yachting south australia

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Gulf St Vincent

Adelaide metro.

Fleurieu Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula

Kangaroo Island (KI)

Circumnavigation #2 (Boxing Bay, Snug Cove, Scott Cove, Antechamber Bay)
The dolphins of Dashwood Bay
Sailing and diving Kangaroo Island (Boxing Bay and Smith Bay)
Kangaroo Island in a day (Penneshaw)
Charity cruise 2018 (Boxing Bay, King George Beach, Snug Cove and more)
Charity cruise 2017 (Boxing Bay, Kangaroo Beach, Western River Cove and more)
Australia Day long weekend 2016 (Mares Tail, Boxing Bay and more)
Ballast Head (and American River)
KI wineries by boat (Bay of Shoals, American Beach, Antechamber Bay)
Circumnavigation (Vivonne Bay, De Mole River, Snug Cove and more)
New Years Eve 2015 (American River, Newland Bay, Bay of Shoals, Red Cliffs)
North Coast revisited (King George Beach, Western River Cove, Knob Point)
Sail, Hike, Kayak Pelican Lagoon (American River)
North Coast (Wester River Cove to American River)
North Coast (Western River Cove and more)
Northeastern Kangaroo Island (North Cape, Penneshaw, Antechamber Bay)
Single-handed to American River
Bay of Shoals and Emu Bay
Island Beach

American River

Marsden point, north cape.

Vivonne Bay

Backstairs Passage

Cross early in the day, i.e., before the winds pick up.
Check the tides ( BoM tide calculator ) and avoid wind against tide. If possible, cross at slack water. Dodge tides are ideal if you're so lucky.
Reef early. If coming from the mainland, reef before you pass Cape Jervis. If coming from Kangaroo Island, reef before you exit Eastern Cove.
Do not cross if the forecast is for a gale (i.e., above 34 knots). Relax and spent another day on the Fleurieu or on the Island.
If sailing against the tide, (if you have a choice) tack out into Gulf St Vincent and give Cape Jervis a wide berth.

Spencer Gulf

Port lincoln, lincoln national park and inshore islands.

Thorny Passage

Sir joseph banks group, sir joseph banks group and whitsunday group comparison, upper spencer gulf, sa's west coast.

SA's Southeast

Sailing holidays and bareboat charters, typical sailing distances in south australia, additional resources.

My South Australian Anchorage Finder
My photos of anchorages
RSAYS cruising guide
"Anchoring and Anchorages in South Australia" by James Cowell

About the Author

Great resource, thanks for sharing! Recently bought a Bavaria 36 and looking forward to getting out there once the world gets back to some form of normality. Stay safe. Cheers Glenn

Thanks Glenn. See you on the water. Fair winds!

Thanks for taking the time in creating this blog. I've thoroughly enjoyed progressively working through it. Hopefully you continue to venture further afield. Your New Caledonia expedition was absolutely superb.

Thanks. In 2025, we plan to venture across the Great Australian Bight to Western Australia and beyond. Stay tuned.

Offshore Champs

Fred neill match attracting overseas entries, sa women's keelboat regatta, wireless communications - sailing champions league: asia pacific final, cycsa race results & program, sunday sessions are back, cycsa learn to sail.

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Why we sail

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Admirals Bistro

Dining at the club.

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Our Club & Membership

Marina Berths & Hardstands

Berths for sale or short/long term lease suitable for all boats big and small, with convenient on site slipway and maintenance facilities

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Our unique location and award winning function areas are complete with panoramic marina views to guarantee a truly memorable experience.

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Jack and Jude

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South Australia Sailing Guide Internet

This Web Formatted South Australia Sailing Guide is yours to download. Sail safe, and remember that this is only a guide, use at your own risk.

Resources and Notes Adelaide Gulf St Vincent Kangaroo Island Spencer Gulf – South Spencer Gulf – North Joseph Banks Group to Port Augusta South Australia West

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Festival State is in the southern central part of Australia and covers some of the most arid parts of the continent with a total land area of 983,482 square kilometres (379,725 sq mi). South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland states and the Northern Territory. With over 1.6 million people, the state comprises less than 8% of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the states and territories. The majority of its people reside in the state capital, Adelaide, with most of the remainder settled in fertile areas along the southeastern coast and River Murray. The state’s origins as a freely settled, planned British province, rather than as a convict settlement are unique in Australia. Official settlement began on 28 December 1836, when the colony was proclaimed at The Old Gum Tree by Governor John Hindmarsh.

Lying fully within the temperate zone, South Australia experiences four seasons. Summers can be quite hot with land and sea breezes modified by the prevailing summer easterlies. Mornings are often calm. Winters on the other hand herald winds from all points of the compass. Depressions usually begin with a northerly swinging to the NW before hitting with full force from the west, turning SW after the front passes, The sea can then get choppy, but only dangerously so nearer the southern opening.

NOTE: This is NOT an exhaustive or even a complete listing of all South Australian anchorages and marine facilities. But it does describe the more frequently visited anchorages and facilities, as well as guide visitors to some of South Australia’s remote and scenically beautiful locations. There is more complete information in our electronic cruising guide available at http://jackandjude.com/books/sa_guide/ IMPORTANT: All GPS positions are approximate. Mariners are advised to be prudent and not to trust this information without proper diligence. Although every effort has been made to check the accuracy of the details, the editors and authors do not imply or accept any responsibility for the accuracy, authenticity, or validity of the contents.

Resources and Notes: Anchorages marked in MAROON are from our voyages around South Australia. Anchorages marked in GREEN are from John and Inara, SY Desiree . More on them here. All other anchorage positions are from reliable sources such as: Other experienced yachtsmen, charter skippers, fishermen, and publications.

Weather Forecasts: Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on HF In South Australia weather is broadcast from both “VMC” for east Australia and “VWC” for west Australia. The weather broadcasts are fully automated; therefore a ship station cannot call up the BOM on “VMC” or “VMW” and expect a response. VMC and VMW broadcast voice bulletins of WARNINGS on the hour in WST and EST (on the half hour CST).

Weather forecasts for Coastal Waters and High Seas followed by coastal observations are broadcast every four hours. The program contains up-to-date forecasts, warnings, and coastal observations.

Frequencies and times

Coastal Radio and VMR coverage area:

There is very little good information on South Australian anchorages in print. The Second Edition of the once popular “South Australia’s Waters – an Atlas & Guide” is a shocker and next to useless ~ no details – just heaps of ads. If you can find the first edition printed 25 years ago, it is filled with charts with soundings and aerial photos, a good book.

The only other volume, “Anchoring and Anchorage in South Australia” by James H. Cowell is out of print, but is informative for the run Adelaide to Port Lincoln.

Take all information, even these cruising notes, with a fair bit of caution. The seas can run huge down in South Australia, and the winds can swing round in a full circle in a day.

Sailing SA – Alan Noble from Arriba has an informative website describing his favorite SA anchorages.

John and Inara

John and Inara have sailed their 36′ steel ketch Desiree all around Australia. More importantly for us here, they have explored every inch of both gulfs of South Australia over many years.

Here are John and Inara’s recommendations for Spencer Gulf.

Over the years much has been written about Boston Bay (Pt Lincoln) and the Sir Joseph Banks Group. What is often forgotten for the non marina dwellers is good anchorages in northern gales,which are sadly lacking in Spencer Gulf.

The two best are the northern end of Boston Bay, up past North Shields (when the wind changes you simply move back to the anchorage near the town jetty) and Peake Bay which is a great hidey hole for those spending time at the Banks Group. Tucked in behind Cape Bolingbroke and the Bolingbroke Reef, Peake Bay is a little over 2 hours from the lagoon at Reevesby Island, and provides shelter from almost all directions. Even in 35 kt northerlies we have fished (successfully) for whiting from the dinghy!

Moreton Bay at the northern end of Reevesby Island is a good jumping off point for the journey north. Cruisers are generally in favor of shorter legs and many will choose to stop over at Port Neill rather than going straight through to Cowell (over 60 nm).

Pt Neill provides shelter in winds from SE all the way to NW, although it can be a little rolley if the swell is up. My preferred anchorage in SE to SW is between the jetty and a small breakwater that shelters the boat launching ramp. The town provides all you would expect in a seaside country town, and a pleasant stroll is enjoyable.

We generally bypass Arno Bay. While the local yacht club is very friendly, anchorage is generally rolley, and the small marina quite tricky to enter without local knowledge.

Cowell (Franklin Harbour) is normally our next stop. For the more adventurous, there are several anchorages near the entrance, but most elect to proceed to the town and anchor a few metres north of the jetty where the holding is excellent. The town provides all necessities, with the exception of fuel, which is quite a hike, but you can build up strength by sampling their famous local oysters. There is a supermarket, great butchery and even a Laundromat. Often we do a fair amount of shopping at Cowell, as it is much more convenient than Whyalla.

Cowell to Whyalla is about 60 nm. There is some shelter behind Shoalwater Point in SSW, but by far the best anchorage on that stretch of coast is known as the Horseshoe, and is an obvious feature on the chart, about 5 nm north of the obelisk at Plank Point.

In years gone by Whyalla was not much visited by cruisers on their way north. Over about the last 4 years or so, the red dust problem from the steelworks has dramatically decreased. Excellent value meals at the Club Friday nights.

Heading north from Whyalla anchorage can be found either in Fitzgerald Bay in S-W, or behind Ward Spit in SW-NE. The Ward Spit anchorage, at the eastern end, is an obvious feature on the electronic charts are fairly.

Once past Two Hummock Point there are a number of anchorages, but most require care and local knowledge. The best is Blanche Harbour, where both north and south entrances are clear from the chart. We have found that electronic charts are fairly accurate here, but must be used in conjunction with the Mk 1 eyeball. Blanche Harbour is a good spot to overnight, waiting to ride the tide into Port Augusta.

Port Augusta has all the features that cruising yachties long for. There is good holding on anchor opposite the yacht club, and a pontoon to moor alongside at the southern end of the wharf. By contacting the yacht club, shower facilities can be made available, but here is the reason we love Port Augusta. Big W 175 metres, Liquorland 200m, Woolworths 200m, Service station for fuel 300m, and 250m start of the main street, with bakeries, cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc. Everything is just so convenient! There are also many local tourism options available.

But it’s not just the destination, it’s the journey. Going up the Gulf there are the Flinders Ranges on the right and the rugged hills on the left. During the day, as the light changes, the colours can be spectacular.

Pt Pirie should be a great spot for cruisers to visit, with most requirements just across the road from the wharf. But the fact is that facilities are just plain lousy. At anything other than high tide we have run aground trying to go alongside the tiny pontoon (8ft x 12ft) at the Royal Pt Pirie Yacht Club. Our yacht is 36ft on deck and too big for any of the small pens at the small Council-operated marina, and my partner refuses to climb rusting and dangerous ladders on the wharf from a raft-up to disused fishing boats.

South of Pt Pirie the next decent anchorage is behind the sandbar at Wood Point in moderate winds from E – SW.

Pt Broughton is an under-appreciated asset to the cruiser. The long-established jetty now has a purpose-built pontoon for recreational vessels. There is potable water available on the jetty which leads directly into the short main street, where all facilities are available for replenishment. The entrance to the channel requires a rising tide, but it is well worth the effort.

Wallaroo has a commercial marina, close to the pub, but the town itself is a fair walk. Rather than pay marina fees, we prefer to go further south and anchor in Tiparra Bay, best anchorages depend on the winds. Pt Hughes and Pt Moonta are both great little places to spend some time ashore, and great holding along Cape Elizabeth.

At the top end of Wardang Island is one of the few anchorages in northerlies along the eastern side of Spencer Gulf. The area bounded by Green Island, Rocky Island and Pt Pearce seems to provide surprisingly good anchorage in all but the strongest W/SW.

There is a channel through the shallows to make your way across to Pt Victoria, and from there we head south to a spot about 5nm N/NE of Pt Turton in Hardwicke Bay. This is a community of holiday houses with no facilities ashore. For provisions Pt Turton is the go, or the general store at Corny Point (where we have sat out S/SE gales) and is a favourite of ours.

South Australia Sailing Guide Internet — 5 Comments

G’day Jack & Jude, We planned to passage to Adele this year but diverted to Gulf of Carpentaria due to the loss of a major sail , crossing from Cape York . Swab will still not forgive me !! This coming Summer we will arrive at Adele but via Great Australian Bight. Just downloaded your notes on SA and WA , much appreciated . We do owe you , at least , a wine when , one day we meet !! Keep up the dream! Kind regards, Bob & Judy.

Hello Bob and Swab -I still regret the loss of a sail, torn out it’s bag when conditions we encountered were dramatically worse than we thought. In all the running about saving our ship from damage, the sail was left tied to the rail. G-o-one ! Lesson learnt: If it can happen it will. Hope we met up in Adelaide later next summer. I know a good place for that drop of good SA wine. Cheers, Jack

Hi Trying to download sA anchorages onto android phone is it possible? Heading up Spencer passage on east side trying to find safe anchorage from Monday Se winds. Cruising from Qld and our cruising book as no info. Tried to meet up with you at wooden boat festival, but could not find you. Then met John Brewster on King Island… If you help with download info would be great

Thank you, Sue and Tarci, Travelling Wharram ” Monkeyme”

Sorry Sue and Tarci, we have been out of touch for the last two weeks up the Gordon River. You probably answered your query using the internet and found that yes you can upload our files onto android phones. There are apps designed to handle these. The Boat Festival was jam packed with not only boats but masses of friendly folk, we met so many. Maybe somewhere else we’ll share an anchorage, Maybe in SA as we’re getting ready to head back that way. Hoping to stop at King Island en-route for a cuppa with John and Lynne Brewster.

