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Plymouth yacht haven.

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Conveniently located near the open water of Plymouth Sound and sheltered behind Mount Batten Peninsula, Plymouth Yacht Haven offers secure berths for yachts up 45m LOA/ 7m Depth.

Information

Shaw Way, Mount Batten Plymouth Devon PL9 9XH United Kingdom (UK)

: +44 1752 404 231

: [email protected]

: https://www.yachthavens.com/plymouth-yacht-haven/berthing/superyacht-berthing

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Superyacht Marinas

Plymouth yacht haven.

Shaw Way Mount Batten Plymouth Devon PL9 9XH United Kingdom

Contact Information

• Telephone : +44 17 5240 4231 / 01752
• Email : [email protected]

Emergency Numbers

Photo Credit: marina website

Latitude & Longitude:

50.3578903 -4.125289

Berth Sizes

• Max Draft : 4.5m

Berths Available

• Berths (Under 24m) :
• Berths (24-30m) :
• Berths (Over 30m) : Berths over 30m: 10

View Marina Plan »

Customs & Immigration Fuel Dock & Truck Delivery Oil Disposal Travel Lift 75t Internet Showers Laundry Facilities Water Sewage Disposal Phone Cable TV Parking Security Cameras

Airport : 175km (Bristol) Airfield : 77km (Exeter) Helipad : 0.0

General Information & Marina Services

We are committed to making your time with us as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. Our Marina Reception is located on the first floor of the main building. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year (except Christmas Day), and we monitor VHF Channel 80 (call sign Plymouth Yacht Haven) round the clock.

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I have had many visits to Plymouth when we used to organise the UIM Class 1 World Offshore Championship British Grand Prix which was run in Plymouth for quite a few years. Based on the Hoe and with Race Control in the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club, it was an excellent venue with Plymouth providing the perfect grandstand for the Race Course.

We visited in July 2021 by sea for the first time, although our Princess V39 had been there before as it was built in Plymouth.

The approach is straightforward and well documented in the fine Pilot Guide books.

Video of arrival at Plymouth and motoring to the Plymouth Yacht Haven fuelling pontoon and then our mooring – youtu.be/24kGiQ-Rycg

Speed limits

As described in the Dockyard Port of Plymouth Order 1999, the following speed limits are in force: North of Plymouth Breakwater – 10kts (vessels <15m can exceed this when >400m from shore) Cattewater – 8kts, No Wash. Sutton Channel – 4kts Speed limits within the Cattewater are proactively enforced by the Harbour Office, in accordance with the Cattewater Harbour enforcement policy.

There is something rather grand about passing the massive breakwater for the first and into calmer waters.

Plymouth has upped its game and the council now have some around-town trails to follow that actually hide some secrets. Do find the small and hidden garden behind the main bar and restaurant area.

The MDL marina is a bit out of the way for the town and be warned is often very full. The shortcut to town from QAB is via the passenger bridge by the Aquarium.  Still, on the now somewhat elongated walk, you will pass the smaller fish landing warehouses- where with a bit of brazenness you should be able to get yourself some fine fresh fish. The Asian café en route was actually worth a visit, too, but you will need to book a table.

In town, climb up to the Hoe for impressive views over the Sound and scramble up the famous lighthouse.

For a fine day out walking, find your way over to Cremyll Ferry (not exactly close to MDL), cross over to the Mount Edgcumbe Estate and walk as far as you wish. If you walk to the small village of Cawsands, there is also a ferry to take you back into the town.

It is a very enjoyable day out and round trip. Plymouth is quite sizeable, boasting a shopping mall and pedestrianised shopping street.

Article courtesy of Gavin May – 2021

Mayflower Marina

• King Point Marina
• Plymouth Yacht Haven at Turnchapel
• Sutton Harbour Marina

Queen Anne’s Battery (QAB) MDL

Plymouth yacht haven.

We visited Plymouth Yacht Haven in early July 2021 and were impressed with the facilities. This award-winning marina has very helpful staff who will do anything to assist. The facilities are of a very high standard with lots of showers and good cubicles.

The marina is on the Turnchapel side of the harbour which is by the Mount Batten headland.

The marina has non-tidal, open access.

Although the marina is based at Turnchapel and it is too far to walk to Plymouth centre, there is a ferry that runs every 30mins on the hour and half hour from Mount Batten headland and returns on the quarter-hour. It goes straight into the Mayflower landing and takes 5 mins. The walk to the ferry from the marina is 7mins. It is £2 a person. There is also a bus service into town every 20mins (bus no .2) approx. 3min walk.  Vehicle taxi number 01752 222222 approx. £9.00 (20 mins) to the town centre.

I spoke with Tamsin Jones of Plymouth Yacht Haven who was very helpful and provided the following information.

PYH always tries to accept visitors but booking in advance is recommended as the marina is very busy this summer. A mixture of Covid and Brexit means that many people are choosing to staycation rather than going abroad, many marinas are full with annual berth holders.

Where are the visitors pontoons? Are they dedicated or just vacant domestic moorings? There are no dedicated visitor pontoons, we rely on our annual berth holders notifying us of departures to allocate visitor berthing.

Lengths/number of spaces of visitors moorings We can accept boats of up to around 35m in length but this is subject to availability and weather conditions, visitor berthing is usually available.

Do we need to Pre-book? Yes, pre-booking is advisable but potentially space if you call on the day of the visit.

Call Plymouth Yacht Haven on VHF ch.80 or by phone 01752 404231

Security is very good, Security, manned 24/7, CCTV, access code for main gate and facilities is changed weekly (Wednesday lunchtime)

Excellent facilities, friendly and helpful staff. Modern, lots of showers, very clean and high quality Emergency numbers – 01752 404231 (available 24hrs)

• Where are the nearest Shops / stores?
• Mount Batten Boat House (chandlery) on site (see above for telephone number and website)
• Premier Shop (20min walk)
• Broaway shopping centre (5 mins by bus)
• Morrisons supermarket (10 mins by bus)
• Plymouth City Centre (20 mins by bus or ferry)
• Tenants on-site offering boat repairs and engineering

Plymouth Boat Trips ( www.plymouthboattrips.co.uk/ )

WiFi is free – apply to the office for a code. Code changes 1 st of each month.

Discounts – 2 days free if you stay for a week (must be booked in advance)

Places to eat

• The Bridge restaurant (on site) has a good menu and very convenient.
• Clovelly Bay Inn is excellent but needs booking
• Galley Kitchen serving breakfast and lunch
• Boringdon Arms also in local village of Turnchapel
• Mount Batten Bar (no need to book)

The Mount Batten side is preferential to central Plymouth due to car parking, and being in a quieter, rural location. We have extensive recycling facilities and a pump-out service is available on the fuel pontoon.

Excellent Web Cameras – one overlooks the fuelling pontoon – www.yachthavens.com/plymouth-yacht-haven…

The marina offers sheltered berthing & tidal access is 24hrs Open 24hrs (except Christmas Day) 16 & 32amp electric supply available 450 berths Boat hoisting & ashore storage facilities (including undercover) for boats up to 75tons and 6.5m wide. Dogs are welcome but should be kept on leads

Places of Interest

• Mount Batten beach – 3 mins walk www.visitplymouth.co.uk/things-to-do/mou…
• South West Coast Path (runs through Plymouth Yacht Haven) www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walksdb/75…
• Historical Plymouth Hoe & Barbican (by ferry) www.visitplymouth.co.uk/things-to-do/the… & www.visitplymouth.co.uk/explore/areas-to…
• National Marine Aquarium www.national-aquarium.co.uk/contact-us/
• Mount Batten Water Sports Centre www.mount-batten-centre.com/
• Plymouth City Centre & Drakes Circus Shopping Centre www.visitplymouth.co.uk/things-to-do/ply… & www.drakecircus.com/
• The Bar Code – Imax cinema, restaurants & crazy golf, Plymouth City Centre www.drakecircus.com/barcode
• Vue – multiplex cinema and restaurants & bowling alley www.myvue.com/cinema/plymouth/whats-on & www.tenpin.co.uk/our-locations/plymouth-…
• Tinside Lido www.everyoneactive.com/centre/Tinside-Li…
• West Hoe Park www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-…
• Ice Skating www.visitplymouth.co.uk/things-to-do/ply…
• 123 Jump www.123jump.co.uk/Our-Plymouth-Site
• Mayflower museum www.visitplymouth.co.uk/things-to-do/may…
• Things to do as a family www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do…
• Local events can be found here www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on
• Please see our website for local cruising destinations www.yachthavens.com/plymouth-yacht-haven…

Sutton Harbour Marina and King Point Marina

Sutton Harbour looks good and is in the heart of the Barbican area. It has lock gates to pass through to enter the marina.

