Yacht Zen Again: Fowey to Lynher River

Friday, 14 August 2020

Fowey to Lynher River

Hi everyone,

Last Saturday we sailed from Fowey to the Lynher River, a tributary of the Tamar River just above the Plymouth Naval Dockyard. We're told Lynher is pronounced 'liner'.

Swan at Dandy Hole

It was a 30nm passage and an interesting one. Initially we had a gusty 10-15 knot northerly. After a few miles along the coast we fell out of the N wind into a light 5 knot SE wind. We had waves from the north and wind from the SE. The N wind was only present inshore. We eventually made it back into the better breeze.

As we entered Looe Bay the wind died entirely and we motored for a short time. Then a light wind came in and we were sailing again. This new NW wind gently pushed us along to Rame Head where it died and we motored into Plymouth and up the Tamar River.

Passing the naval dockyard we had a good look at HMS Echo, a hydrographic survey ship and HMS Defender, a Daring-class destroyer. Then we turned in to the Lynher River and passed Jupiter Point where HMS Raleigh (ashore) and HMS Brecon (afloat) train navy recruits. Then we were suddenly surrounded by farms and woodland. We anchored off Ince Point in 5m over black mud.

Here are our track and graphs...

Zen Again Track

Zen Again Graphs

Leaving Fowey

In the Northerly

Approaching Plymouth breakwater

HMS Echo

HMS Defender

At anchor

Sunset over Ince Point

We spent two nights at Ince Point. On Monday we motored 1nm upriver to Dandy Hole. Getting the anchor up was fun since a bight of chain was wrapped around part of a long-dead tree! We held up the tree with a line and could then carefully free the chain.

Dandy Hole is only accessible to keelboats at high tides but once in one can stay. We anchored in 4m over black mud. The 'hole' is close to shore and the local wildlife includes swans, herons, egrets, various waders, Canada geese and fish.