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A Short History

Introduction.

The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) began its life as the South Australian Yacht Club (SAYC) on 5 November 1869. On 25 October 1890 Her Majesty Queen Victoria granted the title Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, which it has borne ever since. The Admiralty warrant authorising wearing of the Blue Ensign was dated 4 November 1890.

The first race was held on 1 January 1870. The four competing yachts were the Curlew, Isabella, White Squall and Express. They ranged in waterline length from 13 to 19 feet.

Meetings of committees and the general body of Members were held in sundry hotels — the Clubhouse, Ship Inn and Largs Pier

The crowded moorings at Birkenhead (WD Randall)

In 1881 the Marine Board allocated to the South Australian Yacht Club a parcel of land and water on the Birkenhead side of the Port River, adjacent to where the Birkenhead Bridge was constructed many years later. Here the organisation prospered, although there was a lack of much in the way of social amenity.

In 1884 the Squadron purchased the freehold of the foreshore where the iron clubshed stood. Ramps and other works were undertaken over the next few years. The energetic and popular Honorary Secretary, Magnus Wald, instigated significant developments. In 1896 he produced a scheme to replace the indifferent structures at Birkenhead. As a result a roomy shed, containing lockers and other yachting conveniences, was provided. At least part of it survives at the time of writing this account.

One of the two RSAYS sheds at Birkenhead survived for more than a century. (JH Cowell)

The congested Port River circa 1890 (Australia Illustrated, 1892)

At a Monthly Meeting held on 10 January 1901, Members unanimously agreed to a merger of RSAYS and the Semaphore Club, of which Magnus Wald was the principal founder. Premises were purchased on the corner of Dunn Street and the Esplanade for £725, which were extended at an estimated cost of £1,750.

Amidst great controversy and after court actions, the Semaphore premises were sold in 1927. This occurred in part because erection of a large pavilion building obstructed a proper view of the waters off Semaphore and Largs Bay, where many races were held. Because of changes to the Licensing Act, the licensed premises were confined to a single venue, which was in an old bank in Port Adelaide. As was to occur in 1968, a few devoted Members treasured their familiar club, but the Squadron could no longer afford to maintain facilities for shrinking numbers of active participants in the social life of the club in that location

A typical Squadron race in the Port River in 1922, not long before the move to Outer Harbor. (Birnie album)

The Semaphore Club House 1901–1927

To revert to Birkenhead, the boatshed was extended by an additional 1,800 square feet, at a cost of £135. Members did much of the work in working bees, which have been a feature of Squadron developments ever since. One donated a new landing barge. The Squadron was thriving, having undertaken all this from its own resources, and by 1900 was free of debt.

The annual report for 1903 recorded the admission of 25 new members during the year, and vessels on the register now numbered 54. The mooring berth was deepened and enlarged by the Marine Board. A newspaper reported, “Their financial position has improved beyond their most sanguine expectations.”

Improvements that year (costing nearly £100) included strengthening the landing stage, installation of a telephone, building a spar shed and extra lockers etc at Birkenhead, plus decorating the billiard room at the relatively new Semaphore social clubhouse. The balance of assets over liabilities was now £2,046, an increase of £376.

The Marine Board granted definite tenure and extended the mooring berth in the Port River at a rent of £20 per annum for 10 years.

In 1905 the ramp was found to be rotten, due to Teredo navalis. It was replaced with a solid one of stone and cement.

The hull of AG Rymill’s Avocet emerges from Ben Weir’s shed beside the two Squadron sheds, 1909. (Rymill Gifts)A typical Squadron race in the Port River in 1922, not long before the move to Outer Harbor. (Birnie album)

Quei drifts past the pontoon at Birkenhead (Birnie album)

With the introduction of six o’clock closing in 1916, the licence of the Semaphore Clubhouse was transferred to new premises at Port Adelaide, where the Squadron bought the Bank of Australasia building. Here many of the social activities were concentrated, leaving the Semaphore premises for use mainly on days when sailing races were conducted from the jetty there. Members who lived nearby also made use of them.

Quitting Birkenhead

As early as 1912 the Marine Board declared its intention to order the removal of yachts to Outer Harbor. An undated newspaper cutting is headed, ‘Removal of Yacht Moorings’ —

The yacht moorings of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron are to be removed from their present site at the west end of Birkenhead to the foreshore near the Outer Harbor. This is the dictum of the President of the Marine Board, who stated at a meeting of the Board on Thursday that the contemplated alteration had the sanction of the members of the Squadron. The space now occupied by yachts is needed for vessels of the mercantile service, and Mr Searcy thinks yachtsmen will appreciate the change. At the new site which has been selected there is more room, and it will be advantageous on the score of cleanliness. The North Arm, said the President, would have been a splendid site, but it was too isolated, whereas the moorings near the Outer Harbor would be easily accessible by train. The change is not likely to take place for some time. It was only reported to the Board, remarked the President, because it was in the air.

In April 1917 the Birkenhead premises were compulsorily resumed by the Marine Board ‘for public use’, but for the time being there was no change. In 1920 a newspaper reported,

The committee [of the Squadron] were pleased to be able to report that a satisfactory arrangement had been made with the Marine Board for the deepening of that section between the Squadron’s shed and Jenkins’s Slip for the accommodation of yachts on the registers of the Squadron and the Port Adelaide Sailing Club. When these deepening operations were completed, the Board would grant to each club a lease of one moiety of the area.

In 1921 a septic tank was installed at Birkenhead at a cost of £63 and a tender was made for lease of Slip Number Four (Pickhaver) for seven years at £52 per annum (pa). A stove was bought for the “cottage” at Birkenhead. The Secretary of the SA Harbors Board made an offer of £2,550 compensation for resumption of property, which was accepted. A lease on the Birkenhead property was offered at a rental of £100 pa for 21 years, plus rates and taxes.

A “lean-to” was erected to protect motor cars and a balcony was planned, together with new lockers and some extension of the shed at a cost of £2,620. Originally this was to be financed by issuing debentures to Members, but in August 1922 it was decided to do so through an overdraft and by quitting the premises in the old Bank of Australasia building at Port Adelaide.

In June 1922 the Harbors Board offered to extend the lease at the McEndrick Street end of the property by 60 feet at an annual rental of £35 for 21 years. New moorings were laid in an extension of the previous water lease.

The Squadron seemed secure.

By 1923, however, it was clear the Squadron must move to Outer Harbor, and the Birkenhead premises were vacated by 31 July that year, six months ahead of the deadline. The background to this abrupt reversal has not been obtained. The government of Sir Henry Barwell survived until April 1924, so there seems not to have been a direct political reason. I suspect that Commodore AG Rymill, a forceful individual in his first year in office, may have urged his fellow power brokers in the Squadron to seize the opportunity at Outer Harbor before somebody else did. If so, no documentary confirmation has yet been found.

A newspaper report of the new “boat harbour” read,

This is situated at the northern end of the [Outer] Harbour, and close inshore. It is well protected from all weather conditions, and should prove an ideal place for the club’s new quarters. It is proposed in the near future to build a shed on the shore opposite the mooring space, with lockers, petrol store, motor shelter and other facilities. A lease has been secured from the Harbors Board on reasonable terms, and the committee feel that removal from Port Adelaide is a step in the right direction.

A claim for compensation totalling £3,175 for the confiscated property was submitted to the Minister of Marine. The overdraft with the National Bank was increased to provide funds for financing what was described as the Outer Harbor scheme.

Outer Harbor

A Harbors Board offer was accepted to dredge an area 400 ft by 300 ft, with space on the shore of 150 ft by 150 ft at a total annual rental of £150. An extra 30 ft was subsequently offered for an additional £25 pa.

The basic iron shed, the core of which has survived to the time of writing, was constructed by EH McMichael, but no record has been found of what it cost. A loose piece of paper in a draft of the 1969 centenary history implies that the Harbors Board may have paid for it, but the documents in State Records have not yet been consulted.

‘The Basin’ at Outer Harbor, Christmas 1922 (Birnie album)

A caretaker was appointed at a salary of £4 per week, plus free use of a new small weatherboard cottage and the opportunity to earn small sums doing work for Members.

(In 1919 the State Living Wage was £3.19.6, which rose in 1926 to £4.5.6. Reflecting the impact of the Great Depression it fell in 1931 to £3.3.0 and did not again exceed £4 until the wartime inflation and labour shortages of 1940.)

Mooring fees were initially set at £1 pa for vessels up to 20 ft, with an additional £1 pa for each additional 10 ft or part thereof. Lockers would be 10/- pa; dinghy space 10/- pa; and magazine space [?] 5/- pa. Benzine would be stored in drums for purchase by Members. Commodore AG Rymill bought from the sale of the Grand Central Hotel some furniture which has survived in the Squadron to the present day. It is not clear whether this was by donation or use of Squadron funds.

The new premises were officially opened by Commodore AG Rymill on 24 November 1924, that being the day of the Opening Demonstration for the season.

The Squadron was heavily dependent on Members for establishing itself at Outer Harbor.

The first yachts arrive at the new Outer Harbor premises (Birnie album)

Avocet at the original pontoon, 1924 (Rymill Gifts)

On 16 November 1994 Mr Denis Winterbottom, who was then 84 years of age, recalled helping his father in the working bee to construct the first rough track from the vicinity of the Outer Harbor Railway Station to the south-west corner of the new premises. This was some time in the summer of 1924–25, when he was a schoolboy at Saint Peter’s College. He also recalled horses and scoops excavating sand at the Squadron.

Three tons of loam and 1½ hundredweight of sulphate of ammonia were purchased to establish a lawn, with the work done by Members. Presumably the caretaker was left to push the new lawnmower, which would not have had an engine. In the same way the Squadron bought the pipes and fittings to connect water and connected electric light. In a foretaste of marina living, Commodore AG Rymill extended electricity to his yacht Avocet.

At this time motor boats outnumbered sailing craft, with much interest in the racing craft called hydroplanes. Special facilities were installed for them.

The new wharf just inshore from the floating pontoon for the handling of small hydroplanes has just been completed. This is directly in front of the new wing to the shed, which will be retained solely for hydros, and the main shed floor reserved solely for sailing and ordinary dinghies. (25 February 1926)

Spectators crowded on to anchored vessels to watch the Griffith Cup of 1923, won by AG & ES Rymill in Tortoise II.

An estimated 30,000 people jammed every vantage point to watch the Rymills’ somewhat anticlimactic victory. Commodore Rymill arranged that those on the wharf paid 2/- each for entry. That would have been a welcome boost to Squadron funds.

The first slip at Outer Harbor was established in October 1925. It was a simple device, able to take no more than two yachts at a time. Fees were set for vessels under 20 ft at 5/- per day; for those under 30 ft at 10/- per day; and for those over 30 ft at 15/- per day.

A new caretaker, Mr AO Shaw, was appointed at a salary of £4.5.0 per week “with cottage and lighting”. He would have been relieved when a fence was constructed round it. In March 1926 he was granted a bonus of twelve guineas (£12.12.0) “in recognition of the splendid manner in which he has carried out his duties during the last six months”.

Unspecified improvements at Outer Harbor were undertaken in late 1925 at a cost of £476.12.2. In 1926 the hydroplane wharf was constructed, to which the Rymill brothers and other Members with racing motor boats contributed significantly. The structure survived until the southern foreshore development of the 1980s.

The Hydroplane Wharf, about 1926 (Darian Smith)

To save the cost of slipping, many owners careened their boats for maintenance. This was Mannara, built by Searles of Birkenhead for Mr CF Haselgrove in 1924. (Don Haselgrove)

The Port Adelaide premises in the old bank were offered for sale at £5,500 and by a narrow majority the General Committee decided to dispose of those at Semaphore. This was a polarising issue, which eventually led to significant loss of Members to a reconstituted Semaphore Club. It didn’t survive after the Second World War.

The Vacuum Oil Company installed a bowser and pump in order to supply petrol to Members. First grade benzine cost 2/3 per gallon and second grade 2/1. Antifouling paint was sold by the Squadron to Members at £1.10.0 a gallon (red), 15/6 for ½ gallon (red) and 17/6 for ½ gallon (green). The pontoon sank and had to be replaced.

In 1928 the dredged area was extended. The original basin involved removal of 50,000 cubic yards of spoil, at a cost (in 1923) of ninepence to a shilling per cubic yard. Depth ranged from 4 ft 7 in to 8 ft 2 in. Unfortunately, the cost of this was not recorded, but it was born entirely by the Squadron.

Outer Harbor was established to provide sheltered wharfage for shipping in 1908. It was a dreary place. The only dwellings were two or three cottages for the families of the men employed in pilotage and the like. A new arrival to South Australia confronted bleak iron sheds on the wharves with an adjacent railway station. There was no shop or other protection from the elements. A narrow sealed road passed through deserted sandhills to the village of Largs and places beyond. It was often partially covered by drifting sand. The avenue of Norfolk Island pines was planted in 1936 for the State Centenary.

