Albany, Australia

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Albany, Western Australia (Port of Entry)

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 35°1.534′S, 117°53.23′E
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 Local chartlet

Contents

Add here any background, cruising, and historical comments.

Local Weather

Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Charts

Australian Hydrographic Service
Aus110 - Australia South Coast - Western Australia - King George Sound

Radio Nets

See Western Australia

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Local Volunteer Sea Rescue "Albany Sea Rescue Squad" keeps a 24/7 listening watch on VHF channel 16 and 82. The base is manned every Saturday and Sunday from 0800 to 1700 hrs and at other times VHF is monitored from home-bases. The premises are at Emu Point. They have 2 high speed RIB Naids, and one 10 mt Steber craft with 2 Cat diesel engines.

Channel #82 (repeater) is used commonly for non-emergency traffic, including as 'call' channel. This group has an HF radio but is not monitored. Range of VHF reception is about from Cheyne's Beach in the East to Denmark in the West. Call sign is "VMR610". 'VMR' stands for: Volunteer Marine Rescue.

Approach and Navigation

Provide any navigation notes especially any dangers or peculiar local conditions here.

Coming from the West:

  • You can pass Eclipse Island either side.
    • Watch out for Vancouver Rocks at coordinates approx 35.08.50S 117.59.40E. At calm seas and high tide not really visible, in rough seas you won't see them either until you are on top of them.
  • You will see Breaksea Island ahead (lighthouse on top), keep that to your right, or in nautical parlance: keep that to starboard.
  • Just round the pointy bit ("Bald Head") and sail or steam towards Princess Royal Harbour or Oyster Harbour. Waters round Bald head are very deep. Just mind the swell and the wash back from the rocks ashore.

Coming from the South:

  • meaning from Antarctica? If you need this information you should have never gone South!

Coming from the East:

  • Generally between Breaksea Island (with lighthouse) and Michealmas Island. Deep waters all round.
  • Or between Michealmas Island and the shore. Again deep waters everywhere.
    • After passing Michealmas on the portside, just mind Gull Rock, which you might not see at night as it is a rock only and 1-2 metres high, deep water round this.

Approach Princess Royal Harbour:

  • East of Mistaken Island there 2 rocks (two Sisters) submerged at high tide, seas are often breaking here, keep well East of these.
  • North of Mistaken Island and the "Two Sisters" there is a large mussel-farm, indicated by small yellow markers and faint flashing lights at night. Easily missed, both day and night. Stay East or North of all this.
  • A deep channel is dredged (to 12-13 mt) and marked for the big ships towards Ataturk entrance, which leads into Princess Royal Harbour.
    • It is deep (ie 4 mt plus) outside the channel, right to close to shore (ie 30 mt), except for:
      • 2 rocks at coordinates approx 35.02.50S 117.55.30E
      • multiple rocks past the 3rd port marker, and these are now roughly marked with a Cardinal marker at approx 35.02.40S 117.54.80E

Approach Oyster Harbour via Emu Point channel, hmmm, there is no other entry:

  • There is a sectored laserlight on Western shore:
  • Cheyne's ledge is a reef, visible as the waves break over this in all but the calmest conditions, at coordinates approx 35.00.50S 117.57.10E, with a moored cardinal buoy is on the South side and lit at night.
    • One can sail/motor on the inside of this reef ie stay close to shore ie no further out than 60 metres.
  • Emu Point channel is marked, and it narrowest approx 50 mt wide.
    • At times there is a tidal current up to 2-3 Knots.
    • It is not advisable to sail only as often winds are fickle here and the hill to the East causes the wind to change often by 180 degrees! Motor-sail if you want, to impress the folks on the groyne on the West.
    • If there is a large swell running one tends to surge or even surf into the channel, although not without danger of broaching! In particular when tide is running out and swell/winds going the other direction. Therefore if the winds are Southerly and over 35 knots and/or waves 2 mts or more, unless you have local knowledge, consider alternatives and avoid this entrance.
  • Once in the narrowest part swell decreases and one can follow the narrow marked channel to the marina. Shortcuts are penalised with touching the seaweed over sand bottom.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Submit details about facilities for checking in - location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing Options

Describe here the berthing options of this port. Are there moorings or you have to anchor? Do most boats moor side-to, stern-to, or bow-to? Etc.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

There is no fuel facility at any of the marinas. One has to phone for a truck for delivery or carry jerrycans.... There are three marinas in Albany suitable for deep drafted vessels and a fourth one is now being repaired, but may only be open to vessels who are member of a private consortium. This latter marina is situated further into Oyster Harbour, near Elisabeth street. The other 3 marinas are:

