Ilfracombe Trip

[jakew009]

Spent a few days moored up at Ilfracombe over the last few days, thought others may find it interesting

Watermouth Cove













Ilfracombe is a bit of a weird harbour but the harbourmaster (mistress) is brilliant and very helpful.
Plenty of visitor moorings but you need a dinghy and the mooring ropes are pretty big, one bow and one stern rope.

You can leave a dingy on the mooring to ‘reserve’ your spot whilst you go out for the day. You need about 4m of tide to get to the moorings in the outer harbour, much more for the inner harbour.

The slipway is pretty useless with such crazy traffic and no parking.



Very beautiful sunset cruise looking out towards Wales



Launched at Appledore, two nights in Ilfracombe, leisurely trip to Lynmouth but it was too hot for much other than sitting at anchor paddling around in the water

[jakew009]

Heading back from Ilfracombe today



Beaches were insanely busy and it’s not even school holidays



Trip home, hugged the beaches most of the way at 10 knots



There’s pretty much no other boats around other than half a dozen commercial trip boats from Ilfracombe and a handful of sailing yachts from Wales.

95% of the boats from Bideford / Instow / Appledore never leave the estuary. The Ilfracombe / Watermouth boats seems a little more adventurous but we didn’t see a single boat between Ilfracombe and Appledore until we crossed the Bideford bar.

Appledore slipway was total bedlam like nothing I have seen before

[HDAV]

https://ibb.co/qMN5TnK

Must have almost seen you….. adventurous you say? 100+ miles in a day on a sub 4m craft yes most people don’t do very much even in perfect conditions almost did Lundy but fuel budget wouldn’t allow

Appledore slip was interesting to say the least some of the “Attire” was more magaluf than north devon but I wasn’t complaining….. just made me wish I was 20 years younger with an old 2 stroke ski… disappointed by the lack of water front refreshment options so went back to ilfracombe where there is a great pub on the beach and a cracking chip shop

[Northern Pike]

Originally Posted by jakew009

Heading back from Ilfracombe today

Beaches were insanely busy and it’s not even school holidays



Trip home, hugged the beaches most of the way at 10 knots

Looks a lot like Woolacombe to me, but I haven't seen it since 1978.

[jakew009]

Originally Posted by HDAV

https://ibb.co/qMN5TnK

Must have almost seen you….. adventurous you say? 100+ miles in a day on a sub 4m craft yes most people don’t do very much even in perfect conditions almost did Lundy but fuel budget wouldn’t allow

Appledore slip was interesting to say the least some of the “Attire” was more magaluf than north devon but I wasn’t complaining….. just made me wish I was 20 years younger with an old 2 stroke ski… disappointed by the lack of water front refreshment options so went back to ilfracombe where there is a great pub on the beach and a cracking chip shop

It’s a shame our paths didn’t cross, we had 100l of fuel on board in cans we didn’t need.

Had the same thoughts on going to Lundy but spoke to one of the trip boats and they said it was absolutely packed.

That’s as a good trip in a 4m boat did you see the Fairline that had come across from Swansea?

Re food at Appledore, ‘John’s’ is your best bet, pasties / sausage rolls / bacon sandwiches etc. About half way along the seafront.
There’s also a super pizza place called Flame
Factory

[jakew009]

Originally Posted by Northern Pike

Looks a lot like Woolacombe to me, but I haven't seen it since 1978.

Sure is

[Northern Pike]

Nice! Many fond memories. :^)

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by jakew009

It’s a shame our paths didn’t cross, we had 100l of fuel on board in cans we didn’t need.

Had the same thoughts on going to Lundy but spoke to one of the trip boats and they said it was absolutely packed.

That’s as a good trip in a 4m boat did you see the Fairline that had come across from Swansea?

Re food at Appledore, ‘John’s’ is your best bet, pasties / sausage rolls / bacon sandwiches etc. About half way along the seafront.
There’s also a super pizza place called Flame
Factory

It’s not really a boat didn’t see the fairline a few ribs round watermouth and some bikini clad ladies at appledore who looked more like they were in Acapulco not appledore


Ideally wanted a Sandy spot to anchor up but it was all walled one side and no where to get anything on the other side? Considered rowing club steps but decided to refuel at slip and then head off.