East of the Squadron premises was a tidal creek, and to the north were mud flats at low water and an expanse of sea to Torrens Island and Saint Kilda when the tide rose. Access to the north and east was possible only at low water. Mosquitoes were a menace.

There was nothing to attract a visitor other than the inducement of sailing, fishing or the transient excitement of racing by either motor boats or yachts. One significant advantage was readier access to the open waters of Saint Vincent Gulf rather than negotiating the loop of the Port River with its shifting sandbanks and quite heavy commercial traffic.

Protection for moored vessels was inadequate. The sand Section Bank on the right bank of the Port River went under at high water in strong north-west gales. (It was raised with rocks many years later, when the container berth was established.)

Regularly moored craft broke free and damaged each other. On at least one occasion a substantial motor boat was stove in and sunk. In an initial attempt to improve this, the Squadron deposited some old barges across its north-western and northern perimeters, but they eventually broke up and became useless for their intended purpose.

At low water on a calm day in about 1927–8, there was a misleading sense of protection from the combination of old barges and the undredged north bank. The yachts were moored N–S, until damage caused by gales resulted in relocation to E–W, to match those in the front row. (Birnie album)

Amenities were minimal. Upstairs were a couple of toilets and showers each for gentlemen and ladies. An area behind a partition with some clothes hooks was designated ‘For Senior Members Only’. Other than a solitary power point with an electric kettle, there were no catering facilities. Members had to bring their own, and the Squadron hired things for big occasions such as Opening Day.

There was a single slip beside the residence of the caretaker, and a shed erected by Professor Mark Mitchell for his vessels. This was destroyed by a storm in 1938. At the southern edge of the property were roofed enclosures to protect motor cars from rain and blowing sand.

The social life of the Squadron was divided. Locals used the Port Adelaide and Semaphore Clubhouses until they were sold. From 1935 to 1968 Members (who must be British gentlemen) with access to Adelaide used the licensed premises in a basement in Grenfell Street, mainly as a place for city businessmen for lunches. Women were admitted on one night a year. As a result, there were many social Members who had limited if any interest in what went on at Outer Harbor, other than special events once or twice a year. Developments there depended on boat owners, whose prime commitment was necessarily to their own craft. At least one Secretary rarely went there.

The tin shed in the swamp stagnated until after the Second World War.

Ardale (briefly one of the Wylos) on the RSAYS slip, 1927 (Birnie album)

Avocet and Grelka moored in front of Mitchell’s shed, showing the original eastern boundary fence, with the Hydroplane Wharf in the foreground.

Temporary Removal

After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, there was genuine fear throughout Australia of Japanese invasion. Although the threat in South Australian waters was minimal, precautions were taken.

Barbed wire barricades were erected on metropolitan beaches. The Birkenhead and Jervois bridges were drilled for demolition charges. Place names were removed from post offices, but few other buildings, public or private. Machine gun emplacements were constructed to defend such targets as the Glenelg tramline at Morphettville and the Sturt Creek amid the market gardens of Warradale. In Adelaide important buildings like the General Post Office were sandbagged. Trenches were dug everywhere for shelter, and large concrete pipes were placed along North Terrace for this purpose. The Governor of the day was photographed in one to inspire the citizens with confidence. Men returning from combat remarked that anybody in them would most likely be killed by blast. Each night searchlights roamed the skies over Adelaide, although the only anti-aircraft guns in South Australia protected the new shipyards at Whyalla — where for many months there were no search lights!

No 2 Division RAN NAP, July 1943 (HW Rymill album)

The Royal Australian Navy compulsorily acquired some Squadron vessels, which served as far afield as the Philippines. Others, together with Members, were employed locally in the work of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol. The remaining vessels in the fleet were relocated from the pool at Outer Harbor to Number Three Dock at Port Adelaide. Fuel rationing compounded shortage of crew in suspending most Squadron activities at this time, both formal races and informal cruising. Vessels entering and leaving the Port River were required to report to the Pilot Tower coming and going. It was said that one neglecting to do so received a bullet hole through the mainsail from an unduly conscientious sentry.

The premises at Outer Harbor retained their storage functions for the small number of vessels operating the NAP. Sea Scouts had some training there, in pretty spartan conditions.

At the end of the War in 1945, it was apparent that the pool had silted up considerably since it was originally dredged in 1923 and extended in 1928. The yachts were located in the North Arm while the Squadron undertook to have it deepened and enlarged.

Return to Outer Harbor

Seacraft March 1950: 191. Under South Australian Notes:

In 1954 the only significant change since 1926 was construction of the western dinghy shed and a second walkway to the pontoon. The eastern shed was originally built for hydroplanes. (HW Rymill album)

New Mooring Pool Opened

Most colourful yachting event of the season, so far, was the opening of Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron’s new mooring basin at Outer Harbor on January 21. Nearly 100 power and sailing craft took part in the demonstration which accompanied the ceremony.

Lady Norrie, who with His Excellency the Governor (Sir Willoughby Norrie) was aboard the flagship Sir Wallace Bruce, cut the ribbon across the entrance to the pool. State Government and Harbors Board representatives were among the official party.

Commodore HJ Kemp declared the pool open from in front of the flag bedecked clubhouse and later took the salute aboard the flagship during the sail past. Rear Commodore HW Rymill led power boats in Sea Hawk and Vice-Commodore CP Haselgrove, aboard Neptune Island race-winner Nerida, was in charge of sailing craft.

The basin was enlarged during the winter to accommodate about 130 boats — twice as many as last season.

In the early postwar years notable changes took place in the activities undertaken by Members. The speedboats known as hydroplanes were advancing to extinction (so far as the Squadron was concerned) and sailing craft supplanted motor boats as the dominant group. Racing expanded considerably, both inshore on summer weekends and in an increasing number of long distance offshore races. Larger vessels arrived, so that slipping facilities were increasingly inadequate.

Equally importantly, in Squadron politics the pressure steadily mounted to concentrate on the actual pastime of yachting rather than to have much of the activities (and resources) dominated by Members who used the City Clubrooms as a business men’s luncheon club.

Expansion at Outer Harbor

In contemplating enhancing facilities at Outer Harbor the Squadron faced formidable problems. The most important constraint was the matter of the lease. This was on a monthly basis, with no certainty that if it were to be terminated compensation would be paid for improvements. Without a secure lease, the Squadron could not borrow from a financial institution, and capital works must be financed entirely from the resources of current Members.

One great advantage was that the Squadron enjoyed a virtual monopoly of secure moorings under the eye of a resident caretaker to serve the whole of metropolitan Adelaide. The Port Adelaide Sailing Club had the disadvantage of congested water and premises ashore. Security was a problem. The Birkenhead Bridge (completed in 1940) must be opened every time yachts went to and fro. There were public moorings available in the Port River and west of the Squadron lease at Outer Harbor, but boat owners faced perpetual problems of theft and vandalism. The Small Boat Club and the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia did not exist. The small pool at Glenelg entered through the Patawalonga lock was constructed in 1960. It accommodated no more than a handful of shoal-draft craft. There was no public access to Torrens Island, where the power station was yet to be built. The outcome was great pressure on the moorings in the Squadron pool, with at times significant waiting lists.

Resources at Outer Harbor must be expanded and enhanced. The problems were how to do it and how to pay for it. The only means were funds and effort provided by Members. There was no contribution from government sources. It was at that time not possible to borrow from a financial institution such as a bank, when at a month’s notice the premises could be closed, forcing the yachts to go elsewhere, with nothing comparable available near Adelaide.

Fortunately there was an imaginative Commodore (Dr Geoffrey Verco) with a determined General Committee and a core of strongly supportive Members. In the winter of 1959 severe storms caused a lot of damage to installations at Outer Harbor, together with erosion of the waterfront. Urgent action was required.

Congenial relations with the Harbors Board allowed the Squadron to acquire a considerable area to the east and north and — most important of all — an extended lease for twenty years. In a series of memorable working bees the perimeter fences were progressively extended to the east and north. Using a borrowed sand pump the pool was deepened and the spoil was used to good effect to build a bank to hold at bay the potential swamp in the north-east corner. A stone retaining wall was built on the eastern bank and progressively extended along the south bank.

By 1961 the pool was completely saturated, with a waiting list for moorings. Those in the front row regularly went aground at low water. The Eastern Dinghy shed and its pontoon eased congestion for lockers and dinghies in the Clubhouse. Two of the old barge hulls can be seen. The eastern stone-walling and relocation of the boundary fence came a few years later. The roof of the old car shelters can be seen at the southern boundary behind the Clubhouse. Entrance was at the SW corner. West of the pool (out of the picture) nondescript small craft lay on public moorings. Some were waiting for a vacancy to enter the pool

During 1961–62 a virtually compulsory loan scheme was established. Both boat-owners and other Members provided interest-free loans over a five-year period, to be repayable in the distant future. Most were subsequently forgiven.

With these funds, major development began. Dredging was professionally undertaken to accommodate an increasing number of larger vessels. A new and much larger slip was installed, followed by a second slip. A traverse system allowed yachts to be hauled out for extended periods.

To overcome peak pressures the traverse area was greatly expanded and sealed with concrete. This was excessively ambitious, and it has never been fully utilised.

At this stage the decrepit old Clubhouse remained virtually unchanged from how it was forty years previously. There were still no facilities beyond the electric kettle and a few tables and chairs. At least the lawn area was extended and tree planting enhanced the barrenness of the past.

In 1964 a “comfort station” was established upstairs in the Outer Harbor Clubhouse. Here alcohol was unlawfully made available, although there was a fright when some prominent citizens were convicted of a similar activity at a golf course. This had the good effect of accelerating long overdue amendments to the Licensing Act. For the first time some social amenities began to appear at Outer Harbor for those who used the premises and otherwise had only what they had on the yachts or brought with them.

Ablution and toilet facilities bordered on the squalid. Over the next year or so toilets and showers were removed from upstairs and a new block was constructed, which remains in use. The new facilities for women were at first quite inadequate for big events (and still are) but at least they were improved.

A significant advance was construction of an office in the eastern extension of the Clubhouse for the Secretary-Manager, who for the first time regularly came to Outer Harbor at weekends. One of his predecessors was seen there no more than a couple of times a year.

A Junior Clubroom was established near the caretaker’s cottage, only to be relocated and used for other purposes when additional storage area was required. Two sheds were erected near the southern boundary for shipwrights and a third for the Squadron’s own purposes.

The final acquisition of land to the east, coupled with renewed dredging, allowed the Squadron to level and plant an area of lawn near the eastern dinghy shed, where extra toilets were installed. The traverse area was paved and power installations were brought up to commercial standards. A generous member donated security lighting. A better perimeter fence was erected to enhance security.

Commodore Alan Smith closely involved himself in these important developments, and continued to devote his time and energy to successive projects until shortly before his death in 1998.

Alan Smith’s diagram recorded all the salient changes from 1923 to 1994.

Consolidation and Development at Outer Harbor

Under Commodore Alan Smith, in 1968 the polarising decision was taken to close the city clubrooms and concentrate all activities at Outer Harbor, including transfer of the liquor licence. What had been the ladies toilets and showers upstairs became the nucleus of a kitchen and bar. The old partitions were swept away to create an open dining room area. The Tom Hardy Library from Grenfell Street was relocated on the western side of the building, which has posed problems resulting from heat and light on some of the old books and colour photographs. A handsome trophy cabinet was obtained. Burgees from yacht clubs in other states and countries were framed and placed around the room.

A new entrance foyer and an internal staircase were constructed.

The result was creation of a fine area, to which Members can bring guests with pleasure and pride.

What could be called the infrastructure has required repeated refurbishment and replacement, which has been costly, without there necessarily being much to show for it.

By the Centenary Regatta of 1969–70 work had begun on reclaiming the area north of the Squadron, which became the Container Wharf and its related services. Small vessels can be seen on the public moorings west of the premises. In this view, taken at low water, the potential area available from dredging can be readily seen. The western boundary of the lease was extended to its definitive location in 1989.

As long ago as about 1966 and led by some generous and gregarious Members, an enclosed area was built on the ground floor on the western side, to be used for evening barbecues. This was called Walker’s Wurley after Jock Walker, a generous and popular Member. Subsequently it was adapted to comprise a regatta office and is a venue for small meetings. Nearby, in 1994 a “gazebo” barbecue was constructed. Excellent shaded barbecues were established north and east of the traverse area and the eastern dinghy shed.

The caretaker’s cottage was demolished and a demountable building for this purpose was placed at the western boundary. This allowed a sail drying rack to be placed between the Clubhouse and the traverse area, which was later relocated east of the slips. A temporary Juniors’ clubroom was located south of this, to be relocated at the south-east corner of the premises and used for other purposes when Junior activities temporarily lapsed in about 1975.

In 1992 a staging known as the Quarterdeck was erected to complement the extension of floating pontoons along the whole of the south bank, apart from the gaps required for the two slips.

Enthusiastic Members established a new (and much better) Junior Clubroom, on the southern side of the property near the western boundary and then relocated it to the north bank.

Ever since 1924 the open space on the ground floor of the Clubhouse was used to store dinghies and for large lockers for boat owners. Similar lockers were placed in both the western and eastern dinghy sheds. This area had to be cleared and reinstalled by working bees every Opening Day. Envious eyes regarded the space as having other potential uses, and some was taken on the northern side to construct Jimmy’s Bar. This complements the Quarterdeck and is a popular venue for informal and convivial gatherings, especially after races.

