East London

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Revision as of 17:33, 3 May 2016

East London

A cruising guide for yachts sailing to East London

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	33°01.65′S, 27°55.2′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

East London (Afrikaans: Oos-Londen, Xhosa: eMonti) is a city on the southeast coast of South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province at 32.97°S and 27.87°E. The city is situated on the Indian Ocean coast, between the Buffalo River, and the Nahoon River, and is the country's only river port.

East London is situated in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, midway between Cape Town and Durban. Known as "Buffalo City", which includes the vibrant industrial and commercial center of King William's Town as well as other rural areas, this vicinity forms part of the Eastern Cape.

Physically one of South Africa's largest provinces, the Eastern Cape is situated on the south-eastern seaboard of the republic, covering 170 000 square kilometers and representing about 14% of the country's land mass. Refreshingly different and genuine in its hospitality, East London is the gateway to the region's tourist corridors and is equidistant to two magnificent coastlines, complemented by a superb hinterland:

• To the west lies the Sunshine Coast, which runs for over 200 enchanting kilometers all the way to Port Elizabeth. The coastline stretching either side of East London shelters a succession of charming holiday resorts, with fine beaches, placid lagoons, rocky promontories and patches of green nature reserves and forests.
• To the east, the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape is set to become an environmental and cultural tourism mecca. This is the land of the gentile, friendly Xhosa people whose culture and traditions have remained largely untouched by modern society

Weather

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

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Charts

S.A.N

1027 - East London and approaches

Communication

• SA Maritime Net: The South African Maritime Net operates 7 days a week, and provides weather reports from around the coast, and maintains contact with boats off the coast of South Africa and up into the Mozambique channel. There are two regular schedule times as follows:
  • 06:30 UTC: Starts on 14316 kHz for 5-10 minutes, and then moves to 7,120 kHz.
  • 11:30 UTC: Starts on 14316 kHz for approx. 30 mins and then moves down to 7,120 kHz.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

This section does not apply for most ports, if that is the case for this one remove it. You may, however, list ismall islands this port.

Navigation

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

Entrance

If this is not a port of entry omit this section, otherwise submit details about facilities for checking in - location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

East London

• Buffalo River Yacht Club - Visitors welcome.
  

Directions to moorings: Enter East London Harbour, and head straight down the river. Visitors will see the Yachts on the TrotMoorings about a mile up river from the mouth. All space is booked, but occasionally one can find a free slot. It is best to inquire with the BRYC.

Yachts can drop anchor on the seaward side of the moorings free of charge, possibly tie the stern to the last Trot mooring, or moor against the yachts against Latimers Landing (POA). Latimers is considered unsafe and "condemned", and police or port captain will make boats move away.

Picking up a mooring
This is simple, just motor up to the mooring slowly, then using a boat hook, lift the tie-between that attaches the mooring lines, hook the windward ends of the mooring lines to your bollard, untie the tie between and attach the loose mooring lines to your stern mooring cleats. On vacating the moorings, please remember to retie the tie-between to the mooring lines before casting off.

Visiting the Club
If you have a dingy or tender aboard simply row across to the club, "BRYC" on the west bank. (If you don't, simply phone the club mobile no. +27 (0)83 6120402 at a reasonable hour and someone will pick you up) The Club is normally open, and has Men's and Ladies Toilets and showers for you to refresh yourselves and clean up. The Bar is open most days, except Mon and Tue, from 4pm until 9pm, drinks are very reasonably priced. Wednesday a meal is offered.

Weekly Calendar
Wednesday Evenings: Meal evening - R60.00 per head, main meal and desert. Friday Evenings: Sponsored Snack evening, no charge. Or if no sponsor, bring and braai. Saturday -, Sunday - Ad hoc Bring and Braai (BBQ)

Anchorages

Yachts can drop anchor on the seaward side of the moorings free of charge, or moor against the other yachts against Latimers Landing (POA).

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

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Give details on fuel

Water

Give details on water

Electricity

Give details on electricity

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

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)

Links

• East London

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

You may want to remove the above entries and use instead a link to the Country or Region that lists the relevant references. If so enter, after removing {{MagentaText|xx}}, the following:

See [[Country or Region#References_&_Publications|Coutry or Region]].

If you do not use the above link, please remove it.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Personal experiences?

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to East London and this page's details validated:

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse