Mayflower Marina is well positioned for all types of boating activity and is fortunate to have some of the UK’s finest cruising waters right on its doorstep.

The marina was originally built in 1972 and since those early days it has undergone numerous redevelopments to ensure that the infrastructure has kept pace both with innovation and customer expectation. In recent years the shoreside estate has seen two boatyard extensions, two car park extensions, a small residential building scheme over the chandlery, a new marina office and several refurbishments of the restaurant and facility buildings.

Afloat, the water area of the marina is leased from the Duchy of Cornwall and the weather facing aspect of the marina is protected by a heavy-duty concrete floating breakwater. Inside the breakwater, the marinas pontoon installation is maintained in good order thanks to the attentiveness of marina staff and a rolling programme of pontoon renewals. When installing new pontoons customer experience is a key consideration. This has seen the incorporation of non-standard features like double depth fendering, thicker deck boards, additional finger pontoon floatation and midship cleats.

Open 24/7 and offering full tide access, excellent facilities, including a new WiFi installation in 2016, and customer service; the marina enjoys a good reputation amongst the boating community. Mayflower Marina is proudly independent and holds the prestigious 5 Gold Anchor Award, and a number of other recent customer service awards.

The most unique point is the option to buy shares in the marina. Each share currently gives an allowance against berthing of £624 and a hoisting discount of 12.5 per cent per share up to a maximum of 50 per cent and ‘a say in how their marina is run’. That a significant percentage of our customers are shareholders, engenders a sense of ownership, which they believe helps to create a uniquely friendly atmosphere across the marina. In addition, at Mayflower Marina any profits are reinvested into the fabric of the marina.

FACILITIES

The marina has an impressive range of on site facilities including a chandlery and an award-winning café/bistro bar.

Mayflower Marina’s remote control boat hoist was new in 2006. The hoist has a capacity of 33 tonnes and features an integral mast crane with a maximum capacity of 1.5tonnes.

The nearest chandler, Captain Watts, is on site but elsewhere in a Plymouth there are at least four other chandleries including Force 4, which is 12 minute taxi ride away.

  • Staffed 24/7
  • Free Wifi
  • Free secure car parking
  • Free boatyard storage April – November inclusive provided boat is in contract
  • 90 per cent cruising credit offered if annual berth holders are absent from their berth for 30 days or more during June, July, August. The credit is reduced to 50 per cent for berth holders with contracts of between six and 11 months
  • 5 per cent early payment discount on contract berthing
  • Attractive options for deferred payment of berthing fees
  • Free membership of TransEurope Marinas that offers berth holders a 50 per cent berthing discount for up to five nights berthing when visiting any of the other 80+ member marinas within the group
  • Token operated launderette
  • Private bathrooms
  • Fuel berth open 24/7 for the sale of diesel, petrol and Calor/butane gas. Scaled quantity discounts are available on qualifying diesel sales
  • Free tickets to the Southampton Boat Show
  • Restaurant open seven days per week throughout the year
  • Skilled trades on site providing maintenance and repair services
  • Chandlery
  • Brokerage

BERTHING & STORAGE

The largest size of vessel the marina can accommodate is about 25m LOA with a draft of about 5m. In all the marina has a shade under 400 berths.

The standard berth sizes are 6m, 7.5m, 9m, 10m 10.5m, 12m and 13.5m and then there are larger berths on the hammerheads of the various piers and a number of alongside berths. All berths have access to 16 amp shore power and fresh water.

Mayflower Marina is a member of TransEurope Marinas, which offers member berth holders a 50 per cent berthing discount when visiting other member marinas within the group.

ACCESS

On entering Plymouth Sound via the east or western entrance stay to the western side of the Sound heading between Mt Edgecumbe and Drakes Island. Enter the narrow Bridge channel (least charted depth 1.3m), staying between the channel markers and proceed in a NW direction. Once abeam of Devils Point, Mayflower Marina will appear to starboard. The distance from the breakwater to the marina is approximately 1nm.

In heavy weather mariners are advised to use the Western Entrance of the breakwater to enter Plymouth Sound. In addition the unlit Shag Stone rock is a real hazard at night for the unwary. If in doubt use the Western Entrance.

Commercial and military shipping enter the Sound at regular intervals throughout the year; skippers should maintain a proper look out when approaching and entering the Sound.

