Cornwall'98 Waterside Guide

Harbours of the North Coast

PADSTOW & THE CAMEL ESTUARY

Padstow is a noted centre for dinghy sailing, its sheltered harbour providing launching and mooring facilities for small craft of all types. The town itself is a popular holiday centre, for its size well provided with shops, which over the centuries have developed around the harbour.

The Camel Estuary, from which access to the harbour is gained, extends for a further 5 miles south-east to the market town of Wadebridge, which, at high water can be reached by medium sized boats. At low tide, however, vast acres of sand dry out.

Padstow stands about 2.5 miles from the mouth of the estuary, and is served by the Black Tor passenger ferry which is operated by the Padstow Harbour Commissioners. The first ferry to Rock is at 07.50, the last, according to season, between 16.50 and 19.50.

Harbour Characteristics

The Inner Harbour is suitable for most yachts and all remain afloat. Yacht nights in 1995 amounted to 4000.

Visitors' Moorings

Visitors' moorings at Rock are available by arrangement with the Harbour Office, Tel. 01841 532239, Fax: 01841 533346, VHF channel 16, working channel 12.

Pilotage

With the exception of fishing vessels, all vessels of 20m and more, or 2.5m draft or more, are subject to compulsory pilotage. Vessels below this size will find the estuary channel marked by a red port-hand cone off Greenaway rocks leading to a starboard-hand buoy in the channel and a further middle ground buoy from which the harbour is visible. The approach is then strictly within the channel which is marked on the starboard-hand with lit beacons and on the port-hand by a red buoy (Fl.R.5s) on Town Bar. Harbour dues are payable on all craft.

SERVICES

NEWQUAY

Newquay claims, to have some of the finest coastline and beaches in Europe. There are eleven beaches in all, and in high summer the population is quadrupled by holidaymakers quiet and dreamy it certainly isn't!

Although the town is well worth a visit if you want to take advantage of the tourist facilities and wide range of shops, little provision is made for the visiting yachtsman. The harbour - a thriving fishing port - is a drying one, and has only limited accommodation for visiting craft. Quay berthing is strictly limited. An RNLI inshore lifeboat is stationed at the harbour.

Harbour Characteristics

Drying harbour; access to harbour three hours before and three hours after high water, dependent on sea and weather conditions. Approach relatively straightforward (see chart 1168).

Visitors' Moorings

Limited quay berthing only. Application for visiting craft to Harbourmaster

Newquay by telephone, Newquay (01637) 872809, 0900 to 1700 daily.

hrs daily.

Pilotage

Care must be taken on approach of store-pots and buoys in bay.

SERVICES

Newquay Sailing Club, The Harbour; temporary membership available at Newquay Rowing Club (licensed clubhouse); The Harbour; temporary membership available at Newquay Sports Centre, Tretherras; indoor swimming pool and squash at Trenance Leisure Park.

PORTREATH

Portreath is a small drying harbour, now used by forty local fishing, diving and pleasure boats and occasionally utilised by visitors cruising along the north Cornwall coast. At one time it was a busy port serving the mining and industrial towns of Redruth and Camborne, importing coal and exporting tin and copper. It is the only usable harbour between Padstow or Newquay and Hayle or St. Ives, but even so should be regarded with great caution.

Harbour Characteristics

It should be noted that the entrance is dangerous when there is a heavy sea or ground swell running, or when it is blowing from west to north: in such conditions yachts should keep well away from this stretch of coast. The harbour is not lit, although it can be picked out by a white "pepperpot" day mark on the cliffs above the harbour.

Visitors' Moorings

Occasionally available. Although the harbour belongs to Kerrier District Council, the moorings are looked after by the Portreath Harbour Association. No mooring charges as such, but a donation would be accepted by the treasurer or secretary.

Pilotage

The middle basin dries about two metres. There is some water from half-tide upwards but, depending upon draught, the harbour is generally usable for two hours each side of high water. During entry, do not cut the corner around Horse Rock or the pier head. Come in on 150oT, keeping the inner wall of the pier alongside the Round House just visible. Follow through the turning basin into the inner harbour. Moor fore and aft with anchor and warp to a breakwater, or alongside the wall. The inside dock shallows towards the far end, where there is a small slipway.

SERVICES

Newquay Video Clips - A virtual visit to Newquay

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