From the early days at Outer Harbor yachts were moored fore and aft in parallel rows facing north-south. In response to the major threat, a storm from the north-west, they were soon changed to lie east-west. They are loosely called trots moorings, although not strictly in conformity with the classical situation at Cowes, home of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Moorings were maintained by Members, sometimes quite inadequately. Access was by dinghy or (over the last twenty years) by Squadron tender at weekends. Vessels were brought to the solitary pontoon or the adjacent hydroplane wharf to load stores, obtain fuel and water and (in defiance of by-laws) as an informal marina.

As the Squadron and its fleet expanded, pontoon facilities must be extended, which was achieved along the southern bank. With increasing demand for marina facilities, these were installed in two stages and in 2001 with a third agreed in principle.

The Quarterdeck, 1999

They are entered from the north bank, where an ablution block was built, incorporating services for the government departments which lease facilities, including mooring space, from the Squadron. Car parking required paving nearby, which expanded the area potentially available for dry-standing of yachts hauled out when not in the water. This development has had the undesirable effect that many people drive to and fro without entering the Clubhouse on the south bank. The Squadron’s social life and income have suffered accordingly.

In about 1968 the character of the Squadron was forever drastically altered. The Harbors Board began a program of land reclamation extending from immediately north of the Squadron pool. For several years we endured caustic dust blowing over vessels and people whenever there was a strong north wind, until at last the project was completed.

Immediately to the north of the Squadron pool Port Adelaide’s container berth was established, with three traverse container cranes operated on a 24-hour basis according to need. A sealed road against the eastern boundary brought traffic closer than it had ever been. Adjacent to it is a spur standard gauge railway line. Nearby on the western side of the premises vast car parks have been established for import and export of motor vehicles.

The tranquil peace of the past has been permanently lost.

By 1991 the Squadron’s fixed and floating breakwater provided excellent shelter from NW gales. At the NW corner are sheds for government use, the Junior Clubroom and a launching ramp, together with an amenities block. The marina was fully occupied. A new entrance had not yet been constructed at the southern boundary. The Trailer Boat Club and Sea Scout training building remained immediately west of our Clubhouse. Government tenders and pilot craft lay for many years to piles on the south bank of the entrance channel, but they have been relocated into pens near our north bank, adjacent to the loading ramp.

Meanwhile the local area changed equally dramatically, although more aesthetically. A new boat harbour was constructed at North Haven, which accommodates on freehold land and water of the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, together with public moorings and commercial maintenance facilities. Extensive land division and housing development have replaced the original sandhills. Lady Gowrie Drive and other roads have been considerably upgraded to take heavy traffic.

Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron started its life in 1869 and moved its vessels with ancillary resources (slip etc) from Birkenhead to Outer Harbor in 1924.
From 1869 until 1968 the social life of the Squadron mostly concentrated elsewhere, but since then all activities have been exclusively at Outer Harbor.
In 1923–24 an iron shed was constructed to provide shelter for dinghies and lockers, together with minimal toilet and changing facilities, but no social amenities.
The original pool was dredged by the then Harbors Board, but since then all dredging and other developments for yachts (including marinas) have been undertaken exclusively by the Squadron from its own resources, involving a huge volunteer input.
The ‘Tin Shed in a Swamp’ remains the basis of a pleasing and functional Clubhouse. This has problems, however, with infrastructure, meeting fire regulations and its ability to provide all that is required, including adequate office space. Extensive redevelopment or replacement is fully justified, but cannot be afforded at present.
The Squadron has developed the general premises to the best of its ability, with a fine entrance from Oliver Rogers Road, attractive landscaping and appropriate paving, both for hard-standing yachts and for car parking.
Marinas are progressively being developed to accommodate increasing numbers of vessels. New buildings on the north bank provide showers, toilets and facilities for government departments. Junior activities have been concentrated there. A large slip is provided for vessels on trailers.
The Squadron is an old organisation which has undergone corporate rejuvenation in the last few years. It is strong and secure, continuing to provide a unique and notable component of yachting in South Australia.
This was sealed in 2001 with purchase of the premises from Portscorp, the successor to the old Harbors Board.
Our future is assured.

Better Sailing

Australia Sailing Guide (With Itinerary)

From the Whitsundays Islands, to Port Douglas, and from Perth to Brisbane, Australia has so many coastal sailing routes to explore. Everyone should spend some time sailing Australia’s deep blue oceans, and the numerous sailing trips offered will ensure that you have as much fun at sea as you did on land. Summer and fall are the ideal seasons for most Aussies to spend time on the water. Despite the fact that Australia is known for being the best destination for water sports, sailing around Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, in this article, I will list the best sailing routes and destinations in Australia as well as the most popular sailing itineraries. Keep reading!

Preparing your Voyage: What you Need to Know

With tens of thousands of kilometers of coastline, sailing around Australia or even a portion of it is no ordinary undertaking. If you truly want to sail around Australia, you must have enough time available and be willing to take on a challenge. This is one of sailing’s Holy Grails, on par with an ocean crossing or even completing a global circumnavigation. Because, despite the fact that the Australian coastline is one of the most gorgeous on the globe, it also has some risks.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t attempt to do this voyage unless you have prior sailing experience . You must also ensure that you have the proper boat and equipment before setting sail. Many people set sail from Sydney, head to Brisbane, and travel up the Gold Coast in an anticlockwise route. Sailing the east coast of Australia includes heading up the Sunshine Coast to Cairns, past the Great Barrier Reef, and around the top of the country, starting in Brisbane. Others set sail from Darwin and explore the west coast. So, it’s important to set your goals and know which part of Australia you want to visit.

Note that when you are planning your stops, you have to consider how far you can sail in a single day. This is dependent on the type of boat you have, the weather, the amount of weight you’re hauling, and a variety of other things. You should strive to be as mathematical as possible because you will need to calculate how much food, water, and other supplies you will require. Naturally, the more you bring, the heavier you will be and the slower you will travel. You can anticipate sailing between 75 and 150 miles every day on average.

Keep in mind that the Northern Territory and Western Australia are remote areas with few ports. So, you’ll need to be well prepared. When you sail down the west coast, you can stop in Perth, the world’s most isolated city, before continuing down the south coast. Keep in mind that temperatures can reach the sweltering 40s, so it’s advisable to have proper ventilation on your boat. This is because if you don’t have adequate protection on your boat, such heat might be extremely dangerous.

Sailing around Australia is a difficult but extraordinary voyage. Note that it might take six to twelve months and include crossing some dangerous waters, such as the Great Australian Bight.

>>Also Read: Is It Dangerous to Sail Around the World?

Sailing in Australia’s East Coast: What to be Aware of

The Australian East Coast is one of the world’s most beautiful travel locations. There are numerous routes you can choose from; from New South Wales to Queensland, and up to Cairns on the Australian East Coast. Note that from April to November, the trade winds blow east-to-southeast in Queensland. But, the winds off the coast of New South Wales can be erratic. Meaning that along the coast, wind patterns tend to change.

One of the most important pieces of advice is to arrange your trip sailing up Australia’s East Coast, particularly in Queensland, to take advantage of the trade winds . While the weather may not always be cooperative, it is far preferable to postpone or go during the appropriate season. The East Coast Trades are quite predictable for running north, especially farther up the coast.

Every sailor understands that the sea is unbeatable. So, always verify the weather forecast and conditions before leaving port. It’s also a good idea to double-check immediately before leaving. This is because weather conditions may have changed since the forecast the night before. While conditions in a peaceful anchorage may appear calm and relaxed, there might be harsh wind and wave conditions just over the headland.

Furthermore, tropical cyclones can occur in the Queensland region as a result of lows in the monsoon trough. It is often discouraged to sail in Far North Queensland between November and April. During this time of year, many full-time cruisers prefer to travel south to NSW. The south-easterly trade winds die out during this season, making sailing south much simpler.

Note that the ruins of Australia’s once-thriving island tourism sector can be found as far south as the Whitsundays. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the island resorts seen sailing up Australia’s east coast have been abandoned. This is due to Australia’s high travel costs compared to other countries, as well as the risk of tropical storms in the north. Regardless, those traveling up the east coast will have the opportunity to visit islands that have been cut off from the rest of the world for generations.

Whale Migration in Australia

It’s known as the Great Humpback Whale Migration in Australia. Approximately 60,000 humpback whales depart Antarctica each year to undertake their own northward voyages. It’s the world’s largest animal migration, taking three months to reach northern Australia. In the warm tropical waters, they breed and raise their babies. Whales go north during the months of July and September. And, they travel to the south from September to January. If you’re cruising up Australia’s East Coast during the whale migration, you’ll almost surely see a lot of them. This has the potential to be both a blessing and a curse.

This is because sailing at night can be dangerous, since the whales snooze on the surface, entirely unaware of sailing vessels. When sailing up Australia’s East Coast, many individuals have experienced “bumping” whales. It will not be a nice experience for you, and it will be even more unpleasant for the whales.

Sailing Along Australia’s East Coast

While the sea and its bays are must-sail areas, island hopping is also great on Australia’s East Coast. These are the best islands in the Queensland area:

Whitsunday Islands (Keswick, Brampton, Goldsmith)
The Low Isles, Port Douglas
Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
South Molle Island, Whitsundays
Green Island, Cairns
Great Barrier Reef Cays
Magnetic Island, Townsville
Dunk Island, Mission Beach
Orpheus Island

The places you will stop are the nicest part about sailing on Australia’s east coast. The following is a list of some of the best anchorages and mooring spots along the Queensland coast:

Whitsunday Islands (Brampton, Outer Newry, Goldsmith)
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
Cid Harbour, Whitsundays
Airlie Beach
The Hinchinbrook Channel

Sailing in Australia’s East Coast: Tips

Keep in mind that full-time cruising in Australia can be expensive. But, if you catch your own fish, use the wind for propulsion, and anchor for free, the cost is significantly lower than living on land. Diesel and food will be the most expensive items on a daily basis, and the amounts will fluctuate based on your food needs and how much you use your engine. Expect to pay between $70 and $140 a night for docking and marina fees. So, consider spending 99 percent of your time anchoring since it is entirely free.

It’s worth noting that the sailor who claims to never experience boat troubles has never left the harbor, as the adage goes. In other words, always keep in mind the possibility of having to pay for repairs. From the engines to the sails, electronic equipment to leaks, every boat may have issues.

There’s a joke that when you cruise the east coast is like “sailing with a watch in your hand”. This is because many of the openings are river mouths with sandbars across them, necessitating precise calculations to cross the bar at low tide.

The navigating difficulties can be summed up in three words: current, depressions, and a strong sea breeze.

First, there’s the current. There is a southbound current of up to four knots along Australia’s east coast. This makes for rapid sailing to the south but tedious labor up north unless you employ the countercurrent near inshore. The Leeuwin current flows east at 0.5 knots along the south coast. Also, the Leeuwin current is stronger on the west coast, flowing south at around one knot. The depressions are the second difficulty. They move from west to east in a constant stream, bringing troughs and fronts with them. The available forecasts are of great quality, so you can make use of the wind generated by the depressions to propel you in the appropriate direction.

Going against the prevailing winds, however, might be difficult because of the rapid build-up of steep wind waves in shallow coastal locations. Note that sea breezes are generated by Australia’s scorching interior. Again, if you use the winds effectively, you can enjoy sailing on great routes. However, you must always be cautious. On top of the prevailing winds, sea breezes can easily last for 12 hours and reach speeds of over 25 mph.

Also Read: Best Small Sailboats To Sail Around The World

Sailing in Australia’s East Coast: Common Itineraries

Australia’s East Coast is the most popular tourist destination in this breathtakingly distinctive country. Cairns, the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, Brisbane, and more are among the top destinations. Coastal communities, sandy beaches, and numerous national parks, notably the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, are all well-known. The regions there are warm and the nicest aspect about cruising Australia’s east coast is that there won’t be any nighttime passages for a while!

Between Sydney and Cairns, the east coast offers the chance to sail during the day and overnight at various marinas, yacht clubs, and sheltered secure anchorages. While cruising in these areas, you will get to meet some local cruisers who will be delighted to share their experiences and pass on any suggestions or local information they may have. I’m sure you’ve heard folks talk about how beautiful the Great Barrier Reef’s cruising grounds are. Well, they are correct! And, exploring the islands and sheltered seas of the Great Barrier Reef and coastal Queensland for a few months (or perhaps years) should be on almost everyone’s sailing plans.

Depending on the distances you’re willing to travel, you have a variety of options. Making landfall near Brisbane in Queensland and sailing south to Sydney and back is a popular alternative, as is continuing sailing to Tasmania. The Australian east coast has a lot to offer in terms of diversity. Because the distances between ports are often short, you can daysail your boat from one to the next. Crossing Bass Strait is always a challenge, but the effort is well worth it when you see Tasmania’s beautiful environment and scenery.

In addition, many people start their voyage from Cairns, Thursday Island, or Darwin on Australia’s East Coast. Visits to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef are a must on this route.

If you sail from Bundaberg to Sydney and back up the east coast to Darwin, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you arrive in such a famous port. On the route, there’s the Great Sandy Strait, which runs between the Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg. It’s between the mainland and Fraser Island and it’s a beautiful and scenic place ideal for sailing. The water is crystal clear, similar to the Whitsundays, and it’s one of the best places to spend some days relaxing. Whales, dugongs, dolphins, and turtles are among the marine fauna that may be found in the Great Sandy Strait. And, this is why it is designated as a marine sanctuary.

