Information for Mariners

The Prawle Point Lookout* has a 240° arc of visibility over the sea off the southern tip of Devon from Peartree Point in the east to Bolt Head in the west. This includes the entrance to the attractive and popular Salcombe harbour.

On a clear day the hard horizon is just over 16 nautical miles distant. Thus we watch over 500 square nautical miles of sea.

Local hazards within sight of the Lookout are overfalls and tide races off Start Point, Prawle Point and Bolt Head. Salcombe Bar.

* at 50°12.2′ N, 003°43.2′ W (50.202908, -3.720267)

If you go to sea within the area covered by our watchstation you have the reassurance that, if we can identify your vessel, it will be logged. Help boost your safety by having your boat name clearly readable and for a sailing vessel have a sail number showing.

A team of around 60 trained and qualified volunteer watchkeepers share daylight watches operating every day of the year. The station is equipped with telescopes, radar, radio and telephone as well as up to date charts. In the event of an emergency, we act as the eyes of the Coastguard and update them as to the correct position of the casualty and what is happening on scene.

Since 2000 Prawle Point NCI has been recognized by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as having “Declared Facility Status” which means we are an integral part of the national Search and Rescue structure.

We have good working relationships with  Kingsbridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Salcombe RNLI.

Hail “Prawle Point NCI” on VHF Channel 65 (not 16) or phone 01548 511259 to speak to one of our watchkeepers.

They can give you the current weather at Prawle Point and will have the current Inshore Waters Forecast, gale and strong wind warnings available

We broadcast the current local weather and sea conditions on Channel 65 every day at 0945, 1145, 1345, 1545 and, in the summer, at 1745.

We can also provide radio and AIS checks. Indeed, HM Coastguard ask mariners to use NCI for radio checks, particularly in the summer when they are busy. If you do not know which NCI station is nearest, just hail “NCI” and the closest station(s) should respond.

The station has Declared Facility Status and reports to CGOC Falmouth.
Radio callsignPrawle Point NCI
HoursEvery day from 09:00 until 17:00 in the winter or 20:00 in the summer (local time) or sunset if earlier. See our Home page for today’s hours.
Visual watchYes
Radar watchYes
AIS watchYes
DSC WatchNo
VHF listening watchChannels 16, 65, 67 & 0
VHF channels in useCall direct (not via 16): 65
If authorised by HM Coastguard: 0
NAVTEXNo
Visual horizon16 nautical miles
Radar horizon21 nautical miles
PortApproximate passage distance (nM)Aproximate time difference of HW from Salcombe (min.)
Dartmouth15+22
Exmouth34 (approaches)+35
Falmouth50-35
Fowey35-17
Penzance76-57
Plymouth18 (breakwater)-05 (Devonport)
River Yealm16-01
St. Mary’s (Scilly)101-55
St. Peter Port (Guernsey)78+40
Torquay24+30

HM Falmouth Coastguard broadcasts the latest Gale Warnings and Inshore Waters Forecast every day at 0110, 0410, 0710, 1010, 1310, 1610, 1910, and 2210 local time.

An announcement is made on VHF Channel 16 and off Prawle Point the MSI broadcast is then heard on Channel 62, 63 or 64.

We are flanked by stations at Rame Head and Froward Point. For information about these stations as well as our own, please download our station summary card:

This card (below) is also available from the Lookout when it is open and from our stand at the events we attend. For information about other National Coastwatch stations, visit www.nci.org.uk.

Hail/CallVHF channelTelephone
Prawle Point NCI6501548 511259
Salcombe Harbour1401548 843791
Salcombe Harbour (emergency out of hours)01803 867034
Salcombe Water Taxi1207807 643879