Sydney Harbour

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Sydney Harbour (formally called Port Jackson) is a the main harbour of Sydney, Australia's largest city and the capital of New South Wales.

Contents 1 Communication 2 Navigation 2.1 Obstructions and Restrictions 3 Entrance 4 Berthing

Communication

Sydney harbour is a busy place on the VHF channels, and the preponderence of tall masts (headland radio beacons), tall buildings, and tall cliffsides makes HF reception tricky at best, and HF transmission all but useless.

Marine Rescue NSW (formerly the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard which have since been amalgamated) can be reached easily on VHF channel 16 from anywhere in the harbour, and can provide assistance for yachties in trouble, and also broadcast regular weather reports and tide updates during the day and night. SeaTow provide a useful service for members at a competitive price, when all you need is a battery replaced or started, or possibly a short term fuel top-up.

Other than that, expect to hear a lot of vessel to vessel calling on VHF 16 as well as what amounts to probably far too much chatter for a calling/emergency channel.

See also New South Wales.

Navigation

The mouth of Sydney Harbour is wide, deep, and well sheltered. The main channel (which splits into two as it turns south into the harbour proper, one either side of Sow and Pigs reef), is dredged to 13 metres deep. You will have no trouble approaching Sydney Harbour from any angle in any weather conditions.

The lighthouse at South Head is visible for some miles offshore. North Head itself is very hard to miss, and is well lit and signed. There are no significant reefs or shoals either at the harbour mouth or inside, except for Gowilland Bombora (off Middle Head) and Sow and Pigs reef (just inside the main harbour), both of which are well marked. Even close to the headlands the waters are quite deep -- get well inside the harbour before attempting to drop anchor (and in any case most of the harbour mouth is a no-anchor zone)!

If you are passing Sydney and simply wish to anchor for the night, in northerly conditions secure anchorage can be found in Spring Cove off either Store Beach or Collins Beach, taking care to anchor outside the restricted areas marked by bouys and shore signs. In southerly conditions swell invades this area and it may be necessary to go in as far as Rose Bay to find comfortable anchorage in a reasonable depth of water.

Obstructions and Restrictions

• Some overhead obstructions include the Spit Bridge (which can be passed only at opening times, and sails must be down to make the bridge passage), and some of the road bridges in the upper parts of Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River.
• Be aware of no-anchor zones, there are many of these. The most prominent (and tempting) are the penguin colony areas inside North Head (which carry heavy fines for anchoring, and are regularly patrolled), the areas near the navy base at Garden Island (don't anchor near a boat with larger guns than yours), and in and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Be aware of the recent speed/zoning restrictions introduced around the Harbour Bridge -- 15 knot speed limit (not a concern to most yachties), and there is no drifting, anchoring, etc.
• The use of lights on the harbour at night is a must. Several incidents have occurred over the years with smaller boats being run down while travelling without lights, one high profile and tragic one in 2006 included.
• At all times be aware that Sydney Harbour is a busy place, and a careful watch must be maintained at all times. Sydney Harbour Ferries (carrying orange diamonds) and cargo / tanker vessels (restricted in their ability to maneuver, or restricted by their draft) must be given way to.
• There is also a large population of small stink-boats / pleasure craft, often piloted by inexperienced skippers who have chartered the boat for the day or are members of "walk-on/walk-off" boat ownership clubs (where they may get out on the water only once per year) who may not always obey all of the collision regulations, occasionally requiring evasive maneuvers by vessels that otherwise have right-of-way.
• Sydney Cove between the South Side of the Habour Bridge and the Opera House is closed to all recreational vessels and non approved commercial vessels.

Entrance

Sydney Harbour is a port of entry for Australia. For details see Entrance: Australia.

The customs office is in Neutral Bay as is the customs wharf. Telephone contacts are as follows:

Office hours: 02 8339 6607

After hours: 0418 215 192

Facsimile: 02 8339 6281

The customs wharf is in Neutral Bay at approx. 33°50.6'S - 151°12.95'E. If arriving out of hours tie up there and contact customs on the number above. Be aware of the advance notice requirements. On notifying customs of your arrival they may give you further directions depending on the planned use of the wharf.

Updated contact details are on this page.

All other check in / check out procedure is as per the Australian Immigration & Customs notes given elsewhere.

Berthing

Sydney Harbour is loosely divided into three separate areas. These are:

• North Harbour, the area north of a line drawn between, say, the southern tip of North Head, and the southern tip of Dobroyd Head (Grotto Point). This encompasses Manly, Fairlight, Seaforth, and the bays and anchorages on the western (inside) end of North Head.
• Middle Harbour. This is the area west and northwest of a line drawn between Grotto Point, and Middle Head. This includes Clontarf, the Spit, the Middle Harbour Yacht Club, and all of the area west and northwest of the Spit Bridge. It is also loosely divided into two areas, these being:
  • Outer Middle Harbour, including the area east of the Spit Bridge; and
  • Inner Middle Harbour, including the area west and northwest of the Spit Bridge. The Spit Bridge is an important dividing line because it is a lifting bridge with a low clearance when closed (lower than the masthead of most sailboats), and it opens only at certain times of the day (the latest opening being at 9:30pm). To get to the Inner Middle Harbour, you must pass the Spit Bridge, which you can only do at opening times.
• South Harbour, or the main harbour. This is all of the rest of Sydney Harbour, once you pass a line between Middle Head and South Head. This includes the outer harbour (east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), and the inner harbour (west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), however note that the Harbour Bridge clearance is over 30m, so even the tallest rigged boats can sail under it at any time. (there are 6 ocean going vessels world-wide that are known not to be able to get under the bridge).