Where does a superyacht lie at Dartmouth?

Large yachts lie to the fore and aft mid-river moorings, which take yachts to 180 metres, or alongside the outside of the Town Jetty to 60 metres by arrangement, outside the hours reserved for passenger boats.

Where does a yacht take fuel at Dartmouth?

The fuel barge Dart Crusader lies on the Kingswear side of the channel and is open 08:30 to 18:00 daily from Easter to September, on VHF 6.

The River Dart from above Kingswear, looking upriver

Dartmouth

The River Dart meets the sea between Dartmouth and Kingswear, forming a deep and sheltered harbour that is accessible at all states of the tide. Large yachts lie to mid-river fore and aft moorings of up to 180 metres, with the town quay a short tender ride away. The river continues upstream past Dittisham to Totnes.

The Dart entrance and the lower river. Marker at the Town Jetty. Chart by savvy navvy. Not to be used for navigation.

Brief

Dartmouth is a deep sheltered river entered between Inner Froward Point and the Castle Ledge, past the Checkstone into the harbour between Dartmouth and Kingswear. There is deep water at all states of tide, and the moorings are governed by length rather than depth. Large yachts lie to the mid-river fore and aft moorings, to 180m, or alongside the Town Jetty by arrangement, and land at the jetty.

Approach

The entrance is about 200m wide between the rocks, with deep water inside for any draught. From seaward, a yacht passes 300m south of the Castle Ledge starboard buoy (Fl.G.5s), then leaves it more than 100m to starboard and steer for the Checkstone port buoy (Fl(2)R.5s). By night, the white sector of the Kingswear light, 325° to 331°T, leads in.

The speed limit is six knots from the Castle Ledge buoy to Totnes weir, with minimum wash by the moorings. Dart Harbour monitors VHF 11 as DARTNAV in working hours, and the yacht taxi is on VHF 69.

Pilotage

In the outer zone, from Inner Froward Point and Combe Point to the Anchor Stone, pilotage is compulsory over 50m. Above the Anchor Stone to Totnes weir it is compulsory over 30m, and over 24m for passenger vessels and tankers.

Notice is given 72 hours before arrival, updated at 12 hours and confirmed 30 minutes before arrival or any movement. The service does not run around the clock.

Tides

HW Dover: about −0505
MHWS: 4.9m
MHWN: 3.8m
MLWN: 2.0m
MLWS: 0.6m

Tide	Height or time
HW Dover	about −0505
MHWS	4.9m
MHWN	3.8m
MLWN	2.0m
MLWS	0.6m

There is deep water at all states of tide. Heights are from published tide tables and are checked against the Admiralty predictions for the day.

Dartmouth

High water, Fri 25 Sept, 18:16 4.7m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 00:10 0.8m
High water, Sat 26 Sept, 06:43 4.6m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 12:28 0.8m
High water, Sat 26 Sept, 18:58 4.8m
Low water, Sun 27 Sept, 00:49 0.7m

Admiralty predictions, UK time, refreshed hourly. Planning information, not for navigation.

Moorings and berths

Mid-river moorings: OperatorDart Harbour; SizeTo 180m LOA; NotesFore and aft. Tender to the shore. No water or power
Town Jetty, outside: OperatorDart Harbour; SizeTo 60m LOA, 5m draught, by arrangement; charted 3.5m; NotesReserved for passenger boats by day; available 17:00 to 08:45 and through the winter. 240V and three phase power included in the charge, water, refuse skip, CCTV
Town Jetty, inside: OperatorDart Harbour; Size8 to 18m, 1.8m draught; NotesWalk ashore, water and power
Mainstream buoys: OperatorDart Harbour; Size14 to 24m; NotesNo walk ashore
Darthaven: OperatorDarthaven Marina; SizeTo 20m; NotesKingswear. Water and power at every berth. 40 tonne hoist
Noss on Dart: OperatorPremier Marinas; NotesUpriver, east bank. 16 amp, free water. 75 tonne hoist, the largest on the river

Berth	Operator	Size	Notes
Mid-river moorings	Dart Harbour	To 180m LOA	Fore and aft. Tender to the shore. No water or power
Town Jetty, outside	Dart Harbour	To 60m LOA, 5m draught, by arrangement; charted 3.5m	Reserved for passenger boats by day; available 17:00 to 08:45 and through the winter. 240V and three phase power included in the charge, water, refuse skip, CCTV
Town Jetty, inside	Dart Harbour	8 to 18m, 1.8m draught	Walk ashore, water and power
Mainstream buoys	Dart Harbour	14 to 24m	No walk ashore
Darthaven	Darthaven Marina	To 20m	Kingswear. Water and power at every berth. 40 tonne hoist
Noss on Dart	Premier Marinas		Upriver, east bank. 16 amp, free water. 75 tonne hoist, the largest on the river

Dart Harbour's published figures, checked 23 September 2026. The mooring page gives the outside jetty as 50m and the commercial and visitor pages 60m; confirmed with the harbour office. Services on 48 hours' notice.

Alongside

The fuel barge Dart Crusader lies on the Kingswear side of the channel, with diesel and petrol and a fast pump at 180 litres a minute. It is open 08:30 to 18:00 daily from Easter to September, on VHF 6. Noss on Dart has a fuel pontoon by the hoist dock in daylight hours.

There is a refuse skip at the south end of the Town Jetty. Black water pump-out is at Darthaven only.

Ashore

Daddyhole Plain at Torquay is the public helicopter landing site, booked with Torbay Council on seven days' notice. Exeter Airport, with XLR Jet Centre handling, is open 08:00 to 20:00 and around the clock on request. Totnes station is on the main line to London Paddington, and ferries cross between Dartmouth and Kingswear.

Noss on Dart lifts 75 tonnes. For larger work the nearest yard is Pendennis at Falmouth.

Questions

Is pilotage compulsory on the River Dart?: In the outer zone pilotage is compulsory over 50 metres. Above the Anchor Stone to Totnes weir it is compulsory over 30 metres, and notice is given 72 hours before arrival.
Where does a superyacht lie at Dartmouth?: Large yachts lie to the fore and aft mid-river moorings, which take yachts to 180 metres, or alongside the outside of the Town Jetty to 60 metres by arrangement, outside the hours reserved for passenger boats.
Where does a yacht take fuel at Dartmouth?: The fuel barge Dart Crusader lies on the Kingswear side of the channel and is open 08:30 to 18:00 daily from Easter to September, on VHF 6.
What is the speed limit on the Dart?: The speed limit is six knots from the Castle Ledge buoy to Totnes weir, with minimum wash by the moorings. It applies to a yacht's tenders as to any other vessel.

Charges are revised each year. This page is a guide, not a quotation.

Sources

Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority, including the pilotage directions; Darthaven Marina; Premier Marinas; Yeowards fuel barge; Torbay Council; XLR Jet Centres. Checked 22 and 23 September 2026.