Early Aug 2021 - Plymouth, Brixham (Torquay and Paignton)

26th July – Monday – Fowey to Plymouth

Fowey Sunrise

Only 22 miles to sail from Fowey to Plymouth.  We gently rolled in the sunshine for 5 and a half hours to arrive at 11:00am.

An easy route through Plymouth Sound and towards Plymouth Hoe.

Even the lock was on free-flow, so no stopping just straight in to our berth, where we are met by a member of staff to take our ropes.  How civilised.

In the afternoon we took a taxi to Eurospars, nr Prince William Yard.  We needed a new Boom Car, for the in-mast furling system (our main sail is stored inside the mast, and pulls out along the boom) .  As the other one was worn and a new improved design had been created by the manufacturers Spar Craft.  It helps pull the sail out of the mast more smoothly.  Mick fitted the new Boom Car on our return.

We later went in search of food.  The Barbican area was very busy so we walked away and found the Crystal Garden Chinese, up a spiral staircase in a small room with plastic table cloths.  A restaurant to ourselves on a Monday night.  The food was excellent.  Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. 

27th July – Tuesday

Orientation around town and a new washroom bag for me.  All my toiletries, towels, hairdryer and extension lead, need a big bag.

28th July – Wednesday

In the afternoon old friends Graham and Pauline collected us and took us to their house.  They have finished renovations and it was good to see it.  We walked into Tavistock for dinner at Churchill Lane, a Mediterranean style restaurant.  Good food and good company.

Dartmoor Ponies on the golf course near their house.

The morning after we split up.  Pauline and I went shopping in Tavistock, which has a good selection of local shops and a historic market hall, and then went household stuff shopping in Plymouth.  Mick and Graham went all things sailing shopping, including a sneaky look at new boats for Graham.  Great to see them both, and thanks for the use of their washing machine.

Overnight storm ‘Evert’ hit the SW coast.  The Scilly Isles took the brunt of the 70mph wind.  The RNLI had more than 20 callouts, with boats dragging their anchorages and mooring buoys.  One boat ended up on the rocks and another had their sails ripped.  Thank goodness for the safe shelter of Sutton Harbour.

30th July onwards

I took the opportunity to hit the shops.  As a real treat we did our weekly shop at M&S in town. 

We walked to the Hoe and had coffee with the best view. 

Visited the Parade antiques arcade, nr the Barbican.

Just a small sample of the eclectic choice on offer.

A walk round the harbour gets us to the Mayflower Steps.  Near where the Pilgrim Fathers left the UK for America in Sept 1620.  Although you may remember they dropped in at Newlyn for food.  They mostly originated in East Anglia and only popped into Plymouth due to bad weather.  We can sympathise with that.

The Barbican is a popular place for socialising and is surrounded by pubs and eateries.  The Jolly Roger pirate boat has disappeared since our last visit.

Sailors Info – Sutton Harbour

On our first day in Sutton, I asked where I could plug in my hairdryer, as the laundry room had drawn a blank.  Two days later a visit to the individual Wet Rooms was greeted by a brand new hairdryer and mirror, freshly installed in the hallway.  Whoop whoop, and a happy dance in the office, while I profusely thanked them for their prompt action to a lady sailors dilemma.

Sutton Harbour is an excellent marina, but this for me makes it a five star marina.

Couches and tables are laid out on the deck where you can help yourself to free coffee, tea etc and chat with fellow sailors.

The help on arrival with the ropes makes for a great first impression.  And probably saves confusion and boat damage by tired arrivals.

Everything is spotless.  There are two sets of facilities and a laundry room.  The wifi is perfect. 

The town centre is nearby with every shop possible.  Plenty of restaurants and bars nearby. 

Chandlers at QAB Marina and Mick’s favourite chandlers bazaar nearby.

The marina gives good shelter and easy lock access.  Place fenders high in the lock, the rubber bumpers can leaves marks.