These are the most common itineraries for sailing along the East Coast of Australia. Keep in mind that you can sail clockwise or anticlockwise.

Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory, Eden (NSW), Bermagui (NSW), Jervis Bay, Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Reserve, Manly, Sydney, South Solitary Island, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Great Sandy Strait, Bundaberg, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Cairns, and Lizard Island.
Cairns, Mission Beach, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Mackay, Rockhampton, Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach, Noosa Heads, Great Sandy Strait, Maroochydore, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Sydney.

Sailing in Australia’s West Coast: What to be Aware of

Western Australia is bordered on the east by South Australia and the Northern Territory, and on the west and north by the Indian Ocean. The southwest coastline region has a mild climate. The state’s middle four-fifths are semi-arid or desert. Annual rainfall ranges from 200 to 250 millimeters, with the majority falling in intermittent torrential downpours during cyclone outbreaks during the summer months.

The northern tropical zones are an exception to this. Kimberley has a relatively hot monsoonal climate, with annual rainfall ranging from 500 to 1,500 mm on average. However, there is a lengthy, practically rainless season from April to November. The Kimberley receives 85 percent of the state’s runoff.

In Western Australia’s northwestern region tropical cyclones are a common phenomenon. They occur from November to April, with sporadic activity in the months before and after. The highest occurrence takes place in January, February, and March. Squalls are prevalent, especially during cyclone transitions. They affect all areas north of Carnarvon, including all land and sea areas in Northern Australia. But, areas south of Carnarvon are not affected that much.

Cyclones strike Western Australia’s northwest coast more frequently than any other region of the country’s coastline. It has one of the world’s most cyclone-prone coastlines. Each year, several tropical cyclones form, but only two cross the coast of northern Australia on average. The tropical cyclone season runs from November to April, with the majority of coastal crossings taking place in February and March.

Sailing in Australia’s West Coast: Passages

Bear in mind that currents have a wide range of speeds, ranging from 3 to 1 knot, but reaching up to 3 knots in some regions. The best time to visit is from May through October, which coincides with the dry season. Weather conditions are warm to hot, with low humidity. The SE trade winds blow from E to S, averaging 4 to 5 mph during the day and get stronger at night. In the southern region, anticyclone systems tend to increase the wind’s strength. However, the trade winds are frequently linked to pleasant weather.

Tropical storms do occur on occasion. During this season, excellent weather conditions prevail, with regular light conditions in the northwestern parts. This will result in using your motor more frequently. You should carry extra water and fuel in the Kimberley region, from Broome to Darwin, as supplies are spread out over vast distances. During the dry season, strong SE to SW winds are common for regions south of Exmouth. Meaning that your voyages south will be more difficult. If you intend to head south, it is best to wait for a high system with moderate E to NE winds. Excessive tides and strong tidal streams up to 4 knots (but up to 10 knots at the approach to major bays and narrow channels) are common in the NW.

When navigating and choosing anchorages, extreme vigilance is essential. There are numerous unmarked “bombies” (an area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow area) and shallows around the coast. In other words, you have to be cautious and plan careful navigation.

Sailing Trip in Australia’s West Coast: Tips &Common Itineraries

The most common locations you can set sail on Australia’s west coast are Darwin or Kimberley. Note that May through October are the best months to cruise in the Kimberley area. When there is a strong high to the south, SE winds are predominant in the morning and can reach 30 kn. In the afternoon, the wind normally dies down. Furthermore, note that most anchorages are best visited during a period of neap tides.

If you’re traveling north , April/May is the best time to leave Fremantle for the Abrolhos, Shark Bay, or farther north and east. If you’re heading to Queensland, plan on arriving in Darwin by the end of September. A voyage from Fremantle to Kimberley and back needs to sail rapidly. Also, it is possible to leave Carnarvon in the first week of May if no cyclone is building.

When traveling to the Western Australian coast, June/July is a great time to leave Darwin. When heading south to Fremantle, plan to get at Dampier by early September. Keep in mind that the best time to travel from Broome to Dampier or vice versa is when a fairly strong front is nearing the south of the state. You should do this in suitable weather and avoiding strong E winds. In September, a vessel sailing south from Dampier should expect moderate southerly quadrant winds for the remainder of the journey down the west coast.

You should aim to arrive in Geraldton by the end of September. This is because if you arrive later the risk of strong southerlies will increase. Coming south from North West Cape normally entails a lot of windward effort. So, a day or two in a peaceful anchorage is essential. Continuing south from Geraldton, the goal is to leave in September or October. It’s a good time so as to avoid winter cold fronts but not late enough to dodge the strong southerly summer sea winds. Short and sparse weather windows are common. April-May is the best time to do this passage.

These are the most common itineraries for sailing along the West Coast of Australia. Keep in mind that you can sail clockwise or anticlockwise.

Kimberley Coast, Pilbara Coast, Ningaloo, Gascoyne and Geraldton Coast, Abrolhos Islands, Lancelin, Perth, Bunbury, Leeuwin Coast (Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin), Albany, Esperance and Eucla Coast.
Darwin, Wyndham, Derby, Broome, Port Hedland, Dampier, Exmouth, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Fremantle, Bunbury, Albany, Esperance.

The Great Australian Bight and the Southwest Coast

In general, the best months to cross the Bight from west to east are October to November or late March to roughly mid-April. It’s worth noting that every year is a little different, so anyone planning a trip should start checking weather patterns a few weeks ahead of time.

There is also a less-traveled route that circumnavigates Australia’s south and west coasts. The difficult westward crossing of the Great Australian Bight is possible in the summer months of February and March after carefully examining weather patterns. This is because the predominant south-westerly winds are chased away by a series of high-pressure systems. And, this results in four to seven days of pleasant easterly winds. A voyage “down the bottom” of Australia not only allows you to visit Tasmania’s lesser-known cruising locations on the untamed west coast, but it also allows you to visit cities like Adelaide.

From Adelaide to the natural splendor of the Gulf St Vincent and the Spencer Gulf with its various anchorages, the south coast of Australia is a particularly pleasant cruising ground . Western Australia offers a very different cruising experience once you’ve crossed the Bight. Long reefs lie throughout the coast, necessitating cautious navigation. Cities such as Perth and Fremantle provide all amenities to boats. Note that there are two possibilities from Australia’s west coast if you want to continue your voyage. Either you will start crossing the Indian Ocean as soon as possible after the cyclone season ends, or sail north to Indonesia.

Australia Sailing Trip Guide – The Bottom Line

In the last decade, an increasing number of cruisers have seen Australia as a stand-alone destination. And that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. A downwind voyage of roughly 700 miles from New Caledonia to the east coast of Australia is far more comfortable than the difficult 1,000-plus mile crossing from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand. In any case, Australia is a huge country, so don’t underestimate the distances you’ll have to travel. For example, the distance from Bundaberg to Sydney is just under 500 miles, and the distance from Sydney to Hobart is 628 miles. Traveling over the Great Australian Bight from Hobart to Perth will add additional 2,250 miles to your journey.

If you want to sail around Australia you can either get back home and store the boat in Australia or continue sailing. The most important thing to remember is to stay below 30 degrees south latitude. This is because the official cyclone belt is located to the north of this latitude. In other words, you can continue sailing and explore the Australian seas rather than waiting for the cyclones to pass. Cruising Australia’s coastlines may be extremely rewarding: the wildlife, natural beauty, diversity, and warmth will astound you.

I hope that this article was helpful to your route and voyage planning for sailing around in Australia. I wish you all safe & pleasant voyages!

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Expert advice: How to sail across the Pacific Ocean

March 19, 2019

Immense and diverse, the expanse of the Pacific offers some of the finest tradewinds cruising you’ll ever experience and a wealth of friendly cultures. Dan Bower explains how to prepare and where to sail

Sailing across the Pacific is the adventure of a lifetime, but proper preparation is vital. Photos: Tor Johnson / Dan Bower / Olivier Parent / Alamy

A cruising sailor’s blog, newsfeed or Instagram account from the Pacific is an onslaught of images and videos of every flavour of paradise from the green, dramatic and rugged landscape of the Marquesas with its huge waterfalls, the coral atolls and blue lagoons of the Tuamotus, to Tahiti and Bora Bora, the volcanic eruptions and cauldrons of lava in Vanuatu, the breaching whales of the Coral Sea… Enough already, as they say!

The Pacific Ocean is by far and away the most diverse for cruising. The scenery and culture varies between each country but everywhere there is a welcoming and genuine hospitality – and the sailing is excellent.

It pays to pick your route carefully

What to expect when sailing across the Pacific

When examining planning charts and contemplating sailing the Pacific Ocean, it looks huge. It is 8,000 nautical miles from Panama to Australia (you can cross the Atlantic in 2,200 miles) and, because of the scale of the charts and the size of the islands, it appears to have little land. But zoom in on the chartplotter and the islands and island groups are plentiful.

You must make one very long crossing, the 3,000 miles from the Galapagos Islands to the Marquesas, but this is usually fast sailing with a favourable current bringing the passage time down to one similar to a transatlantic crossing. We’ve made this Pacific passage three times, and we reckon it’s easier sailing than on an average ARC. There has been less swell, more regular winds and no squalls, and after you arrive in the Marquesas you’re rarely more than four days from your next destination.

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With an eye on the weather there are plenty of protected anchorages throughout the Pacific, and there are all-weather ports in most island groups.

But sailing across the Pacific is not without its challenges. There are tricky coral passes to negotiate, and it helps to speak French, but time spent preparing and planning can help make it plain sailing and, in my experience, the cruise of a lifetime.

Sailing through the Panama Canal

When you enter the Pacific from the Panama Canal you can feel this is a different ocean. The blue, warm waters of the Caribbean are replaced with the decidedly chilly, much darker nutrient-rich ones brought from Antarctica borne by the Humboldt Current. Its favourable effects can be felt under your keel as you head towards the Galapagos, and make for a bracing first swim. The 6m tidal range can also come as a bit of a shock.

Choosing your route

The passage to the Galapagos should pose no major problems but you will probably have to sail through The Doldrums and you will cross the equator. The national park in the Galapagos is sensitive to foreign species and so you can expect to have all your fresh food removed when you arrive. The authorities also don’t like any growth on your hull – they can turn you away or make you go out of the park to have your hull cleaned (an 80-mile round trip), so it’s worth pressure washing in Panama and getting all through-hull fittings thoroughly cleaned if you’re unsure.

Brochure cruising in the turquoise, sheltered water of a typical French Polynesia atoll

From here you depart on the main passage to the Marquesas Islands and ahead the expanse of French Polynesia opens up. This ocean leg is the Pacific Ocean proper, with approximately 3,000 miles of what should be tradewind sailing at its best, a mile-melting broad reach and an equatorial current beneath you. Depending on the position of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) you may be able to sail down the rhumb line or, if not, head a bit further south for more stable conditions.

Arriving in the Marquesas is a pleasurable culture shock and is as dramatic socially as it is scenically. Away from the small towns it is a great place to cruise to quiet bays with beautiful beaches, trade odds and ends with the locals for the most delicious fruit and explore the interior with its wonderful waterfalls and archaeological remains.

Once you’ve had your fill of green and lush beauty (yes, it rains) and have filled the boat with Pomello grapefruit, mangoes, coconuts and pineapples, it’s time to push off to the Tuamotus. The hardest part about this leg is deciding where to go – there are 80 atolls to choose from.

Coral snorkelling is a must

Sailing the South Pacific

On arrival you need to get the tide times right to navigate a narrow pass, but the reward is a calm, clean and incredibly blue lagoon. Snorkelling is the highlight here and the lagoons are home to the prettiest and most diverse coral I have ever seen. The adventurous can drift snorkel through the passes on an incoming tide, and you can effortlessly glide amongst sharks and large fish feeding.

The Marquesas and Tuamotus are, in my opinion, the best bits of French Polynesia. It is tempting to rush off to the Society Islands (which include Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora) and tackle the inevitable jobs list, but most people regret it. The Society Islands have an interior like the Marquesas and lagoons like the Tuamotus, but neither are quite as good. However if you’re lured there by civilisation, Papeete is a city replete with a Carrefour supermarket, chandleries and most other things you could need. It can be a welcome stop to reprovision and attend to any outstanding jobs on the list.

Onwards from here you are never far from the next anchorage. Seas are gentle with long, lazy swells and, apart from the very rare trough reaching up from lows in the south, it is settled tradewind sailing. Now is the time to choose how long you wish to stay in the Pacific as that will dictate how much time you have on the way in order to make sure you’re in the right place for cyclone season.

It’s possible to make it to Australia and onwards if that’s your plan, but many cruisers fall in love with the region and cruise there for many years. If that is you, then it’s worth slowing down and enjoying more of what Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu have to offer. We’ve done three tours of the South Pacific and would happily go back – in fact we might return in 2020.

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63 Crewed Luxury Yachts for Charter in Australia

Australia Yacht Charter

A constellation of wonder, an Australia yacht charter offers guests a bewitching blend of possibilities: from soaking up the ambiance of ever-twinkling cityscapes like Sydney or Melbourne to reconnecting with nature on a humbling, almost visceral level in the Great Barrier Reef. Mesmerizing, spellbinding, spectacular — there is simply no end of superlatives to describe the magic of Australia.

