Dittisham to Plymouth 9th and 10th June 2019

Our plan was to go further up the River Dart to Dittisham and stay on a mooring buoy for a couple of nights. The mooring on the town quay was quite tight with two sets of two rafted boats in front of us and two rafted boats behind us. There was also not a lot of room between us and the boats to fore and aft so getting out would have to be well planned. One of the rafted boats to our aft left the night before and the one in front left about 5.30am. Then the one behind us suddenly made moves to move so we felt we would also go whilst there was a gap.

At 08.58 we dropped our mooring lines and left the town quay. We passed this monster of a boat that had been moored in the middle of the river for a couple of days. People had been stocking and replenishing it for a couple of days. you can charter this boat if you want. The nearest price comparison I could get was $168,000 per week.

The Royal Naval College at Dartmouth

As we started going up the River Dart the rain started in earnest and we got very wet, but by 09.40 we were safely on our mooring buoy and a full English was being cooked. Even in the rain Dittisham looked very pretty.

Rascal on her mooring buoy.

As the rain subsided we pumped the dingy up and went for a little stroll round. We couldn't have too long a walk as the weather was variable.

View of the ferry landing to Agatha Christie's holiday house.

Having had a close look at the weather we decided that we would skip Salcombe and head off for Plymouth the next day as once again the weather was about to kick in. After passage planning we were aiming for a 0530 start the next morning.

As we had both woken up before the alarm and were ready early we set off at 0520, the two French boats moored near us set off 5 minutes before us. It took us 33 minutes to reach the mouth of the River. As soon as we were there we put up the main sail, however there was no wind to speak of and it was quite an uneventful journey. Just cold, very cold. We were both well wrapped up and prepared for the rain that was supposed to be coming.

As we  are sailing along we always listen to the coastguard's weather report, these come at set times so it is never good news when an unscheduled one comes along. Just as we were turning in Plymouth Sound the coastguard announced that there was a gale warning in our area, the good news being we were nearly at our destination. Although the winds didn't come the rain certainly did. We were met with what could only be described as a wall of rain. It was very dark and we could not make out much of Plymouth at all. We were heading for the marina at Sutton Harbour which is beyond the lock. It was our day, and not only was the lock on free flow but a yacht was just ahead of us and so the bridge was also open. It was not long before we were moored up and heading for some very hot showers. On the way back from the showers we realised that China Girl was on the same pontoon as us.

We planned to stay for four nights, but realised if we paid for 5 nights we got 2 nights free. No contest - 7 nights in Plymouth.

Sailing Information 
Dartmouth Town Quay to Dittisham 2.54nm  42 minutes.
£19.56 per night

Dittisham to Plymouth 36.7 nm
7 hours and 20 minutes

Marina at Sutton Harbour
Pay for 5 nights two nights free, works out at £32.57 per night.
Friendly staff
EXCELLENT wifi
Good facilities - very clean, lashings of hot water.
Laundry £4 a wash, £1 for a 20 minute dry, but choice of heat settings
Free DVD library and free tea or coffee in marina office.
Less than 10 minute walk to Coop or Tesco express.
Right on the Barbican so you are in the heart of all the action.