As far as locations go, the Premier Falmouth Marina is one of the most picturesque you’ll find. It is also well appointed, and conveniently positioned for serious west country cruising and beyond, says Sue Pelling.
50° 09’90N, 005°05’02W
The vibrant and historic town of Falmouth in Cornwall, which is located within an area of outstanding natural beauty is one of the most desirable places to visit when cruising the west country. Given its popularity there are plenty of sheltered berthing options available including Premier’s Falmouth Marina, which sits conveniently on the south bank up Penryn River.
The main Falmouth harbour, as you enter from the Channel – Carrick Roads – is one of the world’s largest natural deep-water harbours and extends northwards as far as the River Fal. In the 18th century it became a bustling hub for packet ships carrying mail, and other commercial goods including timber, iron, coal, and charcoal. It was also an important harbour for the arrival of imported goods such as tea, spices and silks. Falmouth’s defence role in both world wars was crucial too because it served as a base for anti-submarine operations as well as an embarkation point for the D-Day landings.
Falmouth’s rich maritime heritage continues to be celebrated to this day with events such as the Falmouth Regatta, Falmouth Classics, the Oyster Festival, and the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival taking place every year. Falmouth Marina is within easy walking distance to the main hub which is home to a vast array of independent shops, restaurants and attractions such as Discovery Quay, the National Maritime Museum, and Pendennis Castle.
When you arrive at the marina you can be sure of a warm welcome by Premier’s staff who are on hand 24-hours a day to assist you with your berthing, and any help you require with facilities. As with all Premier Marinas, Falmouth Marina is well designed and laid out for ease of use. It has two berthing areas, with space for boats up to 18m loa on its outer pontoons, and up to 15m loa in its inner basin. For convenience it has a chandlery and restaurant (UpperDeck), and fuel bay for diesel onsite, and has a full-service boatyard as well as a range of businesses including a sailmaker, marine electronic specialist, a rigger, and a yacht broker.
Annual berth holders can also benefit from Premier Advantage, which offers a package of rewards, benefits and cost savings including 42 free visitor nights and unlimited short stays at any Premier marina, Sea Start benefits and savings, fuel at cost, special deals on insurance, and up to eight.
Passage Planning
The marina’s location on the south bank of the Penryn River (the first creek you see on the western side of the Fal Estuary) offers easy access but if your boat has a draft of 1.7m, avoid making the approach within 1.5 hours of low water springs. The channel is buoyed and the general approach to the marina is straightforward but it is, however, advisable to consult up-to-date charts, and check notes to mariners at the time of arrival in case of any changes.
The access channel is to the southwest of the east cardinal mark. Travel upstream, leaving Greenbank Quay to port. You will see the marina as you pass Boyers Cellars – a deep-water commercial jetty. Steer close to the marina’s outer pontoons, keeping between them and the east cardinal beacon, which shows the edge of the dredged area.
When you arrive, moor at the visitors’ hammerhead pontoon and call up reception on VHF Ch80 or using the pontoon telephone for berth allocation.
It is also worth noting the marina is divided in two by a cill that is marked at each end by a tide gauge. The cill dries to 1.8m above Chart Datum and visitors should only enter the inner basin after being given the go-ahead by marina staff. Finally, if you are a visitor, Premier says it strongly advises pre-booking, especially in peak season because it gives priority access to Premier berth holders visiting from other marinas.
Cruising Grounds
Once in the Fal estuary and you base yourself at the marina, you have 12nm of cruising options, stretching as far as the cathedral city of Truro, to explore. With beautiful wooded shorelines and plenty of creeks and places of interest to visit along the way, there’s hardly any need to go anywhere else. Take a sail round to Trelissick for example, where you can anchor off and visit the National Trust Trelissick house and gardens and enjoy the spectacular views. If you are intending to venture further afield to places like the Isles of Scilly, which is approximately 60nm away, or across the Channel, it’s an ideal safe, sheltered base. There are plenty of popular shorter passages on the ‘doorstep’ too including (to the east) the pretty town of Fowey just 20nm away, Plymouth 38nm away, or Salcombe in Devon 50nm. One of the most delightful places just south around the headland is the Helford River. This is a gem of a place to explore because it’s off the beaten track and offers stunning scenery, plenty of interesting anchorages, and attractive beaches particularly on the north shore of the Helford estuary.
Further afield, Jersey and the Channel Islands are logical destinations.
Premier Falmouth Marina Factfile
Postcode: TR11 2TD
VHF: Ch80
Website: premiermarinas.com
Email: falmouth@premiermarinas.com
Tel: +44(0)1326 316 620
Reception open: 24-hours
Berthing fees: Prices
Premier Falmouth Marina: Annual Fees
Small Boat ≤ 6.5m (inside cill) from £2,999 p/a
>6.5m from £650 p/m
Seasonal (min 30 nights)
Offpeak (Sept-May) from £93.97 p/m
Peak (June-Aug) from £104.41 p/m
Visitor berthing (8m min charge)
From £4.50 p/m p/n
Short stay (up to 4 hours, 8m min charge)
£1.60 p/m
Marina Services
Electricity: £32.75 p/u
Water: free of charge
Wifi: Free of charge
Laundry: Token operated
Fuel: Diesel (call +44(0)1326 316 620)
Bottled Gas: Chandlery
Marine engineers and workshops: Onsite
Lift out/in: available
Onsite Businesses
Chandlery: Falmouth Chandlers: +44(0)1326 212411
Broker: Ancaster +44(0)1326 211007
Rigger/Sailmaking: A2 Rigging, Sails & Covers +44(0)1326 221133
Marine Engineer/Electrical: Andrew Cox Marine +44(0)7974 250533
Marine Electronics: BT Marine +44(0)7977 026526
Places to Eat and Drink
UpperDeck (onsite): +44(0)1326 313481
Indidog: +44(0)1326 450 699
The Shed: +44(0)1326 318502
The Greenbank: +44 (0)1326 312440
The Boathouse +44 (0)1326 315425
Supermaket: Sainsburys TR11 2RZ (5 min walk)
Nearest railway station: Penmere (20 min walk)
Taxis: Taxi A2B Falmouth: +44 (0)1326 317898
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