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Contents

Part 1

Summary

Dart Intro
Hazards
Places of Interest

Wildlife
Built Environment
About the SGBA

Part 2

Safety Afloat – SEAL
Details of the Estuary Maps, Charts & Photos
Hazards
Low Water Channels

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The Dart Estuary – A “Ria”

Totnes weir to Dartmouth Castle
Drowned river valley created by sea level rise after last ice age
Modified by sediment picked up by river and creeks.
No dredging anymore – used to be dredged - sand used for building
Most of the banks mud but areas of sand in the estuary, salt marsh, rocks, and some possible landing spots.
Salmon no longer fished commercially, sea bass nursery area, plus other fish and birds. Bait crabs
Oyster beds – non-native Pacific Oysters – very sharp shells
Seals - CHECK with our SEAL

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HAZARDS

Wind and Tide

Effects of wind v tide – Sandridge Point & Langham Wood areas

Rocks and Mud

Blackness & Anchorstone Rocks that may be submerged at High Water
South end of Middle Back (Long Stream Buoy), Flat Owers and Stoke Creek Mouth
Mainly stick to outside of bends for deeper water – big mud flats on insides

Oyster Beds

particularly around Higher Gurrow Point

Navigation

Red and green things – Buoys & Beacons
Rights of Way – Higher and Lower Ferries ● ● .
Dartmouth Castle / Cardiff Castle / Dart Explorer – need to stay in Channel

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Places of Interest and How to float to them.

Go with the flow – use the Tide (beware of wind)! Check with the SEAL

Starting before High Water (Pubs and other POI for drink, meal or picnic)

Bow Creek

Tuckenhay, Maltsters, Crowsley Wood (NT), Watermans, Bow Bridge

Main River

Ham / Hackney Creek
Fleet Mill
Sharpham
Totnes (Long Marsh, Town, Weir)

Starting before Low Water

Easy – within 90 minutes

Sandridge Point, Blackness, Dittisham Mill Creek, Dittisham

Further afield

Anchorstone, Dartmouth (check Dart Harbour for dinghy landing sites), Warfleet

CHECK weather, wind, tide just before you set off!

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Anchorstone

Bow Creek

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Observing Nature

Seals

Common or Grey?

Birds

Cormorants
Herons
Egrets
Kingfishers
Gulls
Buzzards

Follow the Code for Observing Wildlife

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Wildlife Code

Be aware – learn about wildlife and their behaviour
Take responsibility – you might disturb them – avoid disturbance
Respect for other people, wildlife and the environment
Let animals decide how close. If you see signs of disturbance, then you should move away
Pass slowly and cautiously. Ensure your movements are steady and predictable, and do not approach directly
Avoid surrounding or corralling the animals, do not chase
Do not feed or touch
Move away from wildlife as quietly and carefully as you can – your exit should be as careful as your approach.
Take extra care during sensitive times of year in places where animals may be feeding, resting, breeding or with their young:

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Oyster shells near Mill Point - why we ask you to wear stout footwear.

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Human Artefacts

Mill Ponds / Fish Traps (Fleet Mill, Sharpham, Stoke Gabriel, Sandridge)
Lime Kilns
Training Wall (Near Totnes)
Quays
Wrecks
Concrete Slips – WW2
Grids
Boatyards
Trading – Baltic Wharf, Tuckenhay Bank Notes, Warfleet
Navy – chain, college, ships, privateers, slavers
Castles

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SGBA 51 years young

Boats – over 50 boats for members’ use
Training – Sailing, Power Boats, First Aid, Instructor Courses
Sailing Club Manager – software to aid administration –

Publicity – Blog and information about SGBA on the website
Communications with members – enquiries, newsletters and emails
Membership and berth/spaces management
Booking Club Boats https://sgba.org.uk/page/sgba-boats
Rigging Guides
Calendar with course and event bookings https://sgba.org.uk/events

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Your Club

Look after the boats:

Check everything is attached / rigged as it should be before going afloat (see rigging guides if not sure). Look for any damage / wear and tear before launching;
Report any loss or damage to the Bosun – it happens and we only get upset if it is a result of careless or reckless behaviour
Clean after use.
Uncertain about rigging – check rigging guides https://sgba.org.uk/miscellaneous/rigging-guides

Volunteer to help

All types of skills are useful, if you are willing to help, if only for an hour or two we can find something useful! From boat repairs to admin / book-keeping.
SGBA is run by volunteers, every member is expected to play their part

Look after yourself

Check with the SEAL

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Entertainment

Please welcome

All Hands on Deck

Part 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T_zrDhU1smpHP0doyttbsvupm0oQy5zu/view?usp=sharing

(Drone Footage)

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The story of the SEAL

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One day in Spring when the water was still cold, a lone mariner was working inside his boat, moored just off Mill Point.

He was interrupted when a seal started barking, as he exited the cabin the seal barked again attracting his attention to a person in the water drifting just downstream from his boat.

About 80 meters further downstream an SGBA sailing dinghy had capsized, its one remaining crew was trying to right it without success.

There were no other craft active on the river so he jumped in his tender, started the engine and quickly caught up with the drifting person in the water and hauled them into the tender. They were shaken and cold.

He chased the dinghy as it capsized on two further occasions. The helm being able to right the boat but unable to keep it upright and into the wind and tide.

With assistance from the tender, the helm was able to drop the sails, and was towed back to Mill Point.

Thanks to the SEAL they had been rescued and were unharmed.

Neither Helm or crew had suitable sailing clothes or shoes.
They did not have a means of calling for help.
The helm was not very familiar with that dinghy.
The wind had increased since the last checked forecast.

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Weather - useful forecasts

Everyone has their favourite online weather forecaster. The SGBA does not endorse any website in particular, but you might want to try one of these:

Try a selection of sites to check reliability of forecasts and check again just before you set out.

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SAFETY

S are the conditions of wind, tide, temperature within your capabilities. Check the forecast and tide times.

E always carry a phone or radio on you, it must be accessible if you fall in. Use a waterproof pouch.

A wear warm enough clothing, including a wind proof layer. Cold water shock can occur whenever water is below 15 C. Remember sun cream and hat for sunny days!

L always wear a personal flotation device – life jacket or buoyancy aid. It is a Byelaw that PFDs are worn by all users of SGBA craft whether sail, paddle or oar propelled.

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Oyster Beds

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HAZARDS FOR BOATERS (see Chart for Locations)

Wind Gusts & Changes - funnelling/sheltered

Club House / Boat Park at Mill Point is often sheltered
Wind changes around Mill Point as you leave the Creek
Wind increases if blowing from an arc West around to North East
Wind funnels down Bow Creek or Duncannon reach off Stoke Point
Similarly wind often strong around / beyond Sandridge Pt / Blackness

Tide

Strong off Mill Point along face of LW Pontoon / line of Moored Boats
Tide off Sandridge and Stoke Point can make water rough in wind against tide
Paddlers should always think of what conditions will be like on return journey

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River Dart:

Sharpham Quay N
Fleet Mill Dam
Sharpham Quay S
Ham/Hackney Crk
Ashprington Pt
Maltsters
Middle Back
Sandridge Point
Blackness
Dittisham Mill Creek
FBI / Anchorstone Café
Greenway Quay
Anchorstone Beacon

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