Long-term moorings in Falmouth

Falmouth is on the west side of the Fal estuary in south Cornwall, where the Penryn River meets the Carrick Roads. Moorings in Falmouth range from marina berths at three sites to some 600 deep water swinging moorings let by the harbour authority.

Moorings in Falmouth

• Falmouth Marina: Premier Marinas' site on the south bank of the Penryn River at North Parade. Outer pontoons take boats up to 18m and the inner basin up to 15m, with a dry stack and a 40-tonne travel lift.
• Port Pendennis Marina: by the town centre. The marina describes one part with unrestricted tidal access and another entered over a hinged sill, about 3 hours each side of high water.
• Haven Marina: Falmouth Harbour's own pontoons off the town centre, for visitors and annual berth holders, taking craft up to 16m.
• Falmouth Harbour swinging moorings: 600 deep water moorings off the town and on the Flushing side, allocated by boat length. Some sizes have a waiting list.
• Small boats: Falmouth Harbour also has pontoon berths at Custom House Quay for boats up to 6m, and outhaul moorings for boats up to 5.5m.

The harbour moorings are licensed by the season: summer runs from 1 April to 31 October and winter from 1 November to 31 March.

Premier began replacing all of Falmouth Marina's pontoons in December 2025, a phased programme due to run to 2029.

On the water

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners are the statutory authority for the Inner Harbour, the Penryn River up to Coastlines Wharf, the southern Carrick Roads and much of Falmouth Bay. Their Falmouth Haven office listens on VHF channel 12.

• Other authorities: Falmouth Docks is outside the Commissioners' area, and Cornwall Council is the harbour authority for the Port of Penryn, Prince of Wales Pier and the Port of Truro further up the Fal.
• Entrance: Black Rock sits in the middle of the entrance and covers at half tide. The deep water channel passes east of it.
• Shipping: this is a working port. Boats at anchor may be asked to move, sometimes at short notice, to let ships reach the docks.
• Penryn River: pilot guides give about 1.8m to 2m at low water springs in the dredged approach to Falmouth Marina, so deeper boats should ask the marina about timing.
• Speed: pilot guides give a 6 knot limit in the Inner Harbour, with minimal wash.