  1. Albany town marina, managed by the Department of transport in WA
    • New in 2011, floating pontoons, quite pricey and close to centre of town (500 mts).
    • Toilet and shower on shore but no other facilities.
    • There is large wooden jetty, that allows bigger boats ie up to 200 ft to and ??? tons to be docked. This jetty is used for events like Endeavour, sail training ship Leeuwin, around the world clipper race etc.
    • There is also one jetty with floating pontoon for visiting boats, free of charge and a timelimit of 3 hours
    • There are 3 public launching ramps next to the marina.
      • phone contact: tba
      • website: TBA
  2. Emu Point marina is inside Oyster Harbour
    • Follow the channel to enter this marina!!! Only a kayak might be able to cross the sandbars/weed-shallows at high tide.
    • Max draft vessels of approx 2.3 mts, jetties are wooden and fixed.
    • There is slipway for up to 40 tons and a large hardstand and a good local shipwright
    • There is a large service jetty with car access for loading and unloading. Generally no daily/weekly hire of pens are available.
    • There is a beach area between the jetties that can be used to come ashore in your tender.
    • There are 3 public ramps for launching trailable boats.
    • The beach on the eastern side is accessable to cars and very popular with locals as well.
    • Public toilets are situated on the grassed areas behind the beach.
    • There is a chandlery that caters mainly for trailable powerboats.
    • There is a good fish and chips shop on the foreshore, otherwise town is approx 8 km away by road
    • The pens for the professional fishermen are managed by the Department of Transport, contact details see above
    • Recreational pens are managed by the City of Albany
      • phone:
      • website:
  3. Princess Royal Sailing Club is situated across the harbour from Albany
    • Facilities are fairly old, and deep drafted vessels ie over 2 mt might bump the sand now and then.
    • Most pens are quite narrow-ish. There are 3 pens for catamarans.
    • Short term hire of pens is possible and the cheapest in Albany. There are nearly always pens available.
    • There is a jinker that can accommodate boats up to 6 (tbc!) tons.
    • Bar and restaurant are open Friday evenings and bar is open post racing on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Wonderful harbour views from the clubhouse!
    • There are 2 public ramps for launching boats from trailers next to the Sailing Club.
    • Closest deli/small supermarket/bottleshop and fuel station is approx 1 Km away by road.
    • Albany city centre is 10 km by road
    • A bus stop is 500 metres away, but busses ride only 2 to 3 times a day
      • phone:
      • website:

Anchorages

No real safe winter anchorages on the coast near Albany or in King George Sound; Oyster Harbour and Princess Royal Harbour are far better options in adverse weather conditions. But then again, if one has good groundtackle..... one can anchor anywhere.

  • Frenchmens Bay offers good anchorages when it is blowing from the South or West
    • In front of the old whale station coordinates approx 35.03.30S 117.55.70E; there is a coffee shop at the Whale Museum, easy asses to the beach behind the groyne, hmmmm, jetty and groyne was supposed to cater for big boats, but it all silted up.
    • Further West in Frenchmens Bay itself coordinates approx 35.03.30S 117.55.50E, where there is a spring that always provides fresh water, flowing from the rocks in the bush onto the beach. Captain Vancouver used that in year 1791 (as per Wikipedia). Water is 2 to 8 metres. Bottom is seaweed over sand. Stay approx 100-200 metres from the beach as it becomes very shallow. Good access to the beach. 13 km to nearest shop, 25 Km to Albany via road, no public transport.
    • Further west still, in front of Goode Beach and its same name settlement (no shops though), anchor in 3 to 15 metres of water crystal blue water with weed patches, anchoring is possible right up to Mistaken Island, then also being in the lee of any Northerly winds, but more exposed to S to E winds.
  • Ellen Cove, that is in front of Middleton Beach: coordinates approx 35.01.50S 117.55.10E, no protection from the summer Easterlies, very rolly in a swell (and there is nearly always a swell) sandy bottom with some seaweed, reasonable access to the beach, coffeshops, cafes and restaurants on the beach front, 3.5 km to Albany via road, regular bus service to town.
  • Johnson's Cove, inside Oyster Harbour, coordinates approx 35.50.60S 117.57.40E, in 3 metres of water, bottom seaweed over sand, anchoring is prohibited but there are 3 public moorings for boats up to 15 metres, very well protected from the Easterlies that blow from November to March. Approach in the dark is not recommended, approach is via an unmarked wide channel. A long (and often wet) 1 Nm dinghy ride to the Emu Point Marina. 8 Km to Albany city centre via road, limited bus service to town.
  • Oyster Harbour: coordinates approx 34.59.10S 117.56.70E, which is to the N and NW of the Emu Point Marina, in waters 3-5 metres, bottom is seaweed over sand/mud. Good protection in winter fro m Westerlies, 0.5 Nm to Emu Point Marina. There are now (2015) 3 moorings here, owned by Emu Point Slipway services. A fourth mooring is privately owned.
  • Inside Princess Royal Harbour. Coordinates approx 35.01.90S 117.53.10E, directly West of the town marina, in the lee of the groynes, good protection in summer from East and North in waters 2-4 metres, sea weed over sand. Not good in winter storms. Close to town, 100 metres in dinghy, 300 metres walk into town.
    • In fact one can anchor nearly anywhere in Princess Royal Harbour, depth is usually 2 to 5 metres, but check charts as there are large areas of shallow water to the West and South. The area close to the docks of the merchant vessels is dredged to 13 metres and obviously off limits for anchoring.

