After fog had lingered all day on Wednesday we were pleased to see clearer skies today for our cruise to Dartmouth. We had sought advice on the notoriously tricky Portland Race and had opted for the more easterly route around the Shambles Bank, rather than the inner passage. We took the 1000 bridge lift and made our way out of the harbour into the flat calm of Weymouth Bay. Our passage plan was to carry the tide all the way down to Dartmouth by cruising at around 10 knots, although this did not seem to improve fuel consumption over our more usual 15 knots. We had no problems rounding Portland Bill in very light easterly winds with a clear view of the headland even from seven miles away.

As we approached Dartmouth we were joined by friends David and Ulla Harvey in their boat, Gefion, who had cruised from Lymington and we followed them into the Dart estuary.We took advantage of 28p/litre diesel at the Dart fuel barge before mooring up at Darthaven marina on the Kingswear side of the river. The Kingswear to Paignton steam train chugs regularly past the moorings forming the only link with mainline services.

Regular ferries cross to the Dartmouth side, including the car ferry which is powered by a loosely attached barge. In the evening we enjoyed the hospitality of the Royal Dart Yacht Club, who seem to have cornered the best view on the river as well as a good share of the evening sunshine.

Cruising Statistics

Distance:63 nm

Total to date: 699nm

Avg Speed: 11.5 knots

Duration: 5:30 hours

Diesel: 341 litres (est), 28p/litre

Wind: E 2-3

Mooring: £14/night

Electricity: Free

Waypoints

Weymouth Harbour entrance
50 36.52N 02 26.710W

Weymouth Harbour leading line
50 36.87N 02 25.770W

Isle of Portland
50 33.50N 02 19.20W

Bill of Portland
50 26.80N 02 19.20W

Dartmouth Approach
50 18.00N 03 30.00W

Castle Ledge SHM
50 19.50N 03 32.80W

Checkstone PHM
50 20.63N 03 33.88W

The Bight
50 20.76N 03 34.45W

Charts

SC 5601

SC 5602