heading down a week after you so I'd be interested to hear how you get on..
Click to expand...

I'll let you know. What date are you setting off?
 
colhel said:
I haven't really given the Exe a lot of thought until recently, but it looks a delightful place and will make it our first stopover point.



Thanks, it's possible we're looking at staying a couple of nights as there's so much to see. Is the Channel well bouyed? We're looking arriving Saturday or Sunday weather permitting, and hopefully before HW in the afternoon.



I remember your highly informative and entertaining trip report, and may dig deep into the archives to find it again for reference.




Thanks Paddy, Turf is definitely on the agenda



I'll let you know. What date are you setting off?
Click to expand...
Yes, the channel is well buoyed, but do heed Paddy’s advice. Moving around well after low water and on a flooding tide is advisable. Do keep a sharp lookout for buoys and follow your chart, it’s very easy to skip one and find yourself in shallow water.
Unfortunately the River Exe Cafe is normally shut on Mondays, as is the Turf Locks pub (& Tuesday)
 
colhel said:
I haven't really given the Exe a lot of thought until recently, but it looks a delightful place and will make it our first stopover point.



Thanks, it's possible we're looking at staying a couple of nights as there's so much to see. Is the Channel well bouyed? We're looking arriving Saturday or Sunday weather permitting, and hopefully before HW in the afternoon.



I remember your highly informative and entertaining trip report, and may dig deep into the archives to find it again for reference.




Thanks Paddy, Turf is definitely on the agenda



I'll let you know. What date are you setting off?
Click to expand...

26/06
 
If you are heading to the exe then I would definitely head for the canal and lock in for a couple of days. It’s pretty, with amenities and having a bit of fresh water in the engines flushing them through can‘t do them any harm IMHO. If the pub is open then they will walk food over to the cockpit and ordering is a doddle with a QR code on your phone! The email address to organise the lock is river.canal@exeter.gov.uk. As dad says, the turf isn’t open at the beginning of the week but you can take the tender 3 miles up to the double locks which is a half decent pub and an interesting trip. Alternatively you can walk to the foot passenger ferry and have an explore in topsham from the canal basin.

C6FD67C1-AA1D-43F7-A334-D23C3B11F157.jpeg
ADF4D73C-E757-43AC-8A92-F8CC3287906D.jpeg
If you have a good eye then you may be able to make out LJS sitting in the cockpit.

If heading to Teignmouth then they will ask for you to berth on the outside of one of the three island pontoons on the outside with the bow heading upstream. The outflowing tide pushes hard whereas the flooding tide doesn’t create much current. AgIan, it’s a lovely spot to spend a night with the sun setting down the river and a prime spot on a boat to appreciate it.

6DAED01A-251E-4C99-97BF-44D3A4E408C3.jpeg

If you are heading up river on the Dart and tides are right then The Malsters is worth a visit in the tender up at Tuckenhay. There is good holding for a night on anchor at the entrance to the creek near a rock with a white tip. We once had a seal playing with our tender at midnight while we were having drinks on the flybridge. We could hear the breathing and wondered what it was to begin with! The mark on the screen shot below gives some idea of the anchorage.

B0034BBF-9E78-4B69-9125-64BF1A250A4B.jpeg

Hopefully that helps.
 
We're now on Dartmouth Town Quay.
I had a chat with @longjohnsilver yesterday and followed his advice to visit the Exe another time as some if the attractions close early in the week. The weathers gorgeous at the moment but the outlook for the next couple of days us a bit grotty, hence we favoured a walk ashore. As this is my first visit, Ive got nothing to compare it with to say its busy or not
 
We're now in Falmouth Haven where there's been a steady flow of boats in and out. Rafting was up to 3 deep last night but as we're the only motorboat on the inside, as yet we've got no neighbours.
Fowey Harbour Patrol (Thursday night) offered us the walkashore by the Lifeboat but space on the river pontoons by the next morning.
Salcombe (Wednesday night) yachts mainly 2 or 3 on buoy, we were rafted to another motorboat.
I got the impression no one was getting turned away from anywhere but here in the Haven, the visitors Haven will be closed from Monday 8am till the 2nd of July for maintenance.
 
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