Hi Mike
I’ve been reading all the contributions on this subject and offer my own experiences of sailing in this lovely estuary. For the last three years we have spent our family summer holiday, camping and sailing in Falmouth. Our boat has always been kept at Mylor marina where it can be stored in their boatyard or moored to a pontoon. This year it cost about £50 for one weeks boat storage and car parking – it also includes the use of their excellent changing facilities and showers. Mylor also has a well stocked chandlery, restaurants and a quayside cafe that serves early morning English breakfasts that will satisfy the hungriest of crews! This year to prevent a mutiny we hired a Canadian canoe from Windsports, Mylor so that our three children and dog could escape from their ageing parents and explore the estuary by themselves.
I’ve also launched from the public slipway and dinghy park in the centre of the town next to the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall. The slipway is quite steep but accessible at most states of the tide. Car parking is a problem in the town centre and I would recommend Mylor for convenience.
If you’ve never sailed at Falmouth before you’ll love it. The Carrick Roads provide plenty of sheltered water and there are numerous creeks to explore. The Smugglers Cottage at Tolverne, past King Harry’s Ferry is worth a visit – you can tie up alongside their pontoon and enjoy a pint whilst overlooking the estuary. There are so many other places to visit – St Mawes, St Just and Loe beach to name just a few. A day cruise to the beautiful Helford Estuary and a visit to the Maritime Museum to see Frank Dye’s Wanderer must be an essential part of your itinerary.
Falmouth is our favoured sailing destination and worthy of a UKWA rally?
With regard to campsites, I would recommend Cosawes as its only 10minutes drive from Mylor, good showers, clean and quiet. I have seen holiday cottages advertised with private launching facilities – but at a price!
Paul Martin
Ketchup W8819