Sail on summer!

August is here but there’s still plenty of time for sailing and enjoying these fine sunny warm days as long as there is some wind to get the sails out!

King Point Marina is a mecca for those who like to get out on the water quickly either purely for a leisurely day out with family and friends or for those adrenalin junkies who prefer to race in Plymouth Sound or go further afield.

There are some great day sails and weekend trips within easy reach of our marina along the South West coast for some of the best sailing waters in the UK.  To the east up to the River Yealm, Salcombe and Dartmouth or down further west to the River Tamar, Cawsand, Fowey or Falmouth.

West Devon

The River Yealm

Allow about an hour to head out east of Plymouth Sound and then an hour and a half to round the entrance to the Yealm.  It can be a little tricky on a big spring tide with a lot of water ebbing or flooding so take care when you enter and turn around to pick up your chosen buoy.  In a strong south westerly wind, the entrance can be very hazardous to negotiate due to the bar.  Newton Ferrers is to the north of the creek and Noss Mayo is to the south.  Cellar Bay is a picture-perfect anchorage, free of charge, just inside the entrance with a small beach and amazing views among the stunning rolling hills of the South Hams countryside.

Salcombe

Renowned for its incredible scenery including golden beaches, the Kingsbridge estuary offers many tributaries to explore and drop anchor for the day or weekend, from the hustle of busy hot-spot resort town of Salcombe, to quieter remote locations further towards Kingsbridge.  This truly is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Salcombe town offers a fantastic selection of boutique shops, bars and restaurants while East Portlemouth opposite boasts many golden sandy bays easy to reach by tender or even further around the mouth to Gara Rock.

Salcombe, Devon

Dartmouth

Famous for its Naval College, this resort town is also popular with the sailing fraternity.  It’s situated on the banks of the River Dart and every year hosts the well-attended Dartmouth Regatta.

East Cornwall

Cawsand and Kingsand

Over to the west just beyond the Plymouth Breakwater, you’ll reach the county of Cornwall and the Rame Peninsula.  It could take up to a couple of hours to sail or 45 mins to motor over to the small coves of Cawsand and Kingsand with their quintessentially ‘chocolate box’ setting.  This is a favourite anchorage to spend the weekend for a spot of paddle-boarding.

Fowey

Further down the Cornish coast, this lovely little town makes a great day trip (if the conditions are favourable) or a mid-way stop enroute to Falmouth.  There’s a pontoon mid-river that you may be lucky to secure a berthing at and then choose to explore Fowey or its opposite neighbour, Polruan by tender.

Fowey, Cornwall

Falmouth

Ideal for a weekend trip or longer, this great sailing town could take seven hours to reach at nine knots.  Falmouth is a thriving harbour and the docks are the third deepest natural harbor in the world.  There are many anchorages and marinas to stay in overnight.  A lovely vibrant town with a great choice of bars, restaurants and beaches such as Gyllyngvase, as well as a National Maritime Museum.  It’s also well worth exploring further up the River Fal for more peace and quiet and stunning anchorages.

Enjoy your staycation from our marina in Plymouth – Britain’s Ocean City.