Sutton is nice and in the thick of Barbican nightlife but can occasionally be noisy

We emailed Sutton Harbour in May 2021 and received the following message. When we visited at the start of July, there were quite a number of large moorings which were unoccupied so it was strange they were not able to accommodate us.

“Thank you for your interest in guest berthing for a Princess V39 within either Sutton Harbour or King Point Marina. Whilst we would love to take care of you and your vessels I must advise we have no availability for visitor berthing.  All suitably sized berths are occupied for the period through until at least 31 st March 2022.  As such I am most disappointed to advise we are not in a position to assist with your request. I have added your enquiry to our list and obviously should circumstances change we will contact you.”

QAB is the marina outside of Sutton Marina. It appears to be more exposed and is next to the aquarium. There is a bridge across the lock gates to the Sutton Marina which provide a useful shortcut to the centre.

Mayflower Marina is large and to the west of Plymouth. It has won awards in the past for Best Coastal Marina. Quite a long walk into town.

It can be exposed in West to South West winds and if moored on the outer pontoons, visitors have reported it can get bumpy from the wake of passing boats.

On site restaurant, Jolly Jacks

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ENTERING PLYMOUTH

Important information, responsible boating, entering plymouth by boat.

Protected by its Breakwater, the Sound provides excellent shelter and a beautiful backdrop for recreational boating and sailing around Plymouth. It can be entered by either the Western or Eastern channels, which are both well buoyed and lit. Inside the Sound there are no real hazards and no shoals with less than 3.7m at MLWS, although care is needed to the west of Drake’s Island.

North of the Breakwater

Rule 9 of the International Regulations of Collisions at Sea is in force at all times, therefore:

● All vessels under 20m in length and all sailing vessels must give way to vessels over 20m long.

● All vessels are to keep at least 50m clear of all military vessels (100m for submarines) both alongside and at anchor.

Stay safe! Keep clear of marked deep water channels, which are used by HM ships, channel ferries, tankers, bulk carriers and the fishing fleet. Wherever possible, channels should be crossed at right angles.

Craft heading for Mayflower Marina, King Point Marina, the Hamoaze and the River Tamar

Keep watch for ferries turning outside the entrance to Millbay Docks.

Look out for naval ships entering/leaving Devonport Naval Base, particularly in the Narrows where there are strong tidal streams.

The shortcut to the Hamoaze between Drake’s Island and Mount Edgcumbe (known as ‘The Bridge’) has 2.9m at MLWS.

Craft heading for Sutton Harbour, Queen Anne’s Battery and Plymouth Yacht Haven marinas

Look out for tankers and bulk carriers when sailing in or near the Cattewater.

Sutton Harbour Marina is entered through a traffic light controlled 44m x 12m lock, operated free of charge, 24hrs a day (Call VHF Channel 12). The lock operates in free flow mode for approx. 3 hours either side of high water.

Important Information about sailing in the MPA

Plymouth is a busy port, servicing commercial, naval, transport and recreational vessels and craft, with a large tidal range, up to 5.85m. It’s important to be aware of local navigational and tidal information when boating or sailing around Plymouth and the MPA.

Navigational safety

The deep water navigation channels are well marked by buoys and lights. The Plymouth Sound is a busy working port, and the channels are in constant use by the Royal Navy, ferries, large tankers, bulk carriers, fishing vessels and other traffic.

For your safety, recreational and small craft users should:

● Keep well clear of the channels, or if you have to cross them, do so at right angles as far as is practical.

● Obey Rule 9 of the Collision Regulations for conduct in narrow channels.

Navigation and the tide

River Lynher – dries extensively but is navigable on the flood tide up to St Germans Quay (no mooring).

River Tamar – navigable on the flood tide to Calstock, 12 miles above the Tamar Bridges.

River Tavy – only accessible to unmasted craft and is navigable to Bere Ferrers.

Things to be aware of

● No mooring or landing is permitted on the Plymouth Breakwater.

● Seasonal swimming areas off the Hoe foreshore, Bovisand Bay, Cawsand Bay and Western King are marked by yellow buoys.

● Beware of boats flying the blue & white ‘A’ flag – this indicates there are divers in the water.

● Small craft must avoid impeding the Torpoint Floating Bridge Chain Ferry that crosses between Devonport and Torpoint.

VHF Radio Channels

The recognised ship-to-ship channels are 6, 8, 72 and 77.

Channel 16 is a distress, safety and calling channel only. Other than for distress, it must only be used to establish contact before going to a recognised channel. Port operation channels must not be used for ship-to-ship communications..

Port operation channels:

11                        Tug Control

12                        Sutton Lock working channel

14                        VTS/QHM Naval & Commercial Port Control

14                        Plymouth Pilots calling channel

65                        Rame Head

63 or 73              HM Coastguard working channels

37 & 80               Marina working channels

BOATING AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Being responsible when sailing or boating is vital for our environment. It is often exciting and enticing to get a closer look at wildlife, but we must avoid causing disturbance. We must also make sure we take care of the marine environment and know what, and what not, to do. The Green Blue is a fantastic go-to for advice for boat users on the water.

Wildlife encounters

● Keep your distance: the Green Blue recommend you stay 100m away from marine creatures in the water and 50m away from marine creatures on the shore.

● Use your binoculars: if you wanted to take a close look at some on the wildlife in, on or by the water, use binoculars. If you don’t need to use binoculars to view the wildlife, you’re probably too close.

● Slow and steady: if you spot something over 100m away, keep a steady speed and stay on course, but be ready to slow down and react to the creature’s movements. If it’s less than 100m, slow down and be prepared to stop to avoid collision but stay safe and don’t put yourself in any unnecessary danger.

● Time to leave: if you spot marine creatures, let them take control – let them choose when to leave and do not follow them.

● Respect the wildlife: never turn your propellers towards the animals, get too close or chase them. Avoid separating groups of creatures and treat the animals with respect

Protecting the environment

● Oil & Fuel : oil and fuel pollution is devastating for marine life. Make sure you check for oil leaks, avoid spills and never pour any waste directly into the sea – dispose of it appropriately.

● Cleaning your boat: use environmentally friendly cleaning products and avoid toxic solutions.

● A nti-fouling : prevent anti-fouling from entering the water by catching it in tarpaulin and disposing of it safely, and choose the lowest biocide levels for your needs.

● Litter: never throw litter into the water, or even food and products you may believe to be biodegradable. Dispose of it appropriately when you return to land, recycling when possible.

● Invasive non-native species: avoid spreading invasive non-native species by following the Green Blue’s Check, Clean, Dry .

● Discharge Sewage: if you must discharge sewage, make sure you do it at least 3 miles from shore or use pump out facilities on-shore.

Visit the Protecting Our Marine Environment page for more information and advice.

The Green Blue

Helping you to go green on board.

Developed by the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine , The Green Blue is an environmental programme that provides useful tips and guidance for boaters about how to go green on board. There’s information about the impacts of recreational boating on the marine environment, along with practical advice showing how you can help to protect our waters and marine wildlife to help safeguard our waters and marine wildlife for present and future generations. For more information you can contact The Green Blue at [email protected], or visit their website.

The Queen’s Harbour Master

Safety, navigation and local notice to mariners.

For more information on navigation and safety when sailing and boating in the area, and for the Plymouth Local Notices to Mariners & Navigational Warnings, visit the Queen’s Harbour Master’s website.

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Live views from the Yacht Haven

Live view of the yacht haven, live view of yacht haven quay.

Marina Berthing

Bring your boat to our sheltered Haven.

Get on the water

Learn to sail, hire a boat or join the Plymouth Boat Club

Discover the beautiful anchorages, harbours and beaches within easy reach of the Yacht Haven

"Not quite sure which superlative to use... The new facilities are superb! You should be very proud!"

- Steve B, Berth Holder

Plymouth – a host of marine facilities

Alex Whittaker takes us on a guided tour of Plymouth’s historic Sound and the many amenities here that make this boating location a true gem by anyone’s standards …

Famous Plymouth, with its long maritime history, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Plym, Lynher and Tamar, and lies on the majestic Plymouth Sound, which does not have quite the industrial aspect of other famous deep-water ports. Despite the anchored international vessels, the banks of the Sound are generally much greener than one might expect. Indeed, viewed from Plymouth, the Sound has wooded banks and intriguing sight lines across to rural Cornwall.

