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Motor Boating in Fowey:
on a Hardy Family Pilot

Photographs taken 2013 to 2015

For sailing, leisure and navigational information about Fowey Harbour, see the Fowey Harbour Commissioners website.

Fowey harbour is not only a perfect location for sailing, it also has a very great deal to offer motor boaters. There are facilities and moorings all around the harbour and up the river past Golant, with plenty of visitors' berths on the pontoons or mooring buoys available. Fuel is available at Tom's Yard in Polruan (both diesel and petrol). There are landing pontoons linked to the shore at Albert Quay and Berrill's Yard in Fowey, plus Polruan (all short stay), and at Mixtow (visitors), plus various other visitors' floating pontoons. For those lucky enough to have the use of a mooring for the season, Fowey Harbour offers all you could want - beautiful scenery, good facilities, loads of activity in and around the harbour, up river exploration for smaller motor boats and cruisers, and of course out to sea and the world is your oyster! When the weather is inclement, there is shelter in the harbour or up-river.

The Hardy Family Pilot is a popular style of motor boat, often with sailors who convert from sail to power. They are good, strong, very sea-worthy boats capable of handling themselves well in a sea. Most Family Pilots are powered by outboards, of varying power up to 75HP, though a lesser number are powered by inboard diesels; they are equally popular on inshore waters as they are on coastal waters. One adventurous (very hardy indeed!) Hardy Family Pilot couple even cruised their "Jura Pilot" around the whole of Britain, visiting England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (with Cape Wrath included!) and back down the East Coast - a very substantial achievement. However, Family Pilots are equally good boats for shorter trips, and for spending just a weekend or a few days aboard, as is "Adele" featured here.

For more information on owning any of the Hardy family of boats, see the Hardy Owners Club website.

Adele Hardy Family Pilot Mixtow
Adele arriving at Mixtow Pill - the slipway to Penmarlam Boatyard beyond, with the
Cafe at the top on the left by the dinghy rack, and boatyard office on the right (photo by MossPatch)

Adele Hardy Family Pilot Motoring
Motoring past the china clay docks opposite Mixtow (photo by MossPatch)

Adele Hardy Family Pilot at Sea
Leaving Fowey behind and away out to sea - the harbour entrance is to the right in the photo

Adele Hardy Family Pilot at Sea
Looking east along the coast from Fowey (off to port), past Blackbottle Rock,
Pencarrow Head and Nealand Point to Polperro and Talland out of sight beyond
(with radio on dual watch - Fowey Harbour operations Ch.12 and Ch.16)

Adele Hardy Family Pilot at Sea
Looking towards "The Peak" and St Saviour's Chapel at the top of Polruan

Adele Hardy Family Pilot at Sea
Heading back towards Fowey, with the Fowey Light on the cliffs ahead.
At night this light and the light on Whitehouse Point in the harbour, help guide vessels safely in.

Adele Hardy Family Pilot at Sea
Turning in for the harbour entrance, with St Catherine's Castle on the cliffs to port,
and Neptune Point House ahead. Readymoney Cove is nestled between the two.

Adele Hardy Family Pilot up harbour
Heading up the harbour towards Bodinnick (but stopped safely for a photo)
...otherwise, always keep your hands on the wheel, and your eyes on the channel ahead!

Adele Hardy Family Pilot and tugs
Coming back down the River Fowey having turned out of Wiseman's Reach below Golant,
and approaching the tugs moored opposite the china clay docks.

Adele Hardy Family Pilot Swinging Mooring
Adele on one of the swinging moorings in Fowey - this is in Wiseman's Reach

Adele Hardy Family Pilot Fore and Aft Mooring
Another season, and on a "fore and aft" mooring - these are a little more interesting to use, but secure!

Adele Hardy Family Pilot and Tailwalker
Adele rafted alongside Hardy compatriot Tailwalker, a Fishing 20

For more detailed information about Adele for Hardy Owners, and for those interested in Hardy boats,
and about modifications that have been carried out, visit the Family Pilot "Adele" pages.

Pugwash the Viking

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