Moorings in Plymouth Sound and the Tamar

Plymouth Sound is a deep inlet of the English Channel, roughly 6 km across and about as long, lying between Penlee Point on the Cornish side and Wembury Point in Devon. Several rivers drain into it: the Tamar reaches the Sound through the Hamoaze, the Plym through the Cattewater, and the Lynher and Tavy join the Tamar system further up. The Plymouth Breakwater, begun in 1812 and about 1,700 yards long, gives the inner waters their shelter.

The whole area is the Dockyard Port of Plymouth, under the King's Harbour Master, and within it Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Sutton Harbour and ABP Millbay each run their own harbour. Warships and submarines use the Hamoaze, so boats must keep well clear: at least 50 metres from moored naval ships and 100 metres from submarines. The chain ferries that cross between Torpoint and Devonport have right of way.

Most moorings in Plymouth Sound are in marinas close to the city centre. Plymouth Yacht Haven lies near Mount Batten, Queen Anne's Battery and Sutton Harbour Marina, which is behind lock gates, are by the Barbican, King Point Marina is in Millbay Docks, and Mayflower Marina sits near the mouth of the Tamar. Cattewater Harbour Commissioners also let annual moorings and have visitor swinging moorings and pontoons.

On the Cornish shore, Torpoint Yacht Harbour sits on the Hamoaze with pontoon berths and full tidal access, and Southdown Marina lies on the drying Millbrook Creek. The Tamar winds for about 12 miles from Saltash to Calstock, and shallow boats can carry on about 3 miles more to Morwellham. Saltash Sailing Club has trot moorings off the town, Weir Quay Boatyard has around 120 moorings, and there is a boatyard at Calstock. Much of the upper river is shallow, the Lynher dries completely above the deep anchorage at Dandy Hole, and a railway bridge limits headroom on the Tavy to 7.6 metres.