An internationally renowned harbour, Plymouth really is the ‘Ocean City’. Since it is a working port with a lot of big-ship traffic, any approach to Plymouth from the sea will demand a thorough acquaintance with the necessary Admiralty Charts. Drake’s Island is very visible on approach, and you will have to plot your course to your chosen Plymouth marina from this point inwards. Broadly speaking, choose west for Mayflower Quay and east for most of the other marinas.

Shipping movements

Port movements come under the direction of the Queen’s Harbour Master, with radio traffic on VHF Channels 16 and 40 with the call sign ‘Long Room Port Control’. Channel 14 should also be monitored for forthcoming shipping movements. Most powerboats can easily run just outside the deeper buoyed channel reserved for shipping. Needless to say, Her Majesty’s warships have right of way.

Cruising destinations

Busy Plymouth Sound offers extensive sheltered waters for all manner of day cruising, pottering about and boat-based water sports. Most significantly, the Sound also provides a jumping-off point for trips to the rivers Fal and Fowey, and the rugged Cornish coast. The Devon coast, including Salcombe, Dartmouth, Torquay and Brixham, is within easy reach. However, many local boats venture much further to the Channel Islands and Brittany. Plymouth is a great cruising hub.

Cattewater and Hamoaze

The eastern side of Plymouth Sound, around Yacht Haven Marina, is usually referred to as the Cattewater. The western side, near Mayflower Quay and Royal William Yard, is referred to as the Hamoaze.

Think of Plymouth and Elizabethan wide boy Sir Francis Drake instantly pops into mind. His insouciant game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe, his contempt for the Spanish Armada and his restyling of the King of Spain’s beard have rightly been absorbed into national folklore. We also cherish the derring-do of his sea dog contemporaries such as Sir John Hawkins and Sir Walter Raleigh.

The voyage of the Mayflower , taking the Pilgrim Fathers to America, is usually our next historical thought of Plymouth. From such beginnings, and with its proud association with gin, Plymouth grew into a great trading city and Royal Navy port. The now preserved Royal William Yard complex testifies magnificently to the latter. More recently Devonport became the biggest naval base in Western Europe, and Plymouth became the home of many of our nuclear submarines. The Ocean City is now a tourist destination in its own right, famous for the cobbled Barbican quarter, and proving a wonderful landfall for the cruising family.

Spoilt for choice

Plymouth not only enjoys a large number of traditional marinas, it also offers the relatively modern dry stack experience. The sheer range of marina locations around Plymouth, the varied types of berthing being touted and the variations in each individual offer mean that this area delivers real choice to the powerboater. Innovative ideas such as being a shareholder in your own marina at Mayflower Quay, or storing your boat on a rack at Yacht Haven Quay, deliver very different and exciting boating experiences. This genuine choice has bred true competition. A number of boating enterprises in Plymouth – commercial and non-commercial – are actively vying for the powerboater’s custom. This must be a good thing.

Redevelopment aesthetics

In general, existing maritime wharves, quays, banks and docks around Plymouth have been developed to provide the basis for the marinas we visited for this article. How well and aesthetically this has been achieved in each case can only be a matter of subjective judgement, so none is made here.

MDL Queen Anne’s Battery marina

QAB marina lies on an extensive site, with good views over the water. It enjoys direct access to the sheltered waters of Plymouth Sound, and is also the home of the Royal Western Yacht Club. In terms of facilities, this is a ‘one stop’ fully serviced marina. It has all the features, fuels, support services and access to boating tradespeople one might desire. QAB marina is close to the town centre and the delights of the Barbican, with all that entails.

Features we noted

As well as a convenient place to berth one’s powerboat, QAB marina struck us as a good venue for trailer boaters, and it has both petrol and diesel on-site. We thought the wide, sheltered slipway and handy fuel berth were both very trailer boat-friendly features. Having access to provisions on-site in a shop also appealed to our trailer boating blood. We noted that MDL have an interesting Wi-Fi offer for berth holders: free unlimited super-fast Wi-Fi. While we could not try it on our visit, the idea of non-costed, truly fast Wi-Fi access certainly appealed to us as seasoned berth holders. MDL also offer complementary boat moves for berth holders: free-of-charge towing and boat moves to and from MDL’s hoist dock. If you have ever been caught out with unexpected charges for moving your boat to or from a hoist, this offer will certainly appeal.

The social side of life has not been overlooked. Chandlers Bar and Bistro is an enterprise that we thought classy and engagingly quirky at the same time – a very pleasant place to hang out or dine. It had a good all-day menu too. The owner, genial Stuart James, is also a boating man, so he is a fund of accurate and up-to-date local knowledge. We particularly like his nifty outboard display-cum-deck venue: ‘Chandlers Outboard Deck – Meet, Eat and Drink’. Mind you, our idea of heaven is to sit outside in the sun with a cold drink while admiring classic outboards! Sea Chest is close by, a pukka nautical bookshop and chart agent. They were particularly helpful and approachable people. The Sound Bites cafe, also on-site, had a good local reputation with the boaters we spoke to, though we did not have time to try it. It was amusing to spot a funky Tesla electric car charging point in the car park. The Mount Batten Ferry departs close by, and the extensive Force 4 Chandlery shop lies just by the marina complex gates.

QAB quick digest

• Berths:                       235 fully serviced, plus visitors’ berths

Slipway:                     Yes

• Hoist:                          Yes
• Security:                    24/7
• Fuel:                           Yes, diesel and petrol
• Gas:                            Yes

Wi-Fi:                          Yes, free

• Contact:                     01752 671142
• Satnav:                      PL40l
• Website:                    www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-queen-annes-battery
• VHF:                           Channel 80

Mayflower Quay marina

Like most of Plymouth’s marinas, Mayflower Quay occupies a redeveloped ex-maritime site. Its inherited layout means that trailer boats must use the marina hoist. The marina yard really does fit a quart into a pint pot, and all staff we spoke to had a very refreshing ‘can do’ attitude. If you looked closely there was the full range of marina services and support businesses. The marina buildings are high on the quay, and this gives a commanding outlook to the boats. From the pontoons there are superb views across to Royal William Yard. In contrast, there are also delightfully rural views across to the wooded banks of the River Tamar. The Cremyll Ferry departs from a long stone jetty just up from Mayflower Quay. For prudent navigation, the position of this extensive projection should be carefully noted on approach and departure. Incidentally, just beyond, across the drying creek, lies the impressively large Princess Yachts International manufacturing hangar.

Mayflower Quay marina is an interesting institution. It is an independent concern owned by a number of shareholding berth holders. Among other benefits, shareholders are awarded reduced berthing rates and hoist charges. It is therefore not run for commercial gain. Thus, it is able to plough its profits directly back into reinvestment into the marina infrastructure. In turn, this has led to an inclusive ‘family’ feeling about the marina. You can also spot little individual touches here and there. For example, the bathrooms are excellent. Incidentally, we have never seen both hot and cold water available outside on a hose! Mayflower Quay marina has been awarded Marina of Distinction awards for the past three years by the Yacht Harbour Association: winner in 2015, runner-up in 2016 and winner again in 2017 – an extremely impressive set of achievements for any marina.

It was encouraging to see that the marina’s substantial launch, Speedwell , was able to offer arriving vessels assistance onto their berth. We also felt that the marina handbook was exceptional in having detailed navigational notes, distance charts and tidal stream data. On the social side, Jolly Jacks waterfront bar and bistro is a welcome and colourful addition to the marina. It came highly recommended by the berth holders to whom we spoke.

Captain Watts outfitters and chandlers lies just at the marina gate, and is a very convenient resource for berth holders and visitors like us. There is a convenient ferry nearby to Plymouth’s Barbican quarter, so you could live it up in the city and not need to drive yourself home. There is also a water taxi service to Royal William Yard. We further noted that a mutual agreement has been negotiated so that there is dinghy access for Mayflower berth holders into Royal William Yard marina – handy to scoot over the water and take an alfresco lunch.

As trailer folk, we noted that the last bit of lane to the marina gets quite narrow. The no-nonsense marina handbook directly addresses this issue with helpful practical advice. If you were planning to trail to Mayflower Quay, a telephone call would yield much practical information and close support on your arrival. We also noted that the handbook has a very useful section on avoiding Plymouth town centre when towing to the marina. Mayflower Quay marina is sufficiently different to demand a closer look.