Australia Yacht Booking Guide:

Australia Yacht Charters: At a Glance

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The sheer size and vast expanse of coastline that Australia has to offer makes it perfect for a luxury yacht charter vacation. Renowned for its abundance of watersports opportunities, from action-packed jet skiing and water skiing to scuba diving in the vast underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, it is one of the most comprehensive and exciting cruising destinations in the world.

Girl on a yacht looking at the camera on a sailing yacht in Sydney Harbor, Australia

A diving and snorkeling paradise From the incomparable Great Barrier Reef which has more than 1,500 types of fish to the aquatic delights of Ningaloo Reef and the countless bays to cherry-pick from.
A melange of awe-inspiring landscapes Australia provides yacht charter guests with a diverse range of idyllic landscapes: from shifting sands and tropical shallows to city lights and cosmopolitan thrills: the choice is all yours.
Endless anchorages The Great Barrier Reef alone has a staggering 900 islands — whatever you're looking for from an anchorage, Australia can provide it.
Famous, top-end superyacht marinas Jaw-dropping panoramas abound at Australia's marinas, from the magnificent Sydney Harbour to the impossibly blue shores of the Whitsundays, the country has some of the most prestigious and sought-after berths in the world.
Wildlife wonderland Australia has a staggering array of flora and fauna: koalas, kangaroos, humpback whales, penguins, dolphins, and much more.

Swirls of blue on Whitsunday Island Australia

From Outback wilderness to sweeping sands lapped by cerulean seas, Australia provides topographical drama at its most exquisite. Below are the destinations that have seen Australia cement its status as a top superyacht hub:

Great Barrier Reef Best for : being a veritable Mecca for snorkeling and diving, mind-blowingly beautiful island-hopping, rare species, and rainforest trails.

Whitsunday Islands Best for: impossibly perfect waters arranged in a turquoise swirl, legendary lizards, turtle spotting, isolated reefs, magical dive expeditions, and beaches so stunning they appear almost make-believe.

Sydney Best for: laid-back luxury, atmospheric haunts, deluxe superyacht marinas, swanky nightspots, classically big, golden beaches, superb surfing opportunities

The Kimberley Best for: its soul-stirring vistas, and the world's largest fringing reef home to deep oceanic shoals.

Melbourne Best for: upscale eateries, high-end boutiques, exquisite wineries, picturesque bays, and an abundance of trails.

The Complete Guide to Luxury Yacht Charters in Australia

An Australian yacht charter vacation offers a mesmerizing selection of things to see and do. Here is our small selection of some of the most outstanding:

Don't Miss:

Heart Reef : hop in a helicopter and witness this adorable heart-shaped coral composition from the skies.
Airlie Beach : this laidback mainland gateway for the Whitsunday's is a perpetual favorite with families and a fully-fledged destination in its own right.
Sydney Tower : reach the top of the tallest building in Sydney, some 268m above the city for incredible vistas.
Hunter Valley : one for the oenophiles, go taste-testing in one of Australia's most revered wine districts.
Yarra Valley : watch sunrise fall on this wonderful pastoral scene over Melbourne in a hot air balloon.
Bungle Bungles : located within Purnululu National Park, these sublime sandstone formations in The Kimberley are a must-see.
Matso's Brewery : sip on locally brewed mango beer at this famed brewery in The Kimberley.
Horizontal Falls : behold the magnificent site of the flat, whitewater rapids that bulge through two lofty mountain ranges.

Offering some of the most diverse and sublime cruising grounds on the planet, Australia yacht charters are perfect for anyone seeking adrenaline-filled vacations off the beaten track. With endless itinerary options available; from diving with hammerhead sharks, scaling rocky precipices along the Kimberley coast and wine tasting in the yarra valley to dining at some of the world’s most exclusive restaurants in Sydney, this fascinating country bewitches the senses at every turn and promises a spectacular yacht vacation for anyone with a passion for adventure.

Tracing its history back almost 60,000 years, Australia boasts an impressive and storied past with cave drawings, pottery and artwork narrating its history through the centuries. The indiginous people enjoyed a peaceful coexistence until British settlers claimed possession in the 18th century and established a penal colony, dispossessing these Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people of their land and marginalising their communities.

Descendants of the original settlers have now been formally recognised as custodians of this vast continent, and we continue to learn through their deep connection with the land and marvel at the astonishing and diverse landscape that acts as a siren call to anyone lucky enough to explore Australia's vast and glittering shores.

Today, Australia is renowed for its cosmopolitan culture and vibrant nightlife, world-class diving and elite watersports activities; an alluring combination for luxury yacht charters.

A superyacht charter in Australia is without a doubt the best way to fully immerse yourself in this marine utopia, offering unparalleled access to a dizzying array of splendid stops far from the tourist trail. Unsure whether to pick a crewed motor yacht charter or a sailing yacht charter ? We've laid out the main aspects to consider before making a final decision.

Motor Yacht Charters in Australia

A crewed motor yacht charter in Australia is the pinnacle of luxury. With five-star amenities and hotel-serviced living coupled with a completely unadulterated level of privacy and the freedom to cruise as you please, it's no wonder a motor yacht has enduring appeal. Uncover reefs, bays, and beaches of incomparable grandeur that are only accessible by boat, and experience your own private paradise.

Sailing Yacht Charters in Australia

Yachts docked at Australian harbor at sunrise

Selecting a sailing yacht charter in Australia is the perfect choice for guests looking for a charter experience at a slower, where you will be wooed by its old-world charm. Spend leisurely days basking in the sun or dining al-fresco on your spacious deck and fully embrace being at one with nature, letting the elements guide you.

With so many options available, there’s something to suit every type of budget. For convenience we have listed the average prices for motor yacht and sailing yacht charters in the Australia below;

For motor yacht rentals in Australia, prices can range from $81,578 to $784,092 per week, plus expenses
For luxury sailing yacht rentals in Australia, prices can start from $43,000 weekly, plus expenses

Tax for Yacht Charters in Australia

The passage of the Special Recreational Vessels Bill 2019 has been a huge boon to Australia's superyacht sector. The legislation allows foreign-flagged superyachts to charter in Australian waters without fully importing their vessel to the country, increasing the selection of yachts available for crewed charters.

Superyachts can obtain a coastal trading temporary allowance to charter, and guests will need to pay a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) according to the charter's value. This will be applied on top of your charter fee, as well as any delivery or redelivery fees that are incurred.

For additional information on VAT and tax concerning your yacht charter in Australia, please consult your chosen yacht charter broker .

Given Australia's unfathomably vast terrain, temperatures can range from temperate to tropical depending on the region, so the optimal times to visit popular yacht charter destinations can vary slightly.

June to October is considered the best time to experience the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef , where yacht charterers can benefit from considerably less rainfall, which means improved diving conditions due to better water visibility.
June to August are the best months for seeing The Kimberley's celebrated waterfalls at full flow.
When summer comes to the Whitsundays it buzzes to life with temperatures hovering at 30 degrees, with balmy sea temperatures of between 27-28 degrees. October is the sunniest month with up to 10 hours of sunshine a day. For the glitterati, September is the optimal month to visit the Whitsundays as it's comfortably warm with less humidity, plus fewer tourists are around.
December to February are the months when Sydney is at its liveliest and it's also widely regarded as the best time to visit: watch the city's harbor turn into a riot of color as fireworks are let off for New Year's Eve.
November to March are the key months to experience the pleasant climes of Melbourne .

Port Douglas Queensland Australia October 7 2018: Trinity Bay Lookout. Beautiful tropical beach with smoke from bush fire burning in the hills behind. Palm trees, clean beach sand with people swimming

The Whitsundays is an invariably popular place to begin a superyacht charter in Australia, comprising a long indented ribbon of 74 islands cradled from the outer ocean by the Great Barrier Reef. As an underwater menagerie featuring some of the most bewilderingly beautiful lifeforms, and at land level replete with barely-frequented, jungle-clad beaches that boggle the senses with their heavenliness, its allure is evident. Plus, there is a multitude of overnight anchorages at guests' disposal here.

The preferred jumping-off points for the Whitsundays are the Coral Sea Marina and Hamilton Island Marina . If discovering the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory first, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina is a preferred choice.

Though Australia certainly isn't lacking in impressive spots to start a yacht charter elsewhere: take majestic Sydney with the world's largest natural harbor. But keep in mind there may be a smaller fleet to select from in other destinations.

sample itineraries

Discerning charterers know that a fabulous mise en scène is what brings a yacht into glorious technicolor, and Australia's throng of epic marinas certainly transforms this fantasy into a reality. Here are the Australian marinas where your experience on land will be just as rip-roaring as it is on the shimmering azul sea.

Hamilton Island Marina: well-protected marina situated in the picture-perfect surrounds of the Great Barrier Reef, with berths available for superyachts up to 60m.
Coral Sea Marina: this premier facility is mere minutes from Airlie Beach, a popular starting point for Whitsundays charters. Accommodates up to 520 berths for yachts up to 80m in length.
Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina : the only place where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet (Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest). Queensland's northernmost marina has a 135 berth capacity for yachts up to 50m.
Cairns Marlin Marina: situated in the heart of the city and only 10 minutes from Cairns International Airport. Has 261 berths with some reserved for superyachts up to 140m.
Sydney Superyacht Marina : luxurious on-shores facilities with chic bars and restaurants in the world's most famous harbor, can accommodate yachts up to 75m.
Melbourne Superyacht Marina : prime position to attend one of the city's many sporting fixtures, located in a sheltered environment and provides superyacht berthing up to 75m.

A heady tapestry of anchorages in a patchwork of implausible blues are woven into Australia's deliciously diverse landscape, ideal for an action-packed or a luxuriously sedate yacht charter alike. From ribbons of chalk-white sand etched with the pawprints of passing kangaroos, to aquamarine waters home to an aquatic world that flourishes in all its vivid coral variety, itinerary options are practically limitless. Below, we've hand-picked some of the best anchorages in Australia:

Osprey Reef (Great Barrier Reef): utterly remote and sitting atop of a submerged atoll, come for exceptional diving visibility, spotting everything from sea turtles to beaked whales.
Ribbon Reefs (Great Barrier Reef): select from a garland of glistening reefs to anchor overnight at and snorkel to your heart's content.
Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef): tranquil oasis renowned for its buttery soft sands and translucent waters, and has a top-end resort with fine dining possibilities.
Nara Inlet (Whitsundays): well-protected anchorage that spans two miles, providing guests with unbridled solitude. Ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking.
Sawmill Beach (Whitsundays): a heavenly overnight spot situated in Cid Harbour, best for rainforested hiking trails and astounding panoramas.
Whitehaven Beach(Whitsundays): one of Australia's most famous spots to drop anchor at thanks to its swirling sands.
Cape Hillsborough (Queensland): cruise further afield and be richly rewarded with kangaroos and wallabies who scour the beach at sunrise.
Cable Beach (The Kimberley): vast swathes of pristine sand frame fiery orange sunsets that are widely regarded as the best in Australia.
Montgomery Reef (The Kimberley): be captivated by the spectacular sight of the reef seemingly rising out of the water, with hundreds of cascading waterfalls forming around it.
Rose Bay (Sydney): peaceful stop to anchor at, conveniently located near to the world-renowned golden arc that is Bondi Beach.
Sugarloaf Bay (Sydney): known for its blissfully secluded surroundings and gives excellent protection from the wind.

Keep in mind that stingers (potentially lethal jellyfish like the Box Jellyfish and Irukandji) are found in coastal areas of Queensland. The higher risk season is from October to May in the Whitsundays, so wear protective 'stinger suits' when diving, swimming, or snorkeling.
Be aware of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles in the Kimberley, which can appear from waterholes. Whilst they are majestic creatures, they are best appreciated from afar!
Whilst Queensland itself is certainly a fantastic all-year-round destination, it's worth remembering that the Great Barrier Reef only experiences two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season here is from May to October.
Remember to wear sunscreen: Australia's proximity to the equator means that the country experiences very high UV radiation levels.
Guests should ensure their passport is valid for up to six months prior to their charter.
Most guests will need a valid Tourist Visa or an Electronic Travel Authority to enter the country. There is no fee if your stay in Australia is less than three months. Please consult your yacht broker for personalized information pertaining to your trip.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a diving haven that lures the global superyacht fleet with almost 3,000 reefs and 900 mostly uninhabited islands. Caressed by warm, gentle waters that sparkle with total clarity, yacht charter guests will be enthralled by the seemingly unending seascape. To elude the crowds, head to the Ribbon Reefs and its garland of phenomenal diving sites such as The Clam Gardens , the Temple of Doom , and Andy's Postcard.

For a spot of underwater magic after dusk, head to Snake's Pit . Marvel the impressive night spectacle of coral that blooms in a smattering of multicolored daubs and friendly sea snakes that float amid shoals of fish. No trip to the Great Barrier Reef would be complete without relishing the barefoot luxury of Lizard Island. 24 silk-like beaches are hugged by topaz shallows — and it's the refuge of a few sun-dappled reptiles too.

The mainland also many treasures: don't miss out on the exclusive restaurants and spas of uber-chic coastal town Port Douglas, which is bordered by the lush vegetation of the Daintree Rainforest. The melodies of kookaburras and kingfishers circling above will absolutely enchant you.