We highly recommend Sutton Harbour.  And thanks again for the hairdryer.

2nd August – Monday – Plymouth to Brixham

Yet another 06.30am start from Plymouth, on an overcast, but promising morning.

Renney Rocks exiting Plymouth Sound.  The band of cloud passed over, leaving a sunny day.

We passed Salcombe (above) and Dartmouth.  We have been to both before and we had heard reports of multiple rafting and crowded streets. 

We rounded Start Point with it’s impressive lighthouse and crossed Start Bay.  The sea was calm and we rolled gently, where the over-falls normally rattle a sailors nerves.

Neither of us have been to Brixham, and I only have childhood memories of Torquay.  We went to Brixham, as Torquay harbour was not taking any visitors who were not clients in their other marinas.  Brixham has a substantial fishing fleet and a very large marina.  We arrived at 14.30 after an easy 40 miles, which gave us plenty of time to have a good look around Brixham. 

This skeleton greeted us on the harbourside advertising the next Pirate Festival.

We then found the ‘Golden Hind’ which had disappeared from Plymouth.

Fisherman’s memorial with visitors.

Brixham harbourside is charming, with all the usual seaside shops.  There is also a decent High Street, with Co-Op and Tesco.  Also some very nice shops near the marina.

3rd August – Tuesday – Grand Day Out – Torquay and Paignton

We knew the weather was not going to hold and we wanted to get around Portland Bill to Weymouth on Wednesday.  So all my tourist exploits needed to be done in a full day out.

We noticed on a bus the day before that there is a ‘Torbay Day Rider’ bus ticket for £5 each.  So we got to the bus station at 10.30am.  Buses numbered 12 complete the circuit all day, there is one every 10 minutes.  (Note, if you like an open topped bus, look for the 112).

First to Torquay, via Paignton which took an hour.  It is only 8 miles, driver switch and heavy summer traffic causing delays.

Torquay marina is right in the centre of town.  Mick found a lovely family run café to obtain the requisite Bacon and Sausage sandwich he had promised himself. 

There are well kept gardens and a big wheel.  There is a large shopping centre and plenty of shops.  The promenade is more of a seaside walkway.

As time was short we hopped on the next bus to Paignton, which is only 2 miles away.  Normally we would walk.

Paignton Beach and Pier, the tide was almost in.

At the end of Paignton Pier, we got a good look at the cruise ships, which are currently anchored here with nowhere to go.  You can see Cunard Queen Victoria in the background.  We passed P&O Britannia on the way here.  Some are being used for UK circumnavigations at present.

I have to say the pier was in very good order, not at all shabby.  But still fully brash and gaudy as it should be.

We walked further on to Preston Sands and the pretty beach huts.

Then to Paignton Harbour at the other end of the esplanade.

Mick was tiring by this point, but I saw a sign for ‘Fairy Cove’, can’t miss that.

So we settled in at the Harbour Lights for a well earned drink.

I popped upstairs to the loo’s and saw the back of a lady, but didn’t register, then coming outside I saw a guy who I then knew I recognised…..

Another Sliding Doors moment, as I said ‘Celeste’,  her husband turned first, as he said, no one else is called Celeste, so we knew you wanted us.  My lovely cousin and her husband Andy on their holidays.  After all our wandering during the day, it was maybe a 15 second window, in which we saw each other……

We don’t know who was most shocked.  But we look really pleased.  And we had a nice chat.

Sadly, they had already had their drinks and had plans.  We knew we were leaving the following day, so a visit to the boat will have to wait.  But what a lovely surprise.

Sailors Info - Brixham Harbour

Very welcoming and easy to access.  Berth numbering runs from sea to shore along the pontoons, which is unusual.

Good facilities with sockets.  Tesco and Co-op nearby.  Poor wifi.  Much larger marina than we expected.

The fishing fleet is active, be vigilant.

Next stop Weymouth – ish.