Mayflower Quay quick digest

• Berths:                       400 fully serviced plus visitors’ berths
• Slipway:                     No
• Gas:                            Yes
• Contact:                     01752 556633
• Satnav:                      PL14LS
• Website:                    www.mayflowermarina.co.uk

Royal William Yard marina

Royal William Yard, designed in 1824 by Sir John Rennie, comprises an amazing collection of Grade I status Royal Navy victualling buildings. One soon runs out of superlatives to describe this architectural tour de force. The sheer scale and quality of the buildings reflects the assurance of the age in which they were built. These have been beautifully preserved and now house many leisure businesses, dotted about this extensive complex. Tucked away in the centre is a really neat little dock, comfortably nesting inside which is a compact pontooned marina. This has recently been taken under the wing of a local fisherman-cum-entrepreneur, Ben Squire. It has sections for berth holders on one side of the basin and visiting vessels on the other. Currently things are still being developed, and just eight visitors’ berths are available. Berth depth is at least 1 metre. It really is an inspirational venture. At the moment it is a strictly ‘no-frills’ berthing proposition, but we instantly liked it, and it is situated in such an astounding setting. We wish the imaginative Mr Squire all the best of luck.

As previously mentioned, throughout the complex there are cafes, bars and restaurants in profusion. These cater for all tastes and pockets, and include some of the big chains like Wagamama and Wildwood. On a hot day, you too will believe that pavement cafe society has finally come to the UK. There is a ferry running from the dock linking back to the Barbican in Plymouth, and another runs to Edgcumbe over the border in Cornwall.

Royal William Yard quick digest

Berths:                       8 visitors’ berths with power, plus water available on the pontoon

Hoist:                          No

Security:                    Keycode entry

Fuel:                           No

Gas:                            No

Wi-Fi:                          No (but cafes on the quay have it)

Contact:                     01752 659252

Satnav:                      PLU 3RP

Website:                    http://www.royalwilliamyardharbour.co.uk

VHF:                           Channel 13

Plymouth Yacht Haven

Plymouth Yacht Haven lies on the Cattewater side of the Sound, situated on the Mount Batten peninsula. The marina is right beside historic World War II RAF flying-boat hangars. Taken together, this is an extensive water frontage. Most usefully, Plymouth Yacht Haven is accessible at all states of the tide. We soon realised that this marina could easily provide a complete solution for the powerboat-owning family. The brand-new toilet facilities will please any fussy family crew, and the linear layout of the marina building is pleasant and effective. Where some marinas sprawl, at Plymouth Yacht Haven you are not covering long distances to access the immediate marina features and services. If you want more, simply walk next door. Immediately adjacent, and rather substantial, is Peninsula Marine Services, residing in the aforementioned and truly vast ex-flying-boat hangars. It seemed to us that whatever support you needed for your boat, it was available on-site. You could leave your boat here and travel in from afar, confident that they could deal with literally any eventuality. If you love being around boats and boating, Peninsula Services will stir your blood. The sheer bustle around the hangars is astonishing. The adjacent slipway is vast – a doddle to use for trailer boat reversers of every level of competence, including mine. Although the marina has diesel fuel, there is no alongside petrol berth, which may be a significant factor if you are running a thirsty petrol boat.

On our walk examining the amazing WWII hangars, stumbling upon the bijou Galley Kitchen was a truly unexpected find. This is a compact but clever eatery tucked away in the middle of this busy boatyard. It is open seven days a week and has eat-in or takeaway menus. The latter would be very handy if you were working on your boat just a few yards away – as many folk were. It offers a broad range of fayre, including the soul food of all true powerboaters – the all-day breakfast. Back at the modern marina building there is a range of businesses, some directly related to boating, others more orientated to lifestyle. There is also the chic Bridge Bar and Restaurant. This has an elevated terrace with fine views over the marina. It is a great place to snack, yarn or dine. As we have learned at other marinas lacking such alternatives, it is nice to have at least two such excellent but varying eating choices available to suit one’s mood. Local pubs at Mount Batten and Turnchapel are within walking distance, though of course there are buses directly into Plymouth. Don’t forget that there is also a water taxi straight into the Barbican at Plymouth. This operates from the public slipway at Mount Batten. For those important bits and pieces to run the boat, there is the Mount Batten Boathouse chandlers on-site. For provisions, Hoe Mini Market is about a 20-minute walk away. However, the rather helpful marina staff informed us that local supermarkets and takeaways will deliver direct to the marina.

Quick digest

Berths:                       450 fully serviced

Fuel:                           Diesel

Contact:                     01752 404231

Satnav:                      PL9 9XH

• Website:                    www.yachthavens.com

Plymouth Yacht Haven Quay Dry Stack

And now for something completely different. While we have seen small outdoor dry stacks at home and abroad, nothing prepared us for the sheer scale of the Yacht Haven Dry Stack. Now in its tenth year, it really is a vast and slick operation. Aimed at craft up to 36ft in length, boats are stacked in the sky in this modern marina. Using the tallest forklifts we have ever seen, it functions like a big, beautiful boat-vending machine. Goodies are collected from the racks and delivered to the convenient dock alongside. Wow!

Turnkey solution

The only pause in this process is if you have requested the optional valet fuel service. In this case, dry stack operatives will refuel your boat with diesel or petrol for you. You can therefore literally ring up and drive over, to find your boat already gassed up, waiting in the water on a pontoon. Just step aboard, turn the key and go. Then when you get back, just leave your boat on the supplied pontoon, climb into your car and tootle home. The dry stack team will then retrieve your boat for you, wash the hull down and store it back on the stack. We watched this all unfold as a seamless function one afternoon. It made a very favourable impression upon us.

Cool cathedral

Inside, the tall dry stack building is like a huge toyshop for trailer boat folk. In this vast cathedral to cool, here was rack upon rack of almost every modern trailer boat we have ever admired, all in one place. This resonated with us since we have to care for our own boat, and also store its trailer separately. Here was an entirely different concept to our own current solution of a traditional all-year-round marina berth, plus expensive paid trailer storage. When you see it all work so smoothly, the penny drops.

Questions answered

However, as boat owners we did have three key questions. If, like us, you often wish to stay aboard your boat for a few nights from time to time, was there access to floating pontoons? The answer was yes. Our second question concerned working on your boat in the yard. The answer is you can, and there are dedicated maintenance cradles and power provided. Indeed, those boats ‘stacked’ at ground level already have access to shore power electricity, so dedicated maintenance cradles are only an issue for aerial berthers. Our third question concerned trailer storage, an often overlooked but significant marina charge. Yes, there was trailer storage, and yes it was available at a reduced rate. Despite this new concept challenging our current marina arrangements at home, it seemed to make very good sense.

Essentially, this particular Yacht Haven Dry Stack version of dry stacking is a pukka marina with a vertical component. It is not merely a high-rise boat car park. The social aspects of marina life have not been neglected. The dry stack has its own toilets and showers, and there is a handy eatery, The Mess Room, complete with aerial terrace, right next door. Yacht Haven Dry Stack even provides a social area for berth holders. This comprises a shaded decking area with handy seating and tables overlooking the water, pontoons and docking facilities. It was very comfortable in the 30-degree heat during our visit. There is the usual range of marina support businesses on-site, and we felt confident that we could live with this whole groovy stacking concept. Last but not least, we especially liked the palm tree.

• Berths:                       On rack – 240
• Fuel:                           Diesel, petrol, plus valeting service
• Wi-Fi:                          Yes
• Contact:                     01752 481190
• Satnav:                      PL97FE

Plymouth Sound and Approaches, Chart 30

C14 Plymouth Harbour and Rivers

Navionics UK and Europe

www.navily.com

Captain Edward Pellew RN and the wreck of the Dutton

The Dutton was chartered by the East India Company and bound for the West Indies with a full complement of troops aboard. It was wrecked in Plymouth Sound during a gale on 26th January 1796. Admiral Sir Edward Pellew happened to be in Plymouth at the time. He assumed command of the initially botched rescue and then swam out in the storm to the grounded vessel. Many of the soldiers aboard had broken into the ship’s stores and were drunk, so Pellew had to threaten their insubordination with his cutlass. Under his leadership an early form of rescue was rigged, similar to an embryonic breeches buoy. Astoundingly, all but four of the 600 souls on board were saved. ‘The Dutton and Captain Edward Pellew RN’ is an original painting by Edward Boyle. It was commissioned by Stuart James as one of a number of graphic tabletops representing the maritime history of Plymouth. Stuart James is the owner of Chandlers Bar and Bistro at QAB marina, Plymouth.

