Marlborough Sounds

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(Sailing from Nelson for French Pass and beyond to the Punt Rails)
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====Dodging Most Of Cook Strait====
====Dodging Most Of Cook Strait====
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There is no worries getting east from [[Nelson]] through to the Pacific and the East Coast of the South Island. You do not really have to go out into Cook Strait at all. There is a fine sail along the protected north coast of the South Island with suitable anchorages all the way. No night sailing necessary. In fact I restrict my movements on this coast to daylight hours. The Marlborough Sounds are a huge and wonderful cruising ground. Although we live in Dunedin 500nm away, we have been a member of Wellington based Mana Cruising Club for 35 years, and I am the Dunedin MCC Port Captain. The reason for me being a member of a Wellington club is that MCC has about forty big private moorings in the best bays in both Queen Charlotte Sound and Pelorus Sound to which members only can secure. Once you are a member there is no charge. If you are not a member you are not at liberty to use these moorings at all.
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There is no worries getting east from [[Nelson]] through to the Pacific and the East Coast of the South Island. You do not really have to go out into Cook Strait at all. There is a fine sail along the protected north coast of the South Island with suitable anchorages all the way. No night sailing necessary. In fact I restrict my movements on this coast to daylight hours. The Marlborough Sounds are a huge and wonderful cruising ground. Although we live in Dunedin 500nm away, we have been a member of Wellington based Mana Cruising Club for 35 years, and I am the Dunedin MCC Port Captain. The reason for me being a member of a Wellington club is that MCC has about eighty big private moorings in the best bays in both Queen Charlotte Sound and Pelorus Sound to which members only can secure. Once you are a member there is no charge. If you are not a member you are not at liberty to use these moorings at all.
====Anchoring and Moorings====
====Anchoring and Moorings====
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Don't even think about making French Pass except within an hour either side of slack water. Do not go north of D'Urville Island which will take you out into Cook Strait.
Don't even think about making French Pass except within an hour either side of slack water. Do not go north of D'Urville Island which will take you out into Cook Strait.
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Sailing from Nelson For French Pass and beyond:
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The distance from Nelson to French Pass is 33nm.
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The tidal flow varies but starts at about 0.5kts and increases as you approach the Pass. At springs the maximum flow at the Pass can run at a dangerous 7kts.
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Tide at the Pass does not turn at high or low water - it turns in between.
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The tide turns at French Pass 2 hours before it turns at Nelson.
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Passage Example, (times rounded)
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Assuming the tide turns to run NE at 0950 and SW at 1600. Assuming an average boat speed of 4.5kts SOG and the distance is 32nm. The passage time is 7.0hrs.
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Low water at Nelson would be 1150.
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If you sail at 0900, ETA at the Pass is 1600, slack water. For the first 0.5hrs there would be an easing east running contrary tide. Then a westerly running tide carrying you towards the Pass arriving at slack water 1600.
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If you wish to stop for the night before going through the Pass anchor in Waikawa Bay in a southerly and Wainui Bay in northerly.
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Once through the Pass anchor in nearby Kapowi Bay or carry on to Cherry Tree Bay in Catherine Cove, approx Co 036° 4nm. Another southerly anchorage is Kokowai (Turners Bay) approx. 110° 3.7nm, close to the wharf.
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Proceeding east there are several anchorages along the route described in the NZ Cruising Guide, Central Area, a copy of which you should have aboard when cruising the Marlborough Sounds.
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If passage making my favourite overnight stop is under Alligator Head, known as the "Punt Rails", is well sheltered but exposed to the SW. It is good if on the mooring but the bay is deep (25m) and not particularly good holding. Hikoekoea Bay, 210° 1nm from there gives shelter from N through to W is shallower (7m) and better holding if anchoring.
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Remember you are not at liberty to use the private club moorings which are marked WPM unless you are a member of either Waikawa Yacht Club, Pelorus Yacht Club or Mana Cruising Club. To show you are a member you wear your club burgee and this years coloured coded pennent to show you have paid your subscription. If you do not have these you have no rights and will be asked to vacate the mooring.
Once through the Pass there is a good shelter in tiny Kapawai Bay on the south end of Durville Island, 1.4nm to the NNE of the Pass. Anchor close to the cliff immediately south of the wharf i.e. between the little entrance light and the wharf. You may be blocking the approach course of the pilot of the French Pass Village to Kapawai ferry launch but he will forgive you eventually, as he does.
Once through the Pass there is a good shelter in tiny Kapawai Bay on the south end of Durville Island, 1.4nm to the NNE of the Pass. Anchor close to the cliff immediately south of the wharf i.e. between the little entrance light and the wharf. You may be blocking the approach course of the pilot of the French Pass Village to Kapawai ferry launch but he will forgive you eventually, as he does.