Read more: Why You Have to Book a Great Barrier Reef Yacht Charter Right Away

Whitsunday Islands

Hill Inlet at Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

A smorgasbord of mellow, paradisiacal beaches, lavish resorts, and tropical rainforests coupled with gin-clear waters, the Whitsundays makes for a thrilling yacht charter. The eponymous isle Whitsunday Island i s where you will find the world-famous Whitehaven Beach: 7km of white satin-like silica (98 percent) sand that furls with the turquoise shallows like a just-whipped ice cream sundae. To get the best views of its almost luminescent appearance, hike up to the lookout on Hill Inlet on the northern end of the beach.

For the gourmands and the golfers, cruise towards the resort at Hamilton Island . Choose from an array of splendid fine-dining options with beachfront views of the heavenly Coral Sea , or go to the 18-hole golf course, replete with steep valleys and jaw-dropping ridges.

Justifiably popular spots to whip out the snorkels and flipper fins to include Hook Island , and its stunning Nara Inlet or Butterfly Bay -where a swarm of Ulysses butterflies make their trajectory over the ocean each morning and night., Neck Bay or Cid Island, where blossoming coral mingles with manta rays and many more.

Read more: 5 Reasons to Visit the Whitsunday Islands on a Luxury Yacht Charter

Sydney shimmers with a cosmopolitan brilliance. With a staggering number of swanky bars and hip eateries, as well as being a trailblazer in arts and culture, the city entertains yacht-goers with great panache. We haven't even mentioned the internationally-renowned golden stretches of sand ( Bondi Beach , Palm Beach , Coogee Beach, and Manly Beach to name but a few) that are sprinkled along its coast.

Outstanding New Year's Eve shows is where Sydney truly excels. And what vantage point could be better than from the sundeck of your superyacht, clinking Champagne flutes as the sky transforms into a whirlwind of pyrotechnics at Sydney Harbour Bridge ? Recover the next day and cruise towards the serene Sugarloaf Bay , sequestered from the hustle and bustle of city life, and fall into a quiet slumber on the sun pads.

Related: How to Celebrate New Year's Eve aboard a Superyacht in Sydney

The Kimberley

The Kimberley retains a certain mystique that seduces the adventurous yacht charterer year after year, as a region where the Outback invitingly melds with the coast. As an undulating rhythm of lush jade greens, softly glowing auburns and ochres tumble into a whirl of pink sands and mint-colored seas, The Kimberley beguiles the senses. Feel everyday life slowly slip away like the dreamy sunsets that will come to define your charter here following a day spent bronzing on Cable Beach , the coral-hued, mangrove-fringed Roebuck Bay , or cleansing in the lagoons of Mitchell Falls .

Onshore, trace 50,000-year-old Aboriginal art carved into soaring rock faces on a private tour of the semi-arid savannah, before jumping on a tender to delve into Ningaloo Reef: an inexhaustible source of diving adventure and the world's largest fringing reef. Admire gliding sea turtles and float alongside pods of dolphins or tame whale sharks - the latter visit the area from March till July.

Read more: The Kimberleys Yacht Charter Itinerary

Silhouetted by the angular forms of illuminated skyscrapers, Melbourne is a glittering metropolis that's an ideal yacht charter destination for those seeking a trip with a hearty buzz. World-renowned annual events such as the Australian Grand Prix , The Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open all take place here, and it bursts at the seams with trendy eateries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and cool bars. If you are looking for cute critters, make a pitstop at the Phillip Island Nature Parks where you can hug a koala and watch penguins make their nightly waddle across the beach.

If the bright lights start to wane, Melbourne is conveniently located to offshoot locations like the hip coastal city of Mornington Peninsula , all sprawling vineyards and colorful beach-hut lined sands, as well as Tasmania, whose wild beauty far surmounts its diminutive size.

Related: Four of the Best Things to Do on a Melbourne Luxury Yacht Charter

Beautiful sunset over the bend of the river Clutha with Southern Alps peaks on the horizon, New Zealand

With the Great Barrier Reef alone spanning almost the length of Italy , and tremendously diverse scenery both at sea and land, it isn't hugely common for an Australian yacht charter to continue elsewhere. There is enough to keep people busy for possibly weeks or months!

However, to find out about possible yacht charter combinations further afield (such as New Zealand ), please contact your yacht charter broker.

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For Australia yacht charters, we strongly advise booking well in advance of your trip to ensure you get the perfect vessel for your chosen dates. We recommend doing so three to six months ahead to give your yacht charter broker the time to organize a personalized itinerary and provide you with an amazing Australia chartering experience.

If you leave left too late, the selection of yachts at your disposal will be reduced. Plus, finding dates when everyone in your charter party is available, can become more difficult the longer it's postponed.

Start Planning - Speak with a Charter Expert

Our yacht charter experts will:

Discuss your vacation plans
Check availability & shortlist suitable yachts
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Explore Australia

Guide to Sydney

Guide to Whitsundays

Guide to Great Barrier Reef

Guide to The Kimberley

Guide to Melbourne

Australia yacht charter itineraries.

Our curated yacht charter itineraries ensure you experience the very best of Australia's enchantingly diverse landscapes, wherever you decide to cruise.

Crafted by our superyacht experts, select a charter itinerary according to your destination. From the spellbinding subaquatic world of the Great Barrier Reef to the tranquil topaz shallows of the Whitsundays, to the final-frontier beauty of The Kimberley and the shimmering cityscapes of Sydney and Melbourne: your itinerary options here are practically limitless.

Explore the phenomenal beauty of the Whitsunday Islands

Discover Australia

Paradisiacal diving opportunities, mind-blowing snorkeling spots, mesmerizing coral reefs, deluxe superyacht marinas, fine sandy beaches, rainforest trails and a staggering array of wildlife.

When to Go:

June - September: Great Barrier Reef, The Kimberley, Whitsundays

December - February: Sydney, Melbourne

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Luxury Yachts for Charter in Australia 2024 & 2025

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Southern Cross

45m Niigata Shipyard

from $120,000 p/week

86m Oceanco

from $549,000 p/w eek ♦︎

85m SilverYachts

from $950,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Wanderlust 12

from $960,000 p/w eek

Sea Eagle 11

81m Royal Huisman

81m 2020/2022

from $597,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Wayfinder 12

68m Astilleros Armon

from $375,000 p/w eek

57m Royal Huisman

57m 2010/2021

from $250,000 p/w eek

Mischief 12

54m Baglietto

54m 2006/2017

from $265,000 p/w eek

Red Dragon 12

52m Alloy Yachts

52m 2008/2010

from $266,000 p/w eek ♦︎

48m Oceanfast

48m 2010/2023

from $177,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Southern Cross 12

45m Niigata Shipyard

45m 1996/2021

from $120,000 p/w eek

45m Sanlorenzo

from $196,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Calliope 10

43m Richmond Yachts

43m 2007/2022

from $150,000 p/w eek

De Lisle III 8

42m Gulf Craft

42m 2008/2018

from $108,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Impulsive I 10

40m Mondo Marine

from $92,000 p/w eek ♦︎

The Beast 12

39m Profab Central Engineering Ltd

from $205,000 p/w eek

38m Sanlorenzo

from $144,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Ghost II 12

37m Gulf Craft

from $72,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Nancy-Jean 12

37m Sunseeker

from $125,000 p/w eek

37m 2010/2022

from $89,500 p/w eek

37m Camper & Nicholsons

37m 1999/2017

from $92,000 p/w eek ♦︎ *

Evolution 8

37m Oceanfast

37m 2005/2023

37m Warren Yachts

from $99,238 p/w eek

Emerald Lady 8

35m Lloyds Ships

35m 1983/2008

from $46,000 p/w eek ♦︎

35m Sunseeker

from $137,000 p/w eek ♦︎

35m 2006/2011

from $73,000 p/w eek ♦︎

from $82,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Princess Iluka Yacht Charter in Australia

Princess Iluka 10

34m Ray Kemp

34m 1979/2023

Three Rivers 12

35m 2014/2020

34m Alloy Yachts

34m 2007/2023

from $115,000 p/w eek

Pleiades II 12

34m Kingship

34m 2007/2019

Relentless 9

34m 2006/2020

from $75,000 p/w eek

Corroboree 12

33m Lloyds Ships

33m 1988/2018

from $60,000 p/w eek

Mohasuwei 8

33m Cantieri di Pisa

33m 2009/2018

from $65,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Oneworld 12

32m Gulf Craft

Bluestone 1 10

31m Gulf Craft

from $71,000 p/w eek ♦︎

30m Azzura Yachts

30m 2016/2023

Little Perle 9

from $52,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Seven Star 8

VivieRae II 10

30m Nordhavn

from $90,000 p/w eek *

Triple 888 Eight Yacht Charter in Australia

Triple 888 Eight 8

29m Horizon

29m 2008/2016

from $65,000 p/w eek

28m Jade Yachts

28m 2010/2022

28m Warren Yachts

28m Lloyds Ships

28m 1981/2010

from $56,000 p/w eek

28m Sulis Marine

28m 2009/2021

from $78,000 p/w eek

28m 1988/2015

from $40,000 p/w eek

27m Horizon

from $59,000 p/w eek ♦︎

27m Leopard

from $29,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Pure Adrenalin Yacht Charter in Australia

Pure Adrenalin 12

27m Azzura Yachts

27m 2013/2022

from $50,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Rua Moana 8

27m Pachoud

from $110,000 p/w eek

27m Warren Yachts

from $39,000 p/w eek ♦︎

26m 2004/2021

from $90,000 p/w eek

Bali Hai II 8

25m Norman R. Wright & Sons

25m 1964/2009

24m Sunseeker

from $41,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Atlantic Princess Yacht Charter in Australia

Atlantic Princess 8

24m 1991/2019

from $27,000 p/w eek ♦︎

24m Sunreef Yachts

from $85,000 p/w eek

24m Lazzara

from $62,300 p/w eek

23m Overmarine

23m 2007/2023

from $43,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Cattitude 8

23m Alliaura Marine Group

23m 2012/2013

from $45,000 p/w eek

23m Sunreef Yachts

from $55,000 p/w eek

20m 2006/2016

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Australia Yacht Charter Q&A

Browsing the range of Australia charter yachts available is a breeze on our website. Select by your chosen dates, number of guests, yacht type, features, and preferred onboard toys and we'll show you what's on offer.

If you do make a subsequent enquiry, a yacht charter broker will then contact you to provide you with a custom charter proposal.

Alternatively, contact your yacht charter broker directly, and they will be able to research on your behalf your Australia yacht charter options.

For most Australian yacht charters, you secure the booking through a completed charter agreement, with 50% of the charter fee paid upfront as a deposit. This amount is usually payable once the contract has been signed.

The Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays (74 glittering isles located within this gigantic oceanic playground) are the preferred choices to begin or end an Australian yacht charter. Guests adore the world-renowned diving and snorkeling opportunities here (which are practically boundless), their uber-luxe resorts and stunning array of bays and anchorages.

Foreign-flagged superyachts should obtain a coastal trading temporary allowance to charter in Australia.

Be clear about where exactly you want to charter a yacht in Australia prior to booking, as the best times to visit can differ dramatically according to the region. For example, popular superyacht hotspots like the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday's and the Kimberley's are all best explored between June-September. Meanwhile, for Sydney and Melbourne the best times to visit are between December and February.

Australia is a sought-after yacht charter destination, which for guests means there is a yacht to suit practically every budget.

However, take into consideration the additional costs that aren't included in the base rate for your yacht charter in Australia. This includes the 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) that needs to be paid according to the charter's value, and the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance). The APA is usually set at 30% of the charter fee and paid in advance to cover expenses such as fuel, berthing, food and drinks, as well as any special requests.

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YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

Boat & Catamaran charter in Australia - Yacht Rental

Australia yacht rental.

Embark on an unforgettable journey across the breathtaking waters of Australia with Yachting.Rent. As your trusted partner in Australia yacht rental services, we’re dedicated to delivering experiences that blend luxury, comfort, and the thrill of discovery.

With Yachting.Rent, you gain access to a broad selection of top-tier yachts designed to cater to various sailing preferences. Whether you’re a novice sailor seeking a serene voyage or a seasoned mariner ready for your next challenging adventure, our diverse fleet has the perfect yacht for you. From family-friendly yachts for leisurely holidays to luxurious mega yachts for extravagant escapes, our offerings are designed to suit every occasion.

Our yacht rental service transcends just providing a vessel; it’s an invitation to explore Australia’s unmatched marine beauty. Imagine navigating through the vibrant Great Barrier Reef, cruising along the magnificent Whitsunday Islands, or anchoring in the secluded bays of Tasmania – every journey is a unique tale waiting to unfold.

Daniel Goldman

CEO of Yachting.Rent

Boat & Catamaran charter in Australia

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 – 4 + 1 cab.

Cumberland 46 – 4 cab.

Bali 4.3 – celeno

Bali 4.2 OW – Queen Lizzy

Bali 4.3 – Nautilus

Lagoon 40 – 4 cab.

