Cornwall Yacht Charter: Private Sailing from Falmouth

Cornwall Yacht Charter: Sailing from Falmouth along the Cornish Coast

Falmouth → Helford River → Lizard Peninsula → Mevagissey → Fowey → Falmouth

Join Emma Claire in Falmouth, home to one of the third largest natural harbours in the world, and one of Cornwall’s finest sailing bases. The Fal Estuary is a natural harbour and enchanting river surrounded by wonderful countryside and historic estates and it’s a worthy destination in its own right before you’ve even left the dock. Falmouth town itself has a bustling cobbled waterfront, excellent local seafood restaurants, and a maritime energy that sets the tone for the voyage ahead.

From Falmouth, the Cornish coast opens up in both directions, and the beauty of a private charter is that the itinerary is genuinely yours. Skipper Chris will work with the wind and weather to make the most of wherever you want to go, whether that’s west towards the Lizard Peninsula and Land’s End, or east along the coast towards Mevagissey and Fowey. You can guide on how many hours under sail versus time ashore you’d like. Younger families may prefer shorter passages with plenty of beach time, while those with more experience might want longer days offshore.

You can get involved as much or as little as you like on board. Learn basic sail theory, try your hand at chart reading, take the helm across a bay or settle into the cockpit and let the Cornish coast come to you.

The Harbours & Anchorages: Where to Drop Anchor

The coastline east of Falmouth offers some of the finest harbour towns and river anchorages in Cornwall, each with its own character and well worth a night at anchor.

The Helford River is one of the last places in England where ancient woodland covers the coastline directly meeting the sea. It’s a beautiful river to sail into, with hidden creeks, ancient oak woodland, and the kind of stillness that feels genuinely hard to find elsewhere. Drop anchor, take the tender ashore, and explore the banks on foot along the southwest coast path.

Mevagissey is a working Cornish fishing harbour with real character, narrow picturesque streets, a busy mix of fishing boats and pleasure craft, and a lively quayside well worth a few hours ashore. Further east, Fowey is a deep, naturally sheltered harbour at the mouth of a long navigable river, with quaint cobbled streets leading to local boutiques and galleries, and the Daphne du Maurier Literary Centre telling the story of how this part of Cornwall shaped her writing. The quieter anchorage of Gorran Haven, tucked beneath the cliffs just south of Mevagissey, offers sandy holding ground and a freshly caught fish supper from the village chip shop, one of those simple pleasures that sailing tends to produce in abundance.

Wildlife on the Cornish Coast: What to Look Out For

A Cornwall yacht charter puts you in one of the finest positions in Britain for watching marine wildlife, out on the water, moving quietly along a coastline that supports an extraordinary range of species throughout the summer season.

The southern end of the Lizard Peninsula is regularly visited by dolphins, harbour porpoises, basking sharks, sunfish, seals, and even the occasional whale. Grey seals can be seen throughout the year all around the Lizard coastline, often sunbathing on exposed rocks or visible in the shallow water around the small harbour. Keep your eyes on the clifftops too as the Cornish Chough, one of Britain’s rarest birds, has returned to nest on the Lizard after decades of absence, identifiable by its vivid red beak and distinctive call.

In the sheltered waters of the Helford and Fal estuaries, wading birds, cormorants, and the occasional otter are a common sight. Out on open water, gannets dive and common dolphins follow in the boat’s wake, one of those moments that makes a day under sail feel quietly extraordinary. Basking sharks, the second-largest fish in the world, are a genuine possibility along this stretch of coast in summer, and their appearance alongside the boat is something few guests forget.

Life Aboard the Modern Yacht Emma Claire

Built in 1996, Emma Claire is a Grand Soleil – a well-regarded Italian-built yacht that has been lovingly maintained and remains in exceptional condition. Her hull shape and sloop rig make her a comfortable, stable platform for coastal sailing, and her modern winched masthead rig means she’s straightforward to handle so Chris can sail her single-handedly, though guests are always welcome to join in.

Below decks, she sleeps up to four guests in two private cabins – a double and a twin bunk with two bathrooms (one dedicated to guests), a generous saloon with cushioned seating and a dining table, and a well-equipped galley. Above decks, a comfortable cockpit and plenty of open deck space make it easy to relax, take in the coastal views, and settle into the unhurried pace that a sailing charter encourages.

• Cabins: Double cabin and twin bunk cabin, both private
• Bathrooms: Two bathrooms, one dedicated to guests
• Meals: A well-equipped galley for home-cooked meals on board
• Sailing style: Relaxed and flexible – as hands-on or laid-back as you like
• Skipper: Chris, RNLI coxswain with extensive local knowledge

Things to note

Sailing vs Shoretime

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will not be more than 12miles offshore.