Revision as of 02:50, 27 August 2013

Marlborough Sounds Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around the Marlborough Sounds -- including Pelorus Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound and the attached bays and inlets.

Overview

Considered by many to be one of the premier cruising grounds in New Zealand, the Marlborough Sounds are at the northern end of the South Island. It contains many deep and protected bays, fjords and sounds, including the Queen Charlotte Sound, the Peolorus Sound, the Kenepuru Sound, Crail Bay, Beatrix Bay and others.

Cruising the region

Much of the information here has been provided by Bill McIndoe, a resident of Dunedin and a regular cruiser in the Nelson and Marlborough Sounds region.

Dodging Most Of Cook Strait

There is no worries getting east from Nelson through to the Pacific and the East Coast of the South Island. You do not really have to go out into Cook Strait at all. There is a fine sail along the protected north coast of the South Island with suitable anchorages all the way. No night sailing necessary. In fact I restrict my movements on this coast to daylight hours. The Marlborough Sounds are a huge and wonderful cruising ground. Although we live in Dunedin 500nm away, we have been a member of Wellington based Mana Cruising Club for 35 years, and I am the Dunedin MCC Port Captain. The reason for me being a member of a Wellington club is that MCC has about eighty big private moorings in the best bays in both Queen Charlotte Sound and Pelorus Sound to which members only can secure. Once you are a member there is no charge. If you are not a member you are not at liberty to use these moorings at all.

Anchoring and Moorings

The best bays are deep but not particularly good holding which means that a lot of chain has to be put out (and got back in) to be safe but still watch the swinging room. Picking up a mooring is so easy and casting off is even easier. Rafting up with other members happens occasionally. The limitations are total of 30 tonnes or 5 boats to a mooring. And they are good people, usually with good fenders.

Join the Mana Cruising Club for the Moorings

I am sure that if I emailed the MCC in Wellington we could arrange a temporary membership or some such. I will make enquiries and I would of course propose you for membership if you so wish. It may not be cheap but well worth it. Two other local clubs share with MCC the ownership and expenses of laying and maintaining the moorings. Their members likewise have use of the moorings. As an alternative you could approach them for membership or temporary membership.

Bay by Bay

This section is ordered roughly in the order that a cruiser travelling from Nelson eastwards through the strait and onwards to South Island ports such as Christchurch (Lyttleton) or Dunedin would take. To continue onwards and southwards after reading this, head for the South Island, East Coast page.

French Pass (south of D'Urville Island)

Don't even think about making French Pass except within an hour either side of slack water. Do not go north of D'Urville Island which will take you out into Cook Strait. Sailing from Nelson For French Pass and beyond: The distance from Nelson to French Pass is 33nm. The tidal flow varies but starts at about 0.5kts and increases as you approach the Pass. At springs the maximum flow at the Pass can run at a dangerous 7kts. Tide at the Pass does not turn at high or low water - it turns in between. The tide turns at French Pass 2 hours before it turns at Nelson. Passage Example, (times rounded) Assuming the tide turns to run NE at 0950 and SW at 1600. Assuming an average boat speed of 4.5kts SOG and the distance is 32nm. The passage time is 7.0hrs. Low water at Nelson would be 1150. If you sail at 0900, ETA at the Pass is 1600, slack water. For the first 0.5hrs there would be an easing east running contrary tide. Then a westerly running tide carrying you towards the Pass arriving at slack water 1600. If you wish to stop for the night before going through the Pass anchor in Waikawa Bay in a southerly and Wainui Bay in northerly. Once through the Pass anchor in nearby Kapowi Bay or carry on to Cherry Tree Bay in Catherine Cove, approx Co 036° 4nm. Another southerly anchorage is Kokowai (Turners Bay) approx. 110° 3.7nm, close to the wharf. Proceeding east there are several anchorages along the route described in the NZ Cruising Guide, Central Area, a copy of which you should have aboard when cruising the Marlborough Sounds. If passage making my favourite overnight stop is under Alligator Head, known as the "Punt Rails", is well sheltered but exposed to the SW. It is good if on the mooring but the bay is deep (25m) and not particularly good holding. Hikoekoea Bay, 210° 1nm from there gives shelter from N through to W is shallower (7m) and better holding if anchoring.

