Cruising Around Dartmouth
ENTERING DARTMOUTH
Dartmouth is deep, sheltered and easy to enter. The approach is from SSE, leaving Castle Ledge green buoy to starboard and the red Homestone buoy to port. Two south-cardinal buoys guard the dangers on the east side of the approach around the Mew Stone.
Opposite Kingswear Castle leave Checkstone red buoy to port, steer through the narrows and follow the river upstream. Opposite Bayard’s Cove, watch out for the Lower Ferries whose floats are towed alongside with tugs – they need room to manoeuvre. The Higher Ferry, half a mile further up, is paddle-driven on two cables that sink down behind it, so wait to pass at least 50m astern. Dart marina is just beyond the Higher Ferry on the west shore.
At night: The white sector of Kingswear leading light brings you safely in from the south-east between the Homestone and West Rock buoys and then through the castle narrows.
DARTMOUTH APPROACH WAYPOINTS
| WP1 |
Homestone clearing, 1 cable SE of Homestone red buoy 50º19.52'N, 03º33.45'W |
| WP2 |
Dartmouth approach, 1 cable west of Castle Ledge green buoy 50º20.00'N, 03º33.28'W |
| WP3 |
Dartmouth entrance, 200m SW of Kingswear Castle 50º20.45'N, 03º33.72'W |
| WP4 |
West Rock clearing, 4½ cables 230º T from Mew Stone SE tip 50º19.75'N, 03º32.47'W |
| WP5 |
Mew Stone south clearing, ¼ºT from Mew Stone SE tip 50º19.82'N, 03º31.76'W |
| WP6 |
Eastern Blackstone clearing, 2 cables SE of eastern rock 50º20.05'N, 03º30.99'W |
Datum WGS 84
Exploring the Dart
One of the great attractions of keeping your boat in Dartmouth is having eight splendid miles of river to explore. Between Dartmouth Town and Totnes Quay, the Dart winds through peaceful countryside that that has changed little in a hundred years. These enticing stretches of inland water can be appreciated from a boat right through the year. As you cruise up past Noss – on – Dart and the ancient oaks of Long Wood, the pilotage is straightforward as far as Dittisham village. Be sure to leave the Anchor Stone red beacon to port as you come up past Raleigh Boat House! Dittisham can easily be reached at any stage of the tide, but for a passage further upstream you need a rising tide and admiralty chart 2253.
Cruising from Dartmouth
Dartmouth lies at the heart of some of the finest cruising grounds in Europe. From local pottering to Channel crossings, boats based on the Dart have a mouth – watering choice of destinations.
For simply relaxing, you can explore the coves and beaches of Start Bay or plan weekend trips round to Tor Bay ( no fun in easterlies, when the sea turns lumpy in a most comfortable way) or Salcombe ( Strong onshore winds stir up Start Race, especially with a weather –going tide. Avoid springs if possible, and try to round Start near slack water). Meandering further west you reach the timeless Yealm River, the charming estuary at Fowey and the untouched anchorages of the Helford. More ambitious passages take you across to the friendly Channel Islands or the spectacular Brittany rivers. St Peter Port on Guernsey is less than 70 nautical miles from Dartmouth, a pleasant day under sail or an easy morning in a fast motor boat Uncomfortable for motor boats in any winds above F3-4). Sustained easterlies or south easterlies make Guernsey a gruelling slog, while a moderate westerly or north westerly will give you a cracking sail. From St Peter Port you can reckon 65 miles down to St Malo and only 45 miles across to Lézardrieux or Tréguier.
A direct passage to North Brittany leads about 90 miles due south of Dartmouth. The dart is also one of the best jumping off points for reaching the South Brittany coats by way of Chenal du Four. L’Abervrac’h is not quite 110 miles from Start Point and you then have short hops down to Camaret, Bénodet and the tempting havens around the Bay of Biscay.
Local Anchorages
Picturesque Redlap Cove lies a mile west of Dartmouth entrance and the impressive sweep of Blackpool Sands opens up beyond Stoke Fleming village. In settled north-westerly weather, you can anchor snugly off Beesands or Hallsands under the crook of Start Point.
Not far north-east of Dartmouth, beyond the Mew Stone, you can anchor off Scabbacombe Sands, Mansands, or St Mary’s Bay. For a truly lazy day, make for one of the secluded inlets just outside the mouth of the Dart – Mill Bay or Newfoundland Cove on the east side, or Combe Bay on the west.
These charming local anchorages are straightforward using Admiralty Chart 1634. Just remember though, when leaving Dartmouth entrance, to give Combe Rocks a wide berth if you turn west and to avoid the Bear’s Tail off the Mewstone if you turn east.