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Plymouth, Plymouth Sound, Anchorages and Central Marinas

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Plymouth is one of the finest deep water harbours in the country,

....although its sheer size makes it more suitable for big shipping than for yachts. Eddystone Rocks lay in the approaches at a good offing, and the details of the valliant efforts to build a durable lighthouse are covered in the history pages.

Plymouth is a busy naval and commercial port, and only in more recent times has it become popular for leisure craft. There are now four large centrally located marinas with excellent facilities for visitors, and several smaller marinas. Couple this with miles of navigable water in the rivers that flow into the main harbour, (with a multitude of anchoring opportunities), and you have an area that even deeper draft seagoing yachts could spend a good week exploring. Nowadays Plymouth is an internationally renowned yachting centre and several major racing events are hosted here. Virtually all facilities can be found.

The main business of the city has been based around seapower and war since the days of Hawkins and Drake. Throughout two world wars up to the days of nuclear submarines patrolling the oceans, Plymouth has played a major role. The city was badly bombed by the Germans during World War II, and much of the city centre damaged. The Royal Marines have an important base here, and wherever you sail in this area will not escape naval activity.

The port is under the control of the Queens Harbourmaster, and warships have absolute right of way. Plymouth Sound itself is so large and deep that pleasure craft should have no trouble keeping out of the shipping channels, and thus out of trouble.

For the purposes of this guide, Plymouth has been divided into two sections:

1. Plymouth Sound, Anchorages and the central marinas  (This page!)

2. Plymouth, the Rivers and Anchorages

Approaching from the West the visiting yachtsman or motorboater will pass.....

..... Rame Head and then Penlee Point, which has the Draystone Rocks extending for about a quarter of a mile to the SE.  These are marked by the red can Draystone Buoy (Fl(2)R.5s), which should be left to port, although with a large scale chart safe passage can be made inside of this.

It should now be possible to see the conspicuous 19m white lighthouse (Iso.4s10M) that marks the western end of the very low lying breakwater, which is sometimes difficult to see. At night the light is visible from 031 degrees to 039 degrees True, and points the way for shipping from the Draystone Buoy, to the western entrance. The central breakwater was completed in 1841, and transformed the open roadstead into a fleet anchorage. It is almost 1 mile long, took 29 years to build and landing on it is prohibited. From the Draystone Buoy a Northerly course, with a touch of East, will bring the small craft towards the entrance and clear of shipping. At night the white sector of the Maker lighthouse ((Fl(2)WRG 10s 16m 11-6M) will help get you in. Note the red can buoy Queens Ground (Fl(2)R.10s), which the small craft can leave on the starboard side thus keeping out of the shipping channel. You are now in Plymouth Sound, expect to see anchored ships. Further Pilotage Details:

When approaching from the East you will pass on your starboard side the Great Mewstone and the Shag Stone, (the latter being marked by an unlit white beacon). You should be aiming to keep East of the deepwater channel and its associated shipping. Be aware that the tide could be trying to set you to the East, and into danger. The deepwater shipping channel is bounded on the Western side by a shoal patch, marked on the eastern side by the East Tinker Cardinal buoy (Q(3)10s), and on the Western side by the West Tinker Cardinal buoy (VQ(9) 10s). Although this shoal has 3.5 m at CD, in strong southerlies seas can break heavily in this area, making the western entrance to Plymouth Sound a better option for small craft.

The eastern end of the breakwater is marked with a conical daymark topped by a beacon with the sectored light (L Fl WR 10s 9m 8/6M), one of the complex range of sectored lights to guide shipping using the eastern entrance. The narrow white sector from 353 degrees 001 degrees is used by shipping to help clear the Tinker shoal, and the Shagstone. The small craft should keep well to the shore side and will find themselves in the red sector of this particular light. The next point to make for is the  westerly Cardinal beacon off Staddon Point (Q(9) 15s), leaving this to starboard. Ahead and slightly to the West, you will see a westerly Cardinal buoy, Duke Rock (VQ(9)10s), and this marks the edge of the shipping channel. Small craft can pass inside of this leaving it to port thus getting out of the way of shipping. You are now in Plymouth Sound, take note of the large Admiralty mooring buoys painted yellow and lit with flashing yellow lights.

Once inside the large expanse of Plymouth Sound one needs to decide which Marina or River to head for and further down we suggest some routing to avoid the big stuff in the main channels.

It is important to note that this port is under the control of the Queens Harbourmaster and all shipping movements are controlled from the Longroom, the tower west of the entrance to Millbay Docks. They are on VHF channel 16 and 14, callsign " Longroom port control". The following rule applies " all navigable waters north of 50° 20' (effectively the breakwater) shall be deemed a narrow channel. Vessels of less than 20 m in length, sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing shall not impede larger vessels manoeuvring within the port". Warships have right of way and should not be approached within 200 m when underway, and when crossing astern of them you must leave a gap of 800 m. They are normally accompanied by launches or RIBs of the MOD police who will quickly be on to you if you get in the way. Regarding the moored warships, you're not allowed to pass within 50 m of them, or within 100 m of berthed submarines.

Quite apart from the warships there is significant commercial traffic including ferries and it is wise to monitor VHF channel 14 while underway to keep aware of forthcoming shipping movements.

In actual practice there is plenty of water in most areas for small craft to keep well out of the way of big ship movements, by staying out of the deeper buoyed channels altogether. Below is a link to the Queens Harbourmaster's website:

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/plymouth

To get to any of the marinas, you will have to pass through one of four possible passages. There is a passage called the Bridge which lies to the west of the very conspicuous Drakes Island, (See charts and chartlets). If making for Hamoaze or Mayflower Marina and having entered Plymouth Sound via the western entrance, it makes sense to cut through here. The passage through the shallows is well marked by substantial lit beacons, and is likely to carry more than 1.3 m at LWS. Boats of normal draft can use this passage at any time other than dead low water springs, in reasonable weather.

Asia Pass carries over 5 m of water and is well marked by two red can buoys, Melampus (Fl.R.4s) and Asia (Fl(2).R.5s) on the western side. The eastern side is guarded by a southerly Cardinal buoy (Q(6)+LFl 15s) to the south and by a westerly Cardinal buoy (VQ(9)) to the North. For the average small craft there is plenty of water to keep out of Asia Pass proper, thus avoiding any shipping that could be using it, by skirting the two red can buoys on the wrong side. Consult the charts. This passage could be useful if you are coming from the West and making for Kings Point Marina, Sutton Harbour, Queen Annes Battery or Plymouth Yacht Haven. It could also be useful if you are coming from the East and making your way to the Hamoaze or Mayflower Marina, and don't want to use the Bridge.

The main channel called Smeaton Pass should be avoided if at all possible. It carries the deepest water and consequently is heavily used by shipping, and is well buoyed.

For craft entering Plymouth Sound by the eastern entrance and heading anywhere other than the Hamoaze or Mayflower Marina there is a good passage just to the east of the main Smeaton pass. Aim for the Mount Batten breakwater end (2FG (vert)), and pass between it and the southerly Cardinal buoy South Mallard (VQ(6)+LFl 10s) and the conical green buoy West Mallard (Q.G) lying a little to the NNW. There are minimum depths over the Mallard shoal of 3.6 m, and in anything other than exceptional conditions this passage is preferable to Smeaton Pass and its associated shipping.

Once through any of these passages be aware that you will be in the vicinity of ships using narrow buoyed channels, and you will be expected not to impede their progress. A good study of the charts is essential to understand the paths these ships are likely to follow, and a listening watch kept on VHF channel 14.

Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring

Just outside of Plymouth Sound to the West it possible to.....

.... anchor tucked deep into the Cawsand Bay Anchorage if the wind is in the West.