Why Choose Us

Yacht charter in Australia

Discover the boundless beauty of Australian waters with Yachting.Rent, your premier partner for yacht charter services in Australia. With our exclusive offerings, experience unrivaled sailing adventures where luxury, comfort, and a unique sense of exploration combine seamlessly. At Yachting.Rent, we provide a diverse selection of yachts to suit every sailor’s needs, whether you’re a beginner looking for a new experience or an experienced mariner in search of the next grand voyage. Our fleet ranges from family-friendly yachts ideal for relaxed vacations to extravagant luxury yachts perfect for corporate events or lavish escapes.

As part of our service, we invite you to navigate through the stunning Great Barrier Reef, cruise along the breath-taking Whitsunday Islands, or explore the secluded anchorages of Tasmania. Every journey with Yachting.Rent is an extraordinary tale waiting to be told. To ensure you have the best possible experience, our professional and friendly staff will assist you from start to finish. Their expert advice will guide you in selecting the perfect yacht, planning your itinerary, and ensuring your journey is safe, enjoyable, and memorable.

At Yachting.Rent, we put a strong emphasis on quality and safety. All our yachts are meticulously maintained and equipped with the latest navigation and safety equipment to provide you with a worry-free and enjoyable sailing adventure. Understanding that every journey is unique, we offer tailor-made charters, giving you the opportunity to design the sailing trip of your dreams. Whether it’s a romantic sunset cruise, a thrilling deep-sea fishing adventure, or a quiet retreat into Australia’s hidden aquatic gems, we aim to make your experience with Yachting.Rent unforgettable.

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Featured Boats & Catamarans in Australia

Bali 4.1 – 4 cab.

Leopard 46 – 4 cab.

Nautitech 40 Open – 4 cab.

Lagoon 440 – 4 cab.

Oceanis 48 – 5 cab.

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About Australia

Why is Australia a good sailing destination?

With Yachting.Rent, uncover the reasons why Australia is considered a sailor’s paradise. The allure of Australia’s sailing landscape lies in its unmatched diversity, offering an incredible array of experiences for all types of seafarers. From the vibrant marine life of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, to the secluded tranquility of Tasmania’s coastal hideaways, Australia provides a stunning backdrop for unforgettable sailing adventures.

Its idyllic weather, with warm summers and mild winters, makes it an ideal destination for year-round sailing. The constant breezes along its vast coastline make for an exciting and challenging sailing experience, while the calm waters of its numerous bays and inlets offer peaceful cruising opportunities.

Australia is also renowned for its world-class marinas and sailing facilities, making it a convenient destination for sailors. Whether you’re a solo adventurer, a family on vacation, or a corporate group, Australia caters to all your needs with a wide range of services and amenities.

Moreover, the country’s strong emphasis on maritime safety, with well-established rescue services and clear sailing regulations, ensures peace of mind during your voyages.

Finally, the Australian sailing experience is not just about the water. Its beautiful coastal cities, charming harbor towns, and pristine beaches offer plenty of opportunities for land exploration. Experience the local cuisine, discover Aboriginal culture, or simply soak up the sun on a white sandy beach.

With Yachting.Rent, sail the Australian waters in style and comfort. Our meticulously maintained yachts, comprehensive assistance, and customizable charters promise to enhance your sailing journey, making it a memory to cherish forever. Discover the wonders of Australia with us and see for yourself why it’s a top sailing destination.

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What Choose

Sailing boat or Catamaran, what to sail in Australia

Embarking on an Australian sailing adventure with Yachting.Rent and unsure whether to choose a sailing boat or a catamaran? Both offer unique experiences, and the choice depends on your sailing ambitions, comfort needs, and personal preferences.

Sailing boats, embraced by traditional sailing enthusiasts, offer a dynamic, exhilarating sailing experience. They’re well-suited to navigate Australia’s expansive coastline, explore hidden coves, and undertake long, adventurous voyages. Sailing boats typically provide better upwind performance and are usually more fuel-efficient.

On the other hand, catamarans, renowned for their stability and spaciousness, provide a steady sailing experience with minimum rolling, making them an excellent choice for families, especially those with children or anyone prone to seasickness. Catamarans feature expansive deck spaces and larger living areas, perfect for relaxing, sunbathing, and socializing. They’re ideal for cruising through the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef, anchoring in shallow bays, and enjoying leisurely exploration around the Whitsunday Islands.

At Yachting.Rent, our fleet encompasses a diverse range of both sailing boats and catamarans, each diligently maintained and equipped with the latest amenities and safety equipment. Our knowledgeable team is ready to assist you in selecting the right vessel for your Australian sailing adventure, ensuring an unforgettable journey. Dive into the beauty of Australian waters with Yachting.Rent, and let’s make your sailing dreams come true.

Find inspiration for your next holiday

Sailing the Great Barrier Reef: Exploring the World's Largest Coral System by Boat

Sydney Harbour Sailing: Iconic Landmarks and Hidden Coves

The Whitsundays: Australia's Tropical Sailing Paradise

Christmas Down Under: Celebrating the Holidays Aboard a Yacht in Australian Waters

Check out sailing destinations by regions.

Sydney Harbour, Sydney
The Whitsundays, Queensland
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Moreton Bay, Queensland
Port Stephens, New South Wales
Hobart, Tasmania
Perth, Western Australia
Broome, Western Australia
Darwin, Northern Territory
Gold Coast, Queensland
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Pittwater, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Hamilton Island, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
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Green Point beach near Yamba littered with debris after abandoned boat runs aground

A remote beach near Yamba on the New South Wales north coast is littered with debris and diesel after a boat ran aground and was smashed to pieces in the surf overnight.

Witnesses said the boat was abandoned by its occupants as they were attempting to cross the Clarence River bar around lunchtime on Monday.

NSW Road and Maritime said the occupants were evacuated from the vessel by a NSW Marine Rescue crew.

Angourie resident Oli Coe said he later saw the vessel adrift about 2 kilometres offshore.

He watched the boat throughout the day and at one point saw another vessel alongside it.

He said someone boarded vessel and put out its anchor.

"As the wind got up through the rest of the afternoon, we watched the boat drifting and dragging on its anchor and eventually it just dragged way too far and ended up on the beach," Mr Coe said.

At one stage Mr Coe and two friends used jetskis to get out to the boat to see if they could do anything to help.

He said he could not understand why it was not salvaged before it ran aground near Green Point.

"There was definitely some damage to the boat but it was in perfectly good condition [before that]," Mr Coe said.

Clean-up concerns

Locals spent Tuesday morning on the beach, dragging piles of debris above the high tide mark in a bid to ensure it is not taken back out to sea with the next high tide on Tuesday evening.

Angourie resident Kim Wood said the usually pristine beach at Green Point looked like a "rubbish dump".

"I'm looking at kilometres of debris," she said.

"There is timber, there is oil cans, jerry cans full of diesel, so much plastic, and everything is soaked in diesel.

"You can still see all debris in the ocean."

Ms Wood said the area was home to a wide range of birdlife including oyster catchers and curlews.

Too dangerous to tow

NSW Maritime said the boat was deemed too dangerous for authorities to board or tow.

Senior boating safety officer Bret Ryan said authorities needed to put safety first.

"Marine Rescue revisited the boat several times on Monday, and eventually the Water Police came from Coffs Harbour," Mr Ryan said.

"They came to the same conclusion that it was too dangerous."

"At that point the vessel was secure and the hope was it would remain in that position but unfortunately that didn't happen."

Mr Ryan said the main hazard on the beach was from any sharp objects that might remain buried in the sand.

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Australian Sailing is the national body for the sport of sailing in Australia, from grassroots sailing through to high performance (Olympic) sailing. Find my AS Number ... On this webpage you will find governance related documents for Yachting South Australia. All information related to services previously provided by YSA can now be found on ...
Sailing South Australia
South Australia (SA) offers some of Australia's finest summer sailing and yachting cruising grounds, yet these places are virtually unknown outside of the State. What SA lacks in tropical waters and coral reefs, it makes up for with clean, biologically diverse temperate waters, great snorkeling, diving and fishing, historical gulf ports, and ...
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For those with a taste for speed and endurance, sailing south along the east coast of Australia can be 'spiced up' by entering the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.Paul Billingham, Commodore of the ...
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2024 South Australian Etchells Championships; 2024 Fred Neill Match Racing; Yalumba Great Southern Regatta; Georges Wines Premiers Cup Regatta; Committee & Regulations; ... 2023 Australian Sailing Keelboat Program; Results for CYCSA YSF Members; 2023 SA Sailing League 8,9,10 Dec; 2023 Training Squads; 2023 SAILING Champions League: Asia Pacific ...
Boat & Catamaran charter in Adelaide
Ground Floor 8-9 Marino Mart Fairview Clontarf, D03 X589 Dublin. (+1) 786 673 68 20. [email protected]. Discover the breathtaking coastal vistas of Adelaide, South Australia aboard our luxury yacht rentals. Experience the city's vibrant culture, wildlife and wine regions from a unique perspective. Your Adelaide journey begins here!
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Festival State is in the southern central part of Australia and covers some of the most arid parts of the continent with a total land area of 983,482 square kilometres (379,725 sq mi). South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland states and the Northern Territory. With over 1.6 million people, the state comprises less than 8% of the Australian population and ...
Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia
Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. 7,809 likes · 314 talking about this · 13,572 were here. The Cruising Yacht Club of SA is one of Australia's premier yacht clubs &...
Australian Sailing
Welcome to the official Yachting South Australia Youtube channel. Yachting South Australia aims to organise, encourage, promote, advance, and administer the sport of sailing throughout South ...
South Australian Independent Land Sailers
South Australia offers some ideal places to launch your yacht and enjoy the thrill of this sport. So if you like to travel and enjoy the thrill of speed or even the sometimes slow leisurely pace in light wind sailing this is the sport for you. ... Whilst the " Magic" is the standard yacht used by many, there are variances to the class you can ...
Yachting South Australia
The period under review shall be from the 1st July to the 30th June inclusive. The Award is presented for outstanding achievement in the sport of sailing by an individual or a team, who are members of a Sailing Club, affiliated with Yachting SA and are current AS members and during the time under review were resident in South Australia.
Temptation Sailing
Marina Pier, Holdfast Shores , Holdfast Promenade, Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia, 5045. 0412 811 838. [email protected]. www.temptationsailing.com.au. Visit Website Book Now. Temptation is a 58-foot sailing catamaran which operates only 15 minutes from Adelaide's CBD.
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To help you in your search for your perfect luxury charter yacht for your next vacation, we've selected some of the finest and most exclusive superyachts and megayachts that are currently available for charter in Australia. Asteria 49m Anastassiades & Tsortanides from $272,500 p/week. De Lisle III 42m Gulf Craft from $108,000 p/week.
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www.yachting.org.au is the official website of Australian Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in Australia. Here you can find information about sailing events, clubs, courses, news and resources for all levels of sailors. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, a racer or a cruiser, a coach or an official, www.yachting.org.au has something for you.
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The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) began its life as the South Australian Yacht Club (SAYC) on 5 November 1869. On 25 October 1890 Her Majesty Queen Victoria granted the title Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, which it has borne ever since. The Admiralty warrant authorising wearing of the Blue Ensign was dated 4 November ...
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Sabre Sailing Association of South Australia. 752 likes · 8 talking about this. The Sabre is a class of twelve-foot-long (3.7 m) single-handed yacht that suits all ages and sailing ability. As of the...
Australia Sailing Guide (With Itinerary)
Orpheus Island. The places you will stop are the nicest part about sailing on Australia's east coast. The following is a list of some of the best anchorages and mooring spots along the Queensland coast: Whitsunday Islands (Brampton, Outer Newry, Goldsmith) Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays. South Molle Island, Whitsundays.
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What to expect when sailing across the Pacific. When examining planning charts and contemplating sailing the Pacific Ocean, it looks huge. It is 8,000 nautical miles from Panama to Australia (you ...
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Yacht Lab, Adelaide, South Australia. 718 likes · 1 talking about this · 3 were here. Repairs, Resprays, Boat Building, Stainless Steel and Aluminium Fabrication, Yachting fittings and ropes....
YACHTING SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC
Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for YACHTING SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC of ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet.
Australia Yacht Charters
For convenience we have listed the average prices for motor yacht and sailing yacht charters in the Australia below; For motor yacht rentals in Australia, prices can range from $81,578 to $784,092 per week, plus expenses. For luxury sailing yacht rentals in Australia, prices can start from $43,000 weekly, plus expenses.
Sail Boat Boats for Sale in South Australia
2000 ROBERTS 29. $29,500*. Excl. Govt. Charges. Sailing Yacht. 30ft (9.14m) Mono Semi-Displacement Hull. Cruising, Family, Leisure. Finance available. We work with a finance company to offer you finance options to buy this boat.
Boat & Catamaran charter in Australia
Ground Floor 8-9 Marino Mart Fairview Clontarf, D03 X589 Dublin. (+1) 786 673 68 20. [email protected]. Discover the ultimate boat and catamaran charter experience in Australia with our premium yacht rental services. Sail along the stunning Australian coastline, explore secluded beaches, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the land Down ...
The Sailing Club
The Sailing Club is where community, culture, and culinary excellence come together, showcasing the best of local produce and hospitality in a unique, family-friendly atmosphere. Join in for a weekend of fun, music, and exceptional dining under the Clare Valley sky.
Green Point beach near Yamba littered with debris after abandoned boat
A remote beach near Yamba on the New South Wales north coast is littered with debris and diesel after a boat ran aground and was smashed to pieces in the surf overnight.