Is pilotage compulsory at Fowey?

Pilotage is compulsory over 37.5 metres in the lower harbour, and vessels over 20 metres north of Prime Cellars may require a pilot. Fowey Pilots monitor VHF 09.

Where does a large yacht lie at Fowey?

Large yachts lie to the harbour buoys, which take ships to 240 metres, or anchor in the lower harbour and tender to the town quay.

Where does a yacht take fuel at Fowey?

The fuel pontoon above the Bodinnick car ferry has diesel and petrol, around the clock and at all states of tide.

What are the harbour dues at Fowey?

The Fowey Harbour Commissioners' 2026 schedule sets harbour dues at GBP 1.25 per metre per day, with every seventh night free.

Fowey

Fowey is a deep-water harbour on the south coast of Cornwall and a working port for the export of china clay. Large yachts lie to the harbour buoys, which take ships of up to 240 metres, and land by tender at the town quay. The town of Fowey and the village of Polruan face each other across the river, linked by a passenger ferry.

The entrance and the lower harbour. Marker at the town quay. Chart by savvy navvy. Not to be used for navigation.

Brief

Fowey is entered between St Catherine's Point and Polruan, after clearing Cannis Rock off Gribbin Head to the west. The harbour is a working clay port and commercial ships move on the tide. Large yachts lie to the harbour buoys or anchor in the lower harbour and tender to the town quay; smaller yachts lie alongside the visitors' pontoons.

Approach

A yacht keeps an offing along the western shore to clear Cannis Rock until close to the entrance. The white sector of the St Catherine's Point light leads towards the entrance, and the white sector of the Whitehouse Point inner light (Iso RWG 3s) leads in. The fairway has a least depth of 7m to Wiseman's Point, a mile and a half above the entrance.

Clay ships berth at the Imerys jetties two kilometres upstream, and ships over 92m swing in the lower harbour under tugs. Fowey Harbour Radio monitors VHF 12.

Pilotage

Pilotage is compulsory over 37.5m in the lower harbour, and vessels over 20m north of Prime Cellars may require a pilot. Fowey Pilots monitor VHF 09; the Fowey Harbour Commissioners are the authority. Notice is requested for yachts over 20m.

Tides

HW Dover: −0555
MHWS: 5.4m
MHWN: 4.3m
MLWN: 2.0m
MLWS: 0.6m

Tide	Height or time
HW Dover	−0555
MHWS	5.4m
MHWN	4.3m
MLWN	2.0m
MLWS	0.6m

Heights are from published tide tables and are checked against the Admiralty predictions for the day.

Fowey

High water, Fri 25 Sept, 17:39 5.2m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 00:02 0.8m
High water, Sat 26 Sept, 06:05 5.1m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 12:20 0.8m
High water, Sat 26 Sept, 18:19 5.3m
Low water, Sun 27 Sept, 00:40 0.7m

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

Moorings and berths

Harbour buoys: OperatorFowey Harbour Commissioners; SizeShips to 240m; NotesLarger vessels anchor off
Yellow swinging moorings: OperatorFowey Harbour Commissioners; SizeOver 15m LOA; NotesPolruan Pool
Lower harbour anchorage: OperatorFowey Harbour Commissioners; SizeBy arrangement; NotesTender to the town quay
Visitors' pontoons: OperatorFowey Harbour Commissioners; SizeYachts; NotesPont Pill and Mixtow, walk ashore at Mixtow; water and shore power at Berrill's Yard and Penmarlam
Albert Quay: OperatorFowey Harbour Commissioners; SizeShort stay; NotesShore-linked pontoon, one hour. Fresh water

Berth	Operator	Size	Notes
Harbour buoys	Fowey Harbour Commissioners	Ships to 240m	Larger vessels anchor off
Yellow swinging moorings	Fowey Harbour Commissioners	Over 15m LOA	Polruan Pool
Lower harbour anchorage	Fowey Harbour Commissioners	By arrangement	Tender to the town quay
Visitors' pontoons	Fowey Harbour Commissioners	Yachts	Pont Pill and Mixtow, walk ashore at Mixtow; water and shore power at Berrill's Yard and Penmarlam
Albert Quay	Fowey Harbour Commissioners	Short stay	Shore-linked pontoon, one hour. Fresh water

Fowey Harbour Guide and Schedule of Charges 2026, confirmed with the harbour before quoting. Harbour dues GBP 1.25 per metre per day; every seventh night free.

Alongside

The fuel pontoon above the Bodinnick car ferry has diesel and petrol, pay at the pump, around the clock and at all states of tide.

Pump-out is at the Berrill's Yard pontoon through the harbour office. Refuse is taken on the visitor pontoons, and batteries and waste oil by arrangement.

Ashore

Cornwall Airport Newquay, with Weston Aviation handling, is the nearest airport for private aircraft. Par station is on the main line to London Paddington, and the passenger ferry crosses to Polruan.

There is no yard lifting a large yacht at Fowey. Pendennis and Balaena at Falmouth are the nearest.

Regatta

Fowey Classics: WhenJune; NotesClassic yachts in the harbour

Event	When	Notes
Fowey Classics	June	Classic yachts in the harbour

Questions

Is pilotage compulsory at Fowey?: Pilotage is compulsory over 37.5 metres in the lower harbour, and vessels over 20 metres north of Prime Cellars may require a pilot. Fowey Pilots monitor VHF 09.
Where does a large yacht lie at Fowey?: Large yachts lie to the harbour buoys, which take ships to 240 metres, or anchor in the lower harbour and tender to the town quay.
Where does a yacht take fuel at Fowey?: The fuel pontoon above the Bodinnick car ferry has diesel and petrol, around the clock and at all states of tide.
What are the harbour dues at Fowey?: The Fowey Harbour Commissioners' 2026 schedule sets harbour dues at GBP 1.25 per metre per day, with every seventh night free.

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

Sources

Fowey Harbour Commissioners, Harbour Guide and Schedule of Charges 2026; Fowey Pilots; Weston Aviation. Checked 22 and 23 September 2026.