Bringing a superyacht into Dartmouth
The short answer
The River Dart is deep at all states of the tide. Large yachts lie to the mid-river fore and aft moorings, which take yachts of up to 180 metres, or alongside the outside of the Town Jetty to 60 metres by arrangement.
On the Dart the moorings are governed by length rather than depth, which makes the river unusually accommodating for a large yacht. The constraint is pilotage and notice, which run on a longer timetable than at most south coast harbours.
How is the Dart approached?
The entrance is about 200 metres wide between Inner Froward Point and the Castle Ledge, with deep water inside for any draught. From seaward, a yacht passes 300 metres south of the Castle Ledge starboard buoy, then steers for the Checkstone port buoy; by night, the white sector of the Kingswear light, 325° to 331° True, leads in. The speed limit is six knots from the Castle Ledge buoy to Totnes weir, with minimum wash by the moorings.
When is pilotage compulsory?
In the outer zone, from Inner Froward Point and Combe Point to the Anchor Stone, pilotage is compulsory over 50 metres. Above the Anchor Stone to Totnes weir it is compulsory over 30 metres. Notice is given 72 hours before arrival, updated at 12 hours and confirmed 30 minutes before arrival or any movement, and the service does not run around the clock. Dart Harbour monitors VHF 11 as DARTNAV in working hours.
Where does a superyacht lie?
The mid-river moorings are fore and aft, take yachts of up to 180 metres, and are tender to the shore, with no water or power. The outside of the Town Jetty takes yachts of up to 60 metres and 5 metres draught by arrangement. It is reserved for passenger boats by day, and available from 17:00 to 08:45 and through the winter, with 240V and three phase power included in the charge. Services are booked on 48 hours' notice.
Where does a yacht take fuel?
The fuel barge Dart Crusader lies on the Kingswear side of the channel, with a fast pump at 180 litres a minute. It is open 08:30 to 18:00 daily from Easter to September, on VHF 6. Black water pump-out is at Darthaven only, and there is a refuse skip at the south end of the Town Jetty.
How do owners and guests arrive?
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. Transfers are on the owners and guests page.
Is there yard support on the river?
Noss on Dart lifts 75 tonnes, the largest hoist on the river. For larger work the nearest yard is Pendennis at Falmouth, as set out on the shipyards and refit page.
How can Watermans help?
We book the mooring and the pilot on the Dart's notice periods, make the report to Border Force, and arrange fuel, provisions and transfers while you are on the river. The full detail is in the Dartmouth pilot notes.