Remember you are not at liberty to use the private club moorings which are marked WPM unless you are a member of either Waikawa Yacht Club, Pelorus Yacht Club or Mana Cruising Club. To show you are a member you wear your club burgee and this years coloured coded pennent to show you have paid your subscription. If you do not have these you have no rights and will be asked to vacate the mooring.

Once through the Pass there is a good shelter in tiny Kapawai Bay on the south end of Durville Island, 1.4nm to the NNE of the Pass. Anchor close to the cliff immediately south of the wharf i.e. between the little entrance light and the wharf. You may be blocking the approach course of the pilot of the French Pass Village to Kapawai ferry launch but he will forgive you eventually, as he does.

You can cruise Pelorus Sound, which has lots of anchorages and club moorings, right up to Havelock where there is fuel, supply sources, some repairs and the Slip Inn restaurant facing the launching ramp in the marina. Good seafood.

Across the Tops

Across the Tops, between the two sounds, is fine scenery where you thread your way between various islands and headlands. It is our favourite 30nm of water because of the dramatic seascape and it is sheltered from the Tasman or Pacific rollers. The Sounds are sparsely settled except for small clusters of cribs (South Island lingo for shack) or bachs (North Island lingo for shack). Most have their own boats and private jetties.There are few or no roads and transportation is largely by boat. Water taxis run from Picton in QSS and Havelock in PS and there are boats that take fishing parties to the Outer Sounds where the best fishing is.

If you intend fishing DO obtain a copy of the Marlborough Sounds fishing regulations before dropping a line over the side.

Pass the Three Capes

Once you are passed the entrance to Pelorus Sound you double the three capes i.e. Alligator Head, Cape Lambert and Cape Jackson. This stretch can be a stunning sail. Cape Jackson reminds me of the outline of Gibraltar, but with the high end to seaward. At Cape Jackson take the narrow passage between the big concrete beacon and the Cape. The tides are again interesting especially the standing breaking wave which does not indicate a rock, only an underwater cliff. There is plenty of water through this passage and rocks shown on the chart are well below your draft. The recommended route is to divide the Pass into three and go one third from the headland i.e. not through the middle, on a course of SE(T). Good fishing here on the western side. See where the tourists fishing launches drift around. Don't be tempted to go north of Walkers Rock and the reef. When the tide is flooding into QSS the water is running out (west) in this pass and vica versa the opposite of what you would expect.

Queen Charlotte Sound

If you intend heading for Picton turn to starboard, south into Queen Charlotte Sound. There are many lovely bays, good moorings and anchorages in this Sound. The bays on the western side of the sound have the better shelter. There is more habitation and a few more roads than in Pelorus. Take your time, there is lots to explore. There are three charming resorts with free moorings for the night and good food. If tired of the cooking from your onboard Genius in the Galley (or visa versa) all you need is VHF contact to book in for dinner. Crew changes or shopping can be expedited by water taxi to anywhere in the Sounds. All you need is the fare and your VHF or cellphone contact.

This part of the Sounds was Captain James Cook's favourite anchorage at which he spent much time on all his three voyages to NZ. He restored his crews health with the plentiful supply of antiscurbotics, fish and fowl, as well as doing the business of charting the Sounds. Look into Ship Cove to see the commemorative truncated pyramid monument. At least it is vandal proof. There is fresh water available at the wharf but it is too shallow, lumpy and busy for anything but a brief visit. Anchor off the wharf for a short stay or pick up one of the two MCC moorings tucked into the north and the south corners of the bay. Go ashore and see. Outward Bound attendees sail and row their 32ft naval cutter all the way from Anakewa, in the southern end of QSS, and back just for fun.

Cooks Lookout

Cook climbed Long Island to get a high unobstructed view of the sound and claimed this part of NZ for the British Crown. Half way along the western side of the island there is a small landing wharf so you can do likewise and visit the lookout and commemorative plaque etc built there by the MCC. Anchor off and dinghy in. There is another MCC mooring at the south end of Long Island.

There be Dragons off The Brothers

If planning not to go up to Picton Marina or Waikawa Marina, but to force on south down the east coast of the South Island towards Banks Peninsula, double Cape Koamaru, the northern corner of Arapawa Island and pass between Arapawa Island and the Brothers. Strong tides, whirlpools and dragons live hereabouts. On one occasion I did 11.5kts over the ground with only 18kts of breeze. Any bits of wind that have nothing much to do that day will gather at the Brothers. It could be the second windiest place in NZ so be aware. Listen for "The Brothers" on the marine forecast and you will get some idea. Take the tide and if you cannot you shouldn't be there but if you do have the tide and weather go for it and sail down Arapawa Island's east coast 1.5nm off. You are now in the Pacific Ocean. Cook Strait meteorological area continues 25nm south to Cape Campbell, but is not in the Strait's main wind flow. Watch for Awash Rock 2.5nm south of The Brothers. When clear of the rock turn slightly to port to set course for Cape Campbell.

