Crossing Lyme Bay

[Charles Tilley]

As part of a trip from Bembridge to Falmouth this summer, we are planning to sail across Lyme Bay from Weymouth to either Exmouth (44 NMs) or Dartmouth (55 NMs), both a long way in a Seaforth Macwester 36 if you want to complete the voyage in daylight!  Apart from getting the tides right which will be difficult for the whole trip, do members have any other advice?  Thanks

[Chris Nixon]

You could stop at lyme Regis that’s what I did a long time ago

[Geoffrey White]

Chris is right.  Lyme Regis is an excellent place to stop.

Enjoy a pint of Palmer’s IPA while you’re there.  My favourite pub was the Pilot Boat, absolutely basic but the beer came straight from the barrel.  I’ve just checked and it’s been done up, unrecognisable but it still looks great!

You could also try West Bay, great for fish and chips (and Palmer’s)

You’ll need to plan for going around Portland.  The inner route is by far the quickest but you’ll be very close to the shore all the way round.  Check the tides before you set off.

Dartmouth is great as is Torquay.  Our boat, Haston Dee, was moored on the River Dart when we bought her. We lived in the village of Dittisham and so we could row out to our mooring.  Later we moved to Torquay – I got fed up with travelling to work from Dittisham – and we moored the boat in the Inner Harbour which dried out.  Later on, the Harbour Board built new pontoons in the Outer Harbour – brilliant as we didn’t dry out.

Both Dartmouth and Torquay have yacht clubs a couple of minutes walk from the moorings.  Torquay has the Royal Torbay and Dartmouth has the Dartmouth Yacht Club.  It’s worth taking the ferry across to Kingswear where you’ll find the Royal Dart right on the water front.

Haston Dee is now in Malta so well travelled – we’ve had her for well over 30 years.

We now go to the Royal Malta Yacht Club which reminds we – our subs were due a week ago!

 

 

[Paul Stevens]

Hi Charles

Its a long stretch during the day. I plan on sailing in the opposite direction this summer. My wifes family live in Weymouth so we plan on  going into Portland marina for a few days then return. I plan on leaving Brixham in the early hours and hope to arrive early afternoon.

I have a Seaforth berthed in Brixham marina although currently having a bit of work done at Blackness marine on the Dart. Its a beautiful spot.

If I were doing it I would go into Brixham ( Im a bit biased as I enjoy its eateries and many pubs !)and have a night or two in the marina. I would then go up the Dart and then if time allows take a visitor mooring further up river especially as you can take the ground.

If you go in to Falmouth  take a diversion and go up the Helford River its equally lovely.

If you decide to call in at Brixham  give me a bell and I can meet you for a pint.

 

Regards

Paul Stevens

 

 

 

 

[Charles Tilley]

Thanks for all your advice.  I hope to meet up with you all this summer

Best wishes

Charles

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