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The latest news, keeping residents and harbour users up to date.
BY PAUL BRITTON • HARBOURMASTER/CEO W
ith summer here and the air and water temperature climbing,
like many of you, my thoughts turn to getting up close and personal with the water. Lockdown made a whole new
group of people discover the joy of paddlesports - kayaking, canoeing, or stand up paddleboarding - now officially the world’s fastest growing sport. And what better way to explore the beauty of the Dart? Silent, carbon neutral, no wash, it feels like the estuary was made to be experienced like this. Seeing the fleets of happy people paddling past the harbour office, it’s probably no surprise that one of my first jobs as harbour master was to start work on a set of paddle trails, to encourage you all to see the river from this unique perspective,
and I am very pleased to be able to launch the first of them. Simple A4 leaflets that you can download from our website or pick up from the harbour office and use to plan your trip. Each contains a map, which is filled with useful advice on where to launch, hazards you might experience en-route, and lots of information on the history, wildlife and other sites you’ll see en route. Of course, I’ve also added some safety tips and suggestions on how you can make your trip even more sustainable (I am harbour master after all - it’s my job!), as well as advice on what to pack and how to avoid conflict with other river users. We’ve worked with other organisations including the RNLI, South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, visitor information
www.dartharbour.org Plan your kayak/SUP trip with these new guides available from the harbour office.
centres and local clubs to try and include everything you might want to know in one small leaflet. The first trail covers my personal
favourite part of the Dart, the tranquil tree-lined reaches from Totnes down to Stoke Gabriel, taking in the salt marshes, stunning views of the Sharpham estate, and the iconic way the river meanders through the steep sided valley. Future guides will cover every part of the estuary, from the weir to the sea. If you haven’t yet tried using your own power to explore our river, I can’t recommend it enough, but I’d certainly encourage you to get a little help to get you started - the guide contains details of the various clubs, instructors and tour guides who we work with, who can help introduce you to this sport. When you’ve finished your day of boating, whatever size your craft may be, if you do have a drink or two, please remember that alcohol and water don’t mix. Every year we have a number of accidents, where people try to use a boat or tender under the influence and get it horribly wrong. You wouldn’t consider doing it in a car, so please take the same attitude on the water, remember our yacht taxi runs ‘til late. So wait until you’re in a safe spot before enjoying the last of the summer sun with a glass in your hand after a perfect day on the water. Cheers!
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