Alternative Route to the Pacific

If you do not have the tide and the weather go south into Queen Charlotte Sound and enter Tory Channel on its the eastern side. Anchor (or if a member, pick up the MCC mooring) in Hitaua Bay, second bay on the south side of the channel. When slept, feed and watered proceed down Tory Channel to the Pacific and set course for Cape Cambell.

Tasman to the Pacific

Well that is a fun way of getting across the North Coast of the South Island from Nelson to the Pacific without really getting your feet wet or going out into Cook Strait. It is a broad outline only. Much more detail will be gleaned from the NZ Pilot, the cruising guides, the charts and your chart plotter. I have been sitting here at my iPad dragging all this stuff out of my head and there is lots more in there about this passage.

The Bad Ferries

Be constantly watchful of the Picton to Wellington ferries. They are 5,000 tonnes, steam silently at 15kts and are dangerous. Their route is from Picton is out through Tory Channel, across Cook Strait to Wellington. The Channel is narrow and ferries cannot alter course to avoid a small vessel. They have absolute right of way. When in Picton/Tory Channel area a plan is to check out their sailing times on the web, by phone or at the terminal in Picton; remembering they sail both ways. They announce their intended passage through the eastern entrance of Tory Channel on VHF Ch 16 ten minutes before they arrive.

Charts

The Central New Zealand Cruising Guide is available from all NZ yacht chandlers. An MCC member wrote the text, another did the maps and the MCC published the the guide. It covers Cook Strait and the Marlborough Sounds in great detail with hand drawn mud maps, descriptions of every bay and the tidal streams of Cook Strait, French Pass (Aumiti) and Tory Channel. There is also a photo cruising guide for the west side of Tasman Bay including Abel Tasman National Park. The table-topped reefs in that area are best seen at low water to scare the pants of you. Tides in Tasman Bay have a spring range of 4.5m which is twice the usual range around the coast. Tides east of French Pass in the Sounds have a spring range of 2.5m. Strange?

Area charts and cruising guides are available from Burnsco yacht chandlers in Nelson, and Waikawa Marina, near Picton in Queen Charlotte Sound. Most yacht chandlers around the country will carry these books and maybe the Marlborough Sound charts.

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Chart NZ 614 Tasman Bay
Chart NZ 6151 Approaches to Te Aumiti (French Pass) and Plans in the Marlborough Sound.
Chart NZ 615 Marlborough Sounds (both sounds)
Chart NZ 6152 Pelorus Sound and Havelock
Chart NZ 6153 Queen Charlotte Sound
Chart NZ 62 Wellington to Kaikoura
Chart NZ 6212 Two Plans NE Coast (Port Underwood and Kaikoura)

Weather Information

Three things to remember about the Sounds: They are bigger than you think, can be windy and are quite deep. Use the recommended moorings or anchorages. In strong conditions the wind may swirl in some anchorages. Winds tend to blow out of the bays and sometimes you may actually see yachts carrying spinnakers meeting head on.

You are only a few miles from Cook Strait but none-the-less sheltered but always have a keen weather eye and an ear cocked. Sometimes you can hear Cook Strait talking to you. Listen to the voices (and the VHF forecast).

Sources for weather information:

Regional Radio Nets

VHF and Cellphone Coverage

The transmission from the VHF towers, strategically placed to sneak into most bays, gives good coverage. Communication is excellent and reliable but study the radio channel system for the various areas. Because of the high hills and narrow waterways cellphone coverage is probably 50%. By moving the boat, going out in the dinghy for a clearer line or climbing a hill as did Cook, it can be improved.

References

Books, Guides, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

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

  • If I don't see you in the Sounds, while in Nelson you could ring ring my friend Ashley Wagg who will instruct you on the best tide to depart to make French Pass/Aumiti and lots of other matters. He is a retired Master Mariner and local long time yachtie. He is knowledgable, hospitable, abrupt, funny and a good friend - my kind of guy. He will tell you about Croisilles Harbour, where he has a crib and mooring, which is along the coast towards French Pass. He will give you the info of how to carry the tide all the way across Tasman Bay to make French Pass at slack water. At springs the current at FP can reach 7kts where the daddy dragons live, so you have to get it right.

Forum Discussions

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

External Links

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?


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