It has a gently shelving beach with good holding and has a surprising number of facilities ashore. There is a no anchoring area around Penlee Point and it stretches to the north-east into Cawsand Bay, so anchor off the town fairly close in. It is unwise to leave your boat unattended here in case the wind swings to the East, which makes this anchorage untenable, however if on passage westwards and not wanting to mess about going into Plymouth it is a useful stopping point. Cawsand can get crowded at weekends with local boats. Ashore there is a shop in Kingsand which is open to 9 p.m. seven days, selling fresh veg, frozen meat and an off-licence. There is a small chandlers that doubles up as a post office in Kingsand also. Hungry sailors will find a good choice of takeaway food and assorted pubs and eating places. Land by dinghy on the beach. Inside Plymouth Sound anchorage can be found in Barn Pool, due West of Drake's Island. This is sheltered in most westerly weather but it is worth buoying your anchor as the bottom is foul in some places. This anchorage is preferable at neap tides, as getting ashore is easier in the dinghy. North-east of the pier on Drake's Island is another option. Moorings in this vicinity belong to the Royal Marines. Beware of an underwater obstruction (0.9 m) 400 m due north of the pier. It should be noted that Millbay Marina Village shown on the charts does not take visiting yachts, only residents. The five marinas with plenty of room for visiting yachts are now listed starting in the West with Mayflower International Marina, followed by King Point Marina, Queen Anne's Battery Marina, Sutton Harbour Marina, and Plymouth Yacht Haven. Full entry details and visitors prices are now provided:

Mayflower International Marina.

Mayflower Marina is located on the western side of Plymouth Sound at the mouth of the River Tamar. The marina has approximately 400 berths and is owned by a consortium of berth holders and has a quiet and friendly atmosphere. Visitors are most welcome.

Once in Plymouth Sound call Mayflower Marina on VHF Ch80 (24hours) or Tel: 01752 556633 (after hours 07840 116853).

Your approach to Mayflower Marina can be made either via The Bridge, or by following the Drake Channel. The shorter route is through the Bridge, which although well lit, is a fairly narrow channel and should only be attempted in favourable conditions. Least charted depth is 1.3m. It is considered advisable to motor through the Bridge due to strong tidal flows. To the east and west of The Bridge there are underwater obstructions.

Once through The Bridge, Mayflower Marina will start to appear on your starboard bow. The marina is protected by a heavy-duty floating breakwater with entrances at the Southern and Northern ends.

Marina staff are friendly and helpful and will usually offer berthing assistance to visitors and returning resident berth holders as a matter of routine.

Security is good and the marina offers comprehensive facilities including water, electricity and WiFi at all berths, diesel, petrol, Calor & camping gas, marine and electrical engineers, riggers a 33 tonne boat hoist and a 1.5 tonne crane. There is an excellent café bistro on the site called Jolly Jacks (Tel: 01752 500008), and a self-service launderette.  The nearest supermarket is less than a mile away, the City Centre is approximately a 25 minute walk as is Plymouth Railway Station.

The overnight charges (2022) are £4.00 per metre, inc. VAT, but include shore power;  short stays of up to 4 hours cost £5 for the first hour then £3 per hour affter that. There are deals available for longer stays and reciprocal berthing arrangements within the Trans Europe Marinas Group. The Marina can handle craft up to 25 m LOA, and larger craft can be handled by prior arrangement. A link to their website is below for further details:

http://www.mayflowermarina.co.uk/

King Point Marina

This Marina is run by  Sutton Harbour marina and was opened in September 2013.  It is entered via a wave gate at the NW side of Millbay Docks so basically enter between West Hoe Terrace and Eastern King Point, leave the private marina (Millbay Marina Village) to starboard and head for the back of Millbay Dock. The West side of Millbay Dock is the terminal for the Brittany Ferries Link with Roscoff;  their main activity seems to be in the evening but you should exercise the usual caution if you sense any movement around that area.There is a standard set of passage signals on the port side of the entrance. They are on VHF 12 (c/s King Point Marina) and will direct you to a vacant pontoon berth. They share VHF 12 and a telephone number with Sutton Harbour Marina 01752 424297 so make sure that they know at the other end where you want to go.  The Marina is not so central as Sutton Harbour's primary marina so they are  charging (2022) £4.00 per metre per night for visiting boats but there are mid week discounts available You may choose to go to this marina or, if Sutton harbour Marina is full you may be directed to there.  They have a full set of marina facilities including WiFi.

The area around the Marina is in the process of being "regenerated" so that ,as well as an on site restaurant facility, there may be an increasing number of eateries etc outside the marina but for 2018 that is still ongoing; there is already a licenced cafe/restaurant co-located here but that is just about all - it's about a mile to town. The Marina website is at

http://www.kingpointmarina.co.uk/

Queen Anne's Battery Marina .

This is run by MDL, and was opened in 1986. As you approach you will see that this Marina is protected by a wall of piling. Leave this to your starboard side and follow in. There is a continuous pontoon running along the inside of the breakwater and this is where visitors are normally accommodated. The finger pontoons are for the permanent berth holders, but up to 40 visitors can be accommodated. In very busy periods you may have to raft up. Call them on VHF channel 80 callsign "Q.A.B", or call ahead on 01752 761142 to secure a berth.

Overnight charges (2022) are £4.20 per metre for boats up to 12.5 m, and £5.25 per metre for those up to 18 m.. rising again to £5.85 per metre for larger boats.  These prices include electricity.  Short stays are charged at £10.45 up to 15m and £15.40 for larger boats.

All the normal facilities are available here... water and electricity on the pontoons, WiFi Internet access, diesel and petrol from the fuel dock, showers, toilets and launderette. Calor and camping gas is available. A small shop selling provisions is on site, as is a bar/bistro. The Royal Western Yacht Club of England is based here, and visiting yachtsman are allowed to make use of its premises.

The club organises major yachting events such as around Britain and Ireland Race, Fastnet finish, and the OSTAR single-handed transatlantic race.  QAB is of course very crowded during these big race events, and booking in advance will be essential.

Virtually all technical services are available from chandlery, charts agents, life raft repairs, stainless steel fabrication, diving, riggers. Additionally there is a 25 tonne travel lift and a large slipway.

All in all virtually everything for yacht is available close by, but getting to the town centre itself can be a problem. It is not far via the Sutton Lock, but when this is open for shipping movements or closed to pedestrians (pedestrian access closed all night), you are faced with a long walk... not ideal when you've just had a skinful in the town, and you're trying to find your way back to the boat!  The other problem is that the berths are distinctly uncomfortable in heavy weather from the southerly quadrant, in fact all the marinas in Plymouth except Sutton Harbour can suffer from surge and wash from shipping.

Link to the Marina website is below:

http://www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-queen-annes-battery

Sutton Harbour Marina

Sutton Marina lies immediately to the north of Queen Anne's Battery Marina, and is entered via a lock. Leave QAB on your starboard side, and the lock lies dead ahead, the approachs being dredged to 2 m. The lock is open for seaborne traffic day or night, 365 days a year, and shows standard traffic signals. Around the top of the tide all the gates are open for free flow, but the way for yachts may still be blocked by the footbridge. Call "Sutton Lock" on VHF channel 12, or telephone 01752 204732 before attempting to enter the lock.

Sutton Harbour Marina is virtually in the heart of the town , and because of the lock, can offer a peaceful berth, with no shipping and no surging whatever the weather. They are on VHF channel 12 callsign " Sutton Harbour Marina", telephone 01752 204702, and can accommodate up to 30 visitors, with a maximum length of 21 m. The Marina office overlooks the fuel pontoon at the end of Sutton Pier.

Overnight charges (2022) are based on LOA and season .   Under 13.5m it's £4.40/m  over 13.5m it's £4.85/m in high season. They do have special offers so it's worth checking their website

As you pass out of the lock into Sutton Harbour, the Marina lies dead ahead with the arrival berth clearly marked next to the fuel pontoon.

Facilities include water and electricity, showers, toilets, launderettes and 24-hour security. Diesel is available from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM in the summer, but daylight hours only during the winter. Calor gas and camping gas are available and a chandlery is located on Sutton Pier beside the Marina. Nearby there are comprehensive boatyard facilities at Harbour Marine, with 25 tonne hoist, and full repair facilities. All the shops and facilities of the Barbican are just a short walk around the Quay.

 Link to the Marina website below:

http://www.suttonharbourmarina.com/

Plymouth Yacht Haven.