Longroom Port Control uses VHF ch14 for routine communications. Leisure users should keep a listening watch on this channel when leaving or entering the Sound.

The Bridge Channel is a convenient short cut to enter the River Tamar for small craft of draft 2m or less. The Bridge is marked by four lit beacons. Navigation hazards exist either side of the bridge so vessels must stay in the channel. On the ebb tide, particularly on Springs, a strong southerly will flow out through the Bridge so careful attention by the helmsman is required at all times. The alternative route is to use the ship channel to the East of Drake’s Island.

Call Mayflower Marina on VHF ch 80 call sign ‘Mayflower Marina’.

When driving to the marina, the A38 dual carriageway links with the M5 motorway at Exeter some 45 minutes away. The drive to the marina from the A38 takes 10 – 15 minutes. Berth holders are issued with a fob to get in and out of the car park. For visitors a token system is in place.

There are regular bus, coach and rail services to Plymouth and the railway station is approximately 10 minutes away.

CRUISING

Plymouth is in the enviable position of offering a host of cruising options for sailors’ varying ambitions.

For those looking for something very close to the marina, Cawsand, a quaint Cornish seaside village is adjacent to the Western End of the Breakwater just a mile from the marina. Complete with wood fringed shore and a sandy beach it is perfect for a swim, a dinghy trip ashore for an ice cream or a pasty; or just sit aboard and watch the world go by. Best if the wind is in the west.

For a gentle day sail the River Yealm is ideal. Some four miles to the east of the Breakwater it is one of the most picturesque and tranquil places one could hope to visit. Anchoring at the mouth of the Yealm by Cellars beach is particularly lovely in calm weather. Further upstream Harbour Authority moorings are offered for overnight or longer-term visitor berthing.

Salcombe lies 22 miles to the east of the Breakwater whilst Looe and Fowey lie 11 and 22 miles respectively to the west.

For a weekend cruise the picturesque harbours of Salcombe and Fowey, to the east and west respectively are only about 22nm from Plymouth Sound and make for a rewarding mini cruise.

For those with a little more time or speed there are numerous attractive destinations worth considering including Dartmouth (35nm) and Torbay (39nm) to the east and Falmouth (39nm), Helford (43nm), Penzance (64nm) and the Isles of Scilly (92nm).

These destinations are easily achieved from Plymouth and yet are probably on the bucket list of places to visit for most cruising boat owners around the country.

LOCAL EATERIES

The award-winning restaurant Jolly Jacks, run by Sally and Sue, is a success story in its own right. There is always something fun going on and a menu to suit, be it a lazy Sunday lunch, a rollicking Sea Shanty singalong evening or just good honest food in good company.

There is also plenty of choice in the immediate environs of the marina. In the neighbouring Royal William Yard there is Le Bistrot Pierre, Wagamama’s, Las Iguanas, Seco Lounge, Le Vignoble wine lounge, Wildwood and many more. Check out royalwilliamyard.com/eat-and-drink.

There are plenty of supermarkets in the city the nearest being Aldi (1 mile) and Lidl (1.2mile) and Sainsburys (2 miles).

THINGS TO DO

The city centre shopping with a theatre, cinema and much more us within walking distance. There is also superb local walking around Plymouth’s sea front, Mt Edgecumbe Country Park.

Opposite Mayflower Marina is the Royal William Victualling Yard. Built during the 1830s for the Royal Navy, for whom success in war depended to a high degree on the supply of food and drink, it remained in the control of the Ministry of Defence until 1993. More recently the site has been redeveloped and is now home to a mixed use scheme of residential and commercial properties. The ground floor comprises numerous restaurants, bistros, wine bars and galleries. It also affords a stunning short walk around the Stonehouse Peninsula.

There is always loads going on in Plymouth for up to date info check out Visit Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk.

 

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

“First marina we have come to since leaving Kent where we were met on the pontoon – a real bonus. Best marina so far!”

“Friendly and helpful marina with a nice atmosphere and superb location.”

“As a very new berth holder I have found it to be one of the best run, friendly marinas that I have come across.”

“Thank you for helping us realise the dream of our first yacht.”

 

MORE INFORMATION

Mayflower Marina
Richmond Walk
Plymouth, Devon
PL1 4LS
Tel: 01752 556633
Email: info@mayflowermarina.co.uk
Website www.mayflowermarina.co.uk

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