From secluded coves to dramatic rugged beaches, these five hidden anchorages offer freedom at sea. Tim Steel and his son, Joe, perfect anchoring.
Slide into a quiet bay, find the right spot, drop the anchor, feel your boat settle back on her chain and relax. For me, anchoring epitomises the joy of boating. With our son Joe on board, days are busy but fun: paddleboarding, swimming and exploring in the tender.
But it’s the evenings and nights at anchor we love the most. As the light fades and the anchorage empties, you feel closer to your surroundings. But it helps if you’re sufficiently comfortable with anchoring that the seamanship elements of it become second nature…
Learn how to anchor with confidence and it’s much easier to enjoy
Sleeping soundly
Our first few times anchoring overnight were a little nervy but they quickly became enjoyable with practice. Building confidence in our set up has been key to this.
Our new Dale Classic 37, Iolar, carries a 21kg Ultra Anchor with an Ultra Swivel and 60m of 8mm stainless chain. We have a chain counter but also chain markers, as I prefer to anchor from the bow. To protect the windlass and improve comfort, we also have two snubbers – a simple line with a loop for short stops and a bridle for overnight stays. Both use our Ultra Chain Grab, which is easily swapped between the two.
Enjoying a lazy long weekend in glorious Hope Cove
On arrival at an anchorage, I have learnt to take my time before picking a spot to drop. Conscious of other boats, I am very happy to lift the anchor, move and have another go if necessary – and the electric windlass makes that so easy. But we always display an anchor ball clamped to our bow rail during the day and our anchor light at night. As well as being the right thing to do, I am also heavily motivated by insurance horror stories of unmarked boats.
So do I sleep well? Yes, I do now; very well because I know what I’m doing and I understand my equipment. I use plenty of scope, set the anchor carefully, take the usual transits and run an anchor alarm on my phone (in my case, Anchor Sentry).
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‘I sat for over an hour on my anchor seat just staring out to sea’
Finding freedom
Part of cruising is exploring new anchorages. Navily and good old Google Maps (satellite view) are a great way to identify potential spots before checking them out on charts. We are fortunate to have plenty of lovely anchorages within easy range of Iolar’s home in Plymouth. But naturally we have a few favourites, so I thought I would share our top five, in reverse order, for dramatic effect!
Tim has really taken the time to understand the anchor set-up on his Dale Classic 37
5. Cawsand and Kingsand
Our closest regular anchorage and great for the prevailing southwesterlies. Two beautiful villages with pretty beaches, pubs and places to eat. Anchor close in to the wooded southern coastline in relatively deep water for maximum relaxation. It’s only at number 5 because it’s so nearby.
4. Hope Cove
Tucked behind Bolt Tail, Hope Cove is good in easterlies or northerlies but exposed to residual southwest swells. Great places to eat and a small harbour which dries fully so, for overnight stops, stay further out and take care of the drying Goody Rock on the east side if coming in closer.
3. Cellar Beach
It’s easy to miss the River Yealm. Cellar Beach sits just inside the sandbar but is accessible via the marked channel at the eastern end. It can get busy in the summer holidays but it’s usually very tranquil outside those months.
2. Polhawn Cove on Rame Head
This bay is exposed to the southwest, so it’s another one that’s best for easterlies or northerlies. Despite being only 6nm from Plymouth, with its beautiful clear water and small rugged beaches, it’s always quiet and has the most amazing sunsets.
1. Lantic Bay
Our favourite of them all. Fully exposed to the south, overnighting here requires either very settled conditions or northerlies. It’s the most beautiful bay and beach with crystal clear water and rarely more than a couple of boats staying overnight.
In writing this feature, we realised that our top three anchorages are the wildest. Maybe that’s unsurprising because, for us, there is nothing to rival that feeling of freedom a night at anchor brings, before waking early, coffee in hand, in a calm and beautiful place…
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