Plymouth Yacht Haven opened in April 1998, and lies in Clovelly Bay, just to the east of Mount Batten. It is approached from the Cattewater, call " Plymouth Yacht Haven" on VHF channel 80 or telephone 01752 404231 for berthing instructions. Visitors may be berthed anywhere within the marina, follow directions from staff.  Shelter is very good other than in strong north-easterlys, but it's location is nowhere near the city by foot or road although not far at all by water taxi (which runs from the Mountbatten Hotel steps. costs about £2.00 a trip and runs from 8am to10pm seven days a week in the summer). The Marina charges (2022) £4.20 per metre per night, with deals available for longer stays.  Should you be moored near here we are told that you can land your dinghy on the town side at the slip at the Mayflower Sailing Club's slip opposite Queen Anne's Battery

The 450 berth Marina can handle boats up to 20 m, and larger vessels by arrangement. All the usual facilities are available including showers and toilets, laundry, WiFi at the berths and an Internet cafe in the Marina itself. There is top class 24-hour security with coded access gates to the Marina.

Mount Batten Boathouse nearby is open six days a week (closed Sundays) and carries a large range of chandlery and Electronics. It also provides diesel from the fuel berth and can handle holding tank pump outs. Marine engineering and Electronics are available on site. A beefy 65 tonne travel lift is the largest in the area and there is plenty of laying up space and undercover storage. Other specialist contractors available include rigging, sail makers, boat repairs, stainless fabrication, and uphostery... all on-site.

Provisioning is now straightforward, with a shop at the Yacht Haven. For a serious stock up the nearest shopping centre, Plymstock, is a short bus ride away although there is a mini market at Hooe, a 10 minute walk away. There is now a bar/restaurant on site with other cafes close by. The Hotel Mount Batten Hotel has a restaurant and few minutes walk down the footpath brings you to the village of Turnchapel where the two pubs both serve food. A link to the Plymouth Yacht Haven new website is below:

http://www.yachthavens.com/plymouth

If you are not interested in the history and night life of central Plymouth there is everything that you need here for a couple of nights stop over on a cruise.  

Boat related facilities have already been covered to a certain extent with reference to the individual marinas.

The Plymouth area offers everything for the boat owner that can be imagined, from the building of a brand-new luxury yacht to replacing a defective shackle. A quick glance through the business directory will give you all the leads that you need.

For the trailer Sailer there are no less than 10 options for launching and recovery in the area and we list a few below:

Mount Batten Slip (01752 404567 Mount Batten Centre) offers a large concrete slipway with access at all of the tidal range except at dead low water springs. It is free. The nearby Mount Batten Centre is a charity organisation that encourages affordable watersports for all and has disabled access and disabled sailing and scuba-diving facilities.

Turnchapel Slip is West of Hooe Point sailing club on the South side of Cattewater and has access at about half of the tidal range. No charges.

Elphinstone Boat Park (01752 304304  landing officer) a concrete ramp next to the Plymouth harbour master's office, with access at all states of the tide. No charges.

The marinas also all have slipways available.

There are six yacht/sailing clubs in the area, all listed in the directory.

Plymouth obviously has plenty of banks with cashpoints and post offices, and for a good provisioning stock up there is a large Sainsbury supermarket in the older Armada shopping centre, which is however a taxi drive from the marinas.

There are good mainline railway links to the North and to London (08457 484950). The mainline station is slightly to the North of the city centre. Plymouth airport has flights to London, Scotland and Ireland (01752 204090) and there are straightforward road connections with the M5. International ferry connections to Roscoff and Santander (08705 360360).

Early history Upper Palaeolithic deposits, including bones of Homo sapiens, have been found in local caves, and artifacts dating from the Bronze Age to the Middle Iron Age have been found at Mount Batten showing that it was one of the main trading ports of the country at that time. The settlement of Plympton, further up the River Plym than the current Plymouth, was also an early trading port, but the river soon silted up and forced the mariners and merchants to settle at the current day Barbican near the river mouth. At the time this village was called Sutton, meaning south town in Saxon.The name Plymouth, a back-formation from Plympton ("Plum-tree town"), was first mentioned in a Pipe Roll of 1211.

Early defence and Renaissance   During the Hundred Years' War a French attack (1340) burned a manor house and took some prisoners, but failed to get into the town. In 1403 the town was burned by Breton raiders. A series of fortifications were built in the Tudor and Elizabethan era, which include the four round towers featured on the city coat of arms; the remains of two of these can still be found at Mount Batten and at Sutton Pool below the Royal Citadel.

During the 16th century, Plymouth was the home port for successful maritime traders, among them Sir John Hawkins, who led England's first foray into the Atlantic slave trade, as well as Sir Francis Drake, who, according to legend, insisted on completing his game of bowls on the Hoe before engaging the Spanish Armada in 1588. During their time locally produced wool was the major export commodity. In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World from Plymouth, establishing the first colony of the United States of America.

During the English Civil War Plymouth sided with the Parliamentarians and was besieged for almost four years by the Royalists. Construction of the Royal Citadel began in 1665, after the Restoration; it was armed with cannon facing both out to sea and into the town, rumoured to be a reminder to residents not to oppose the Crown.

Rise of naval power   Throughout the 17th century Plymouth had gradually lost its pre-eminence as a trading port. By the mid-1600s commodities manufactured elsewhere in England cost too much to transport to Plymouth and the city had no means of processing sugar or tobacco imports, although it played a relatively small part in the Atlantic slave trade during the early 1700s. In 1690 the first Royal Dockyard opened on the banks of the Tamar and further docks were built in 1727, 1762 and 1793. In the 18th century new houses were built near the dock, called Plymouth Dock at the time, and a new town grew up. In 1712 there were 318 men employed and by 1733 it had grown to a population of 3,000 people.

Prior to the latter half of the 18th century grain, timber and then coal were the greatest imports. During this time the real source of wealth and the major employer in the region became the dockyard. The Three Towns enjoyed some prosperity during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century and were enriched by a series of neo-classical urban developments designed by London architect John Foulston. Foulston was important for the town and was responsible for several grand public buildings, many now destroyed, including the Athenaeum, the Theatre Royal and Royal Hotel, and much of Union Street. Some of the greatest imports to Plymouth from the Americas and Europe during the latter half of the 19th cenury included maize, wheat, barley, sugar cane, guano, sodium nitrate and phosphate. Aside from the dockyard, other industries such as the gasworks, the railways and tramways and a number of small chemical works had begun to develop in the 19th century continuing into the 20th century.

Twentieth Century The city was heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II in a series of 59 raids known as the Plymouth Blitz. Although the dockyards were the principal targets, much of the city centre and over 3,700 houses were completely destroyed and more than 1,000 civilians lost their lives. The redevelopment of the city was planned by Sir Patrick Abercrombie and by 1964 over 20,000 new homes had been built, but, despite this, in 1971 over ten percent of the houses in Plymouth were still occupied by more than one family. Devonport Dockyard was kept busy refitting aircraft carriers such as the Ark Royal. By the time this work ended in the late 1970s the nuclear submarine base was operational. The army had substantially left the city by 1971, with barracks pulled down in the 1960s, however the city has become home to more Royal Marines.

East Stonehouse is one of three towns that were amalgamated into modern-day Plymouth. West Stonehouse was a village that is within the current Mount Edgcumbe Country Park in Cornwall. It was destroyed by the French in 1350. The terminology used in this article refers to the settlement of East Stonehouse which is on the Devon side of the mouth of the Tamar estuary, and will be referred to as Stonehouse.

Settlement in the area goes back to Roman times and a house made of stone was believed to have stood near to Stonehouse Creek. However other stories relate to land owned in the 13th century by Robert the Bastard. This land subsequently passed to the Durnford family through marriage to the Edgecombe family in the 14th and 15th centuries.

During the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries the areas of Emma Place and Caroline Place were home to many of the west country's top-ranking admirals, doctors and clergy. Those streets together with Millbay Road are the heart of Plymouth's residual red light district. Union Street, originally built across marshland, was for almost a century the centre of the city's night life with about a hundred pubs, a music hall and many other attractions. Much of it was destroyed by bombing in World War II. After the war the area between Union Street and the dock has been used by small factories, storage, car dealers and repairers. Since 2002 many of those buildings and yards have been cleared and are being replaced by high density residential building.

Notable Buildings Significant buildings include the Royal William Victualling Yard, the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse and the Royal Marine Barracks. Of these three defence complexes only the Barracks remains in Naval possession, the other two were sold and are now converted to predominantly residential use.

During the reign of Henry VII defences at the mouth of the Tamar were strengthened by the building of cannon bearing towers. One of these, the Artillery Tower at the sea end of Durnford Street, has been preserved as a restaurant.