Offshore Islands and Groups

  • Eclipse Island: Lighthouse is no longer in use (de-commissioned approx in 2000)
  • Breaksea Island: this has a light house on it, deep water all way around, 20-40 metres
  • Michaelmas Island: deep water all way round 10-30 metres, although there is small patch on the North side (between it and the main land, where large ships anchor at times, in water 15-20 metres deep
  • Mistaken Island, hmmmm, only with very good local knowledge you can sail around it:
    • On the North side a 80-100 mt wide space between it and the oyster farm, depth 4-10 metres
    • On the East two rocks ("Two Sisters"), where seas are nearly always breaking, although on a very calm day you might be able to go between these 2 rocks and the island, in a small dinghy or kayak, otherwise give these a wide berth, depth 5-12 metres
    • On the South side, again one line of an oyster farm/floats, about 200 metres off the island. Water is 4-14 metres deep here.
    • On the West side a very narrow, shallow channel with a sandy bottom, littered with rocks, some submerged, good only for a dinghy or a yacht with good local knowledge and a fearless attitude.
  • Seal Island, in King George Sound with clear deep water all round, 15-30 metres of water.
  • Green Island is in Oyster Harbour with shallow water around it, sea weed over rocky ground, in 0.5 to 2 metres of water. One would not like to get on this island, or downwind from it, due to the awful bird-poo smell. Thousands of seagulls, pelicans and other birds breed here.
    • BTW, there are two small islands also with the name "Green Islands", just NW of Eclipse Island.

Then there are some "rocks" in King George Sound: Gull Rock, Rock Dunder and Flat Rock. Deep waters all around these.

None of the above islands and rocks can be accessed easily, no beaches; large swell with rocky coast makes it quite dangerous. In fact most islands are nature reserves anyway. Rock Dunder, in particular, can throw enormous plumes of foamy white water into the air, when there is a swell coming in from the South.

Yacht Repairs and Services

List services. If no services are available on the island write "None" and remove all the subsections (Marine Stores, & Repairs/Yards, & Fuel, Water, & Electricity.

Marine Stores

  • Rusty Marine, Chesterpass rd,7 km out of town, caters mainly for small powerboats, Honda dealer,
  • GB Marine, Chesterpass rd, 7 km out of town, caters mainly for small powerboats, Suzuki dealer
  • Watercraft Marine, at the Emu Point marina, caters mainly for small powerboats, Yamaha dealer
  • O'Keefe, Serpentine rd, paintshop that also sells some boat fittings, right in town

Camping and fishing, and some small boat stuff:

  • Trailblazer, Albany Hwy,1 km from centre of town; enormous range of gear, including clothing
  • CBF, Albany Hwy, 5km out of town

Hardware:

  • Makit hardware: Chesterpass road, 7 km out of town
  • Southern Tools and Fasteners, Chesterpass road, 6 km out of town, large range of fasteners,
  • Bunnings, Albany highway, 5 km out of town
  • Home hardware, Stirling tce, at the bottom of town, close to town marina

Hydraulics:

  • Albany Hydraulics, Chesterpass road, 6 km out of town

Canvas repair:

  • Crumps canvas, Kelly rd, 5 km out of town (behind Bunnings)

12 Volt Electrical:

Diesel engine:

Aluminium / SS fabrication

  • Albany Aluminium fabrication, Graham st, centre of Albany
  • Westerberg, on the foreshore near the town marina, also a boat builder

Other:

  • V-belt and rubber, Albany Hwy, close to town, large range of hoses, fittings, belts, pullies, filters
  • Albany plastics, Albany Hwy, close to town, plastic boxes, foam, mats

Repairs/Yards

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
fuel notes
Water
water notes
Electricity
electricity notes

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

There is no free WiFi on the waterfront. Emu Point Cafe has WiFi for its customers, but it barely reaches the marina, and this cafe closes at 1700 hrs. Of course many coffee shops in town offer WiFi, but mostly nowadays (2014) give you a key or password to access that. And it may be valid only for an hour or so. The local Library on York Street (centre of town) offer computers and internet free.

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

  • Taxis:
    • Albany City Cabs: ph 131 008
    • Amity taxis: ph 9842 2855
    • Eclipse taxis: ph 132 227, also does tours
    • Taxis and charters: ph 9844 4444
  • Hire cars:
    • Avis
    • Budget
    • Albany car hire

more info to come

  • Although there is a railway link to Perth, it is not used for passengers anymore

Routes/Passages To/From

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

List links external to the wiki such as in Wikepedia.

References & Publications

Books, Guides, etc. Use the Reference template or not at your discretion. For example:

{{Reference|Rod Heikel|Greek Waters Pilot|Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire|9780852889718}}, expands to
Rod Heikell, Greek Waters Pilot Imray, Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889718
  • Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number
  • Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:


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SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Haiqu User: HankOnthewater


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