Report 1 - Helford River (Upper reaches toward Gweek)

Plenty of visitors' buoys in The Pool, opposite Helford village on the south side of the river. All green, just pick one up and wait for the harbour master to appear. £26 for Parker 325 in 2025. The sailing club has long pontoons for tenders and small power boats which reaches down to the low tide mark at neaps. May be difficult to access at low water springs. The club is very welcoming, showers, food and bar, water and bins for rubbish.

Anchorages are available in the bays near the entrance to the river, which can be quite exposed and are shown on charts and in pilots. The charts also show extensive oyster beds. However, these are no longer tended (may change in the future) but the harbour authorities would rather you didn't anchor in these areas. Anchorages just beyond the large area of moorings and then upriver opposite Tremayne Quay. You could pull up alongside the old quay in a Parker/Seal at high water but the bottom is quite rocky and you may prefer not to lie alongside as the tide goes out. However the bottom would be flat – see photo. Lovely setting.

Gweek. The river continues up to Gweek which dries out completely to a muddy creek. The channel is only marked for the last leg up Gweek Creek with port and starboard buoys and is very tortuous. Do not stray from this course as the bottom shallows very quickly. A Southerly sailor reported on Captain's Mate that the channel shown on the Navionics chart for the river below the junction between Gweek Creek and Mawgan Creek (which is not buoyed) is fairly accurate and worth following. We were recommended not to attempt the journey at neaps as there was unlikely to be the metre depth we required to steer a 325, so we paddled up in the canoe. Greater depth available at H/W springs. At the head of the creek is  Gweek Classic Boatyard, which has lifting gear and storage ashore. It has a wall suitable to tie against and you will dry out on level mud. There is also a pontoon, which is available for visitors and has the advantage of falling with the tide (see photo). However, it has some nasty looking metal supports jutting out from it so care would be needed in coming alongside. These are covered with tyres for protection. Ashore is a cafe, toilet and showers and a mini chandlery and a short walk down the road is a store and pub. It is recommended that you phone ahead (01326 221657) and check they can accommodate you.