Two of the surviving buildings close to the dock at Millbay are the red brick Portland stone-faced Georgian assembly room that is still called the Long Room, and the exquisite late Georgian or early Victorian Globe Theatre 300m north within the RMB. These were built largely for the pleasures of the officer class and their gentry friends.

On the higher ground towards North Road are two major churches. Firstly the Anglican St Peter's with its tall spire in the centre of Georgian style Wyndham Square. A few hundred metres east is the late Victorian catholic cathedral. Both buildings have recently been restored with reordered interiors to meet modern liturgical preferences.

Regeneration Gradually affluent residents are moving back into the district which has been comparatively poor since the Great War. Durnford Street is being regentrified. The walled enclosures of the Royal William Yard and the old Naval Hospital (known as the Millfields) are gated communities with security guards. The government's pressure to develop mixed quality high density dwellings on brownfield sites in inner cities has led to new residential blocks having been built throughout the area. Planned post war as a primarily commercial/industrial area it is now perceptibly changing its character. What was a dozen or so years ago viewed as one of the poorest and most deprived areas in north west Europe is fast losing that image.

On Stonehouse Creek, a branch of the Tamar, off the estuary known as the Hamoaze are the modern shipbuilding sheds occupied by the luxury motor-yacht firm Princess Yachts who employ hundreds of local tradesmen to construct and fit out expensive vessels. The creek now ends at Stonehouse Bridge (for many years a toll bridge) and to the north east the wide river bed which led up past Millbridge to Pennycomequick and beyond to the bottom of Ford Park Cemetery, has been reclaimed and infilled to provide the playing fields of Victoria Park, rugby pitches for Devonport High School for Boys, and nearest the bridge a large hardstanding used several days a week for Plymouth's biggest car boot sales. To the north is the main campus of what was Plymouth College of Further Education, now called City College.

Stonehouse is the site of Plymouth's international ferry port at Millbay Docks with at least daily sailings to Roscoff in Brittany and frequent ferries to Santander in northern Spain. Until the 1950s transatlantic liners would offload passengers who wished to catch a fast train to London rather than spend another day onboard going up Channel.

There is a regular passenger ferry from the tidal landing Admiral's Hard to Cremyll in Cornwall which is used for visitors to the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, and commuters to Plymouth.

The Eddystone Lighthouse

Eddystone Lighthouse is on the treacherous Eddystone Rocks, 9 statute miles (14 kilometres) south west of Rame Head, United Kingdom. While Rame Head is in Cornwall, the rocks are in Devon.

The current structure is the fourth lighthouse to be built on the site. The first and second were destroyed. The third, also known as Smeaton's Tower, is the best known because of its influence on lighthouse design and its importance in the development of concrete for building . Its upper portions have been re-erected in Plymouth as a monument.

Winstanley's lighthouse   Winstanley's lighthouseThe first lighthouse on Eddystone Rocks was an octagonal wooden structure built by Henry Winstanley. Construction started in 1696 and the light was lit on 14 November 1698. During construction, a French privateer took Winstanley prisoner, causing Louis XIV to order his release with the words "France is at war with England, not with humanity".

The lighthouse survived its first winter but was in need of repair. The top was replaced, which causes some sources to state there have been five lighthouses on Eddystone Rock. Winstanley's tower lasted until the Great Storm of 1703 erased almost all trace on 27 November. Winstanley was on the lighthouse, completing additions to the structure. No trace was found of him.

The cost of construction and five years' maintenance totalled £7,814 7s.6d, during which time dues totalling £4,721 19s.3d had been collected at 1d per ton from passing vessels.

Rudyard's lighthouse   Following the destruction of the first lighthouse, a Captain Lovett acquired the lease of the rock, and by Act of Parliament was allowed to charge passing ships a toll of 1d per ton. He commissioned John Rudyard (or Rudyerd) to design the new lighthouse, built as a conical wooden structure around a core of brick and concrete and first lit in 1709. This proved more durable, surviving nearly 50 years.

On the night of December 2, 1755, the top of the lantern caught fire, probably through a spark from one of the candles used to illuminate the light. The three keepers threw water upwards from a bucket but were driven on to the rock as the tower burnt down. They were rescued by boat. Henry Hall, who was 84 or 94 at the time, died from lead poisoning because of the molten lead from the lantern roof he had ingested fighting the fire. A report on this case of lead poisoning was submitted to the Royal Society by the physician Dr Edmund Spry, and the piece of lead is now in the collections of the National Museums of Scotland.

  Smeaton's Lighthouse

The third lighthouse marked a major step forward in the design of such structures. Recommended by the Royal Society, civil engineer John Smeaton modelled the shape on an oak tree, built of granite blocks. He pioneered 'hydraulic lime', a concrete that will set under water, and developed a technique of securing the granite blocks using dovetail joints and marble dowels. Construction started in 1756 at Millbay and the light was first lit on 16 October 1759.   Smeaton's lighthouse was 59 feet (18 m) high and had a diameter at the base of 26 feet (8 m) and at the top of 17 feet (5 m). It remained in use until 1877 when it was discovered that the rocks upon which it stood were eroded—each time a large wave hit the lighthouse it would shake from side to side. Smeaton's lighthouse was rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, in Plymouth, as a memorial.

The foundations and stub of the tower remain, close to the new and more solid foundations of the current lighthouse - the foundations proved too strong to be dismantled so the Victorians left them where they stood.

Douglass's lighthouse   The current, fourth, lighthouse was designed by James Douglass, using Robert Stevenson's developments of Smeaton's techniques. The light was lit in 1882 and is still in use. It is operated by Trinity House. It was automated in 1982, the first Trinity House lighthouse to be converted. The tower has been changed by construction of a helipad above the lantern, to allow maintenance crews access.

The tower is 49 metres(161 ft) high, and its white light flashes twice every 10 seconds. The light is visible to 22 nautical miles (41 kilometres), and is supplemented by a fog signal of 3 blasts every 60 seconds.

The text on this HISTORY page is covered by the following licence   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License

Eating, Drinking & Entertainment

As is to be expected in the city of this size there are almost endless choices of things to do and see. From museums and art galleries to ice skating and 10 pin bowling, multiscreen cinemas and the theatre.

Shopaholics will soon make a beeline for the new Drake's Circus shopping centre in the heart of the town, which houses Marks & Spencer's and Boots amongst many others.

Absolutely all kinds of pubs and restaurants are available, and as in many seafaring towns there is a very vibrant nightlife scene on Fridays and Saturdays, with the epicentre near the Barbican, very close to Sutton Harbour.  I'm afraid that all of Jolly Jack's favourites have gone the GX, Boobs, Diamond Lil's and the Brown Bear - all gone.

Some links are provided below for further investigation:

General Info http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/

Leisure Visitors and tourism | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK   Pubs http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml/el/Plymouth%3BDevon/

Restaurants & Places to Eat in Plymouth 2021 - Tripadvisor

Nightclubs http://www.touchlocal.com/nat/c-1355-t-19415-Night+Clubs-Plymouth

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Plymouth Yacht Haven

www.yachthavens.com/plymouth

01752 404231

Plymouth, PL9 9XH

Plymouth Yacht Haven: 5 Gold Anchor marina with full service boatyard, sheltered from prevailing winds, in peaceful environment yet only minutes from Plymouth Sound and city amenities.New luxury shower/washroom facilities opened April 2015. Welcome offer of £500 for new annual berth holders. Benefits for annual berth holders include: Refund of 50 % visitor fees taken on your berth April – Sept. Introduce a friend on an annual contract and receive 15% of the value of the new contract to share between the two of you. Up to 14 free visitor nights for use at any of our marinas around the UK. Up to 28 days free storage ashore. Free or reduced rate RYA Active Marina events, training and workshops. Boatyard discounts for annual berth holders. 10% off Bishop Skinner insurance. 5% fuel discount. Start your contract on the first day of any month. 24 hour unrestricted access to the sheltered waters and rivers of Plymouth Sound and the open sea. Discount on visitors fees for Mylor Yacht Harbour and Darthaven Marina.

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Plymouth Yacht Haven

Marina in United Kingdom

Best berthing protection in Plymouth, with minimal swell. There is deepwater throughout your approach to Plymouth Yacht Haven. After rounding the Mount Batten breakwater and heading east on the Cattewater channel, you will see Plymouth Yacht Haven on your starboard side. The outer most pontoon (P pontoon) wraps around the outer edge of the marina, so to access to the inner pontoons, continue to t

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