Port Elizabeth
From CruisersWiki
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===Shopping Malls=== | ===Shopping Malls=== | ||
| - | There are two major shopping centres in Port Elizabeth. A number of malls in close proximity | + | There are two major shopping centres in Port Elizabeth. A number of malls in close proximity form these centres. |
* '''Walmer Park Shopping Centre'''<br/>GPS: 33°58'48.53"S 25°33'30.89"E | * '''Walmer Park Shopping Centre'''<br/>GPS: 33°58'48.53"S 25°33'30.89"E | ||
* '''Greenacres Shopping Centre'''<br/>GPS: 33°56'58.91"S 25°34'42.09"E | * '''Greenacres Shopping Centre'''<br/>GPS: 33°56'58.91"S 25°34'42.09"E | ||
Revision as of 11:14, 14 June 2009
Port Elizabeth
A cruising guide for yachts sailing to Port Elizabeth.
GPS: 33°57.19′S, 25°38.62′E
Gallery: Panoramio
The port of Port Elizabeth is not to be confused with the Port of Coega (or spelled Ngqura in Xhosa, one of the 13 official languages of South Africa) which is located at 33°49'5.45"S and 25°41'36.34"E.
Each port has its own traffic separation zone with a Safe Channel marker which can be confusing to the first timer if the approach to Port Elizabeth is from the north east (approximately 060T).
Background
Port Elizabeth (Xhosa: Ibhayi; colloquial Afrikaans: 'Die Baai') or known as Madiba Bay is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province at 33°57′29″S, 25°36′00″E, 770km east of Cape Town. The city, normally referred to as PE and nicknamed "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City", stretches for 16km along Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa.
Port Elizabeth was founded as a town in 1820 to house British settlers as a way of strengthening the border region between the Cape Colony and the warlike Xhosa tribe.
Charts
- S.A.N 1024 - Port Elizabeth and approaches
- S.A.N 1025 - Bird Island Passage
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Submit details of local radio Nets.
Climate and Weather
Port Elizabeth has a subtropical climate with light rain throughout the year. The area lies between the winter rainfall, Mediterranean climate zones of the Western Cape and the summer rainfall regions of eastern South Africa. Winters are cool but mild and summers are warm but considerably less humid and hot than more northerly parts of South Africa's east coast.
The normal winds are the eastern and south eastern winds that can start blowing from about 10h00 and normal the wind speed is 15-25 knots. The sea is very choppy when the eastern winds are blowing and even salty sailors then can get seasick quite easily. Eastern storm winds are fairly common in the months of December to February with speeds of 35-50 knots the norm.
Western and south western winds occur in the winter months as the low cells sweep past the area. Normal wind speed is 10-15 knots, but these winds can also achieve 35-50 knots within one hour and without warning. The sea is normally very flat and ideal for sailing when the western wind is blowing.
Routes to/from
Popular routes, timing, etc.
Approach
The harbour is a working harbour and clearance must be obtained from Port Control before entering or leaving the port.
Call Port Control on VHF Channel 12 and request permission to enter. Continue monitoring on Channel 12 and Channel 16. Channel 11 is used for Pilot traffic and it is also good to monitor this channel.
Entry is also controlled by a bright light on the sea side of the Port Control tower:
- When the light is green a ship is entering the harbour. Stay out of the traffic zone and watch your stern.
- When the light is red a ship is exiting the harbour and you need to stay clear of the traffic zone.
- When no light is lit, you may call Port Control on Channel 12
Once entering the port, a sector transit light is dead ahead on a lattice tower. It will light white if you are on course. Too far to port (to the breakwater) it will shine red and too far to starboard (Port Control tower) it will shine green.
Of importance is to know that fishing and trawling vessels are regarded as working vessels in the harbour and thus have right of way. A sailing vessel is under ALL circumstances the GIVE WAY vessel.
Check-in facilities
Mooring is at the Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) marina to the South West corner of the harbour, just North of the Oil Tanks and West North West of the Iron Ore Depot. Arrange with Port Control or with ABYC for a mooring allocation and custom clearance.
Yacht Clubs and Marinas
- Algoa Bay Yacht Club
Office Telephone Number: +27 (0)41 585 4058
E-mail: management[at]abyc.org.za
Facsimile: +27 (0)41 586 0095
Physical Adress:
Dom Pedro Jetty
Port Elizabeth Harbour
Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Postal Adress:
P.O. Box 1034
Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa - NSRI Port Elizabeth (Station 6)
Emergency Number: +27 (0)82 990 5970
Statcom: Ian Gray
URL: National Sea Rescue Institute
Anchorages
The best place to anchor is opposite the Shark Rock pier, which is to the south west of the harbour and to the north west of the Eastern Cardinal marker known as The Bell Buoy. When anchoring here beware of the following:
- Devil's reef which is just to the south west of the pier and is not chartered on most charts. It has taken a number of keels off knowledgeable skipper's boats!
- The wind will normally turn North at about 02h00
- There are a number of areas that become very shallow during low tide.
When sailing in the bay to the north of the harbour be aware of the underwater farms with multiple submerged platforms and nets.
You can anchor in the area between the harbour quay and the farms, but the bottom has a lot of old engines, girders and other dumped scrap which can cause your anchor to become snagged.
Tourism & things to do ashore
List places of interest, tours, eateries, etc.
Marine stores
There are three main shops for marine parts and spares.
- Star Marine. This merchant caters mainly for sailing vessels and is about 5km from the marina.
GPS: 33°58'54.84"S 25°35'32.66"E
Physical Address: 14 7th Avenue, Walmer, Port Elizabeth
Telephone: +27 (0)41 581-8290, Fax : +27 (0)41 581-8140. Email: [email protected] - Commercial Marine. This merchant is with walking distance of the marina and carries a larger variety of stock.
GPS: 33°57'57.30"S 25°37'48.70"E
Physical Address: Dom Pedro Jetty, PE Harbour, Port Elizabeth
Telephone: +27 (0)41) 5862624. Fax : +27 (0)41) 5862797 - Breakeven Supplies. This merchant is within walking distance of the marina. It caters more for the commercial fishing industry and also carries a large variety of stock at very good prices.
GPS: 33°57'58.70"S 25°37'50.40"E
Physical Address: Baakens St, Port Elizabth Harbour, Port Elizabeth, 6001
Telephone: +27 (0)41 295-1676. Fax : N/A. Email: [email protected]
Shopping Malls
There are two major shopping centres in Port Elizabeth. A number of malls in close proximity form these centres.
- Walmer Park Shopping Centre
GPS: 33°58'48.53"S 25°33'30.89"E - Greenacres Shopping Centre
GPS: 33°56'58.91"S 25°34'42.09"E
Offshore Islands
- Jahleel Island - 33°48'18.58"S 25°42'15.86"E
- St Croix Island - 33°47'58.18"S 25°46'10.92"E
- Brenton Island - 33°49'3.89"S 25°45'53.17"E
- Bird Island (Lighthouse) - 33°50'27.79"S 26°17'13.43"
References & Publications
Publications, 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 the Cruiser Log Forum
External Links
- Algoa Bay Yacht Club
- Weather SA - Port Elizabeth weather
- Port Elizabeth
- P.E. dot org
- I Love Port Elizabeth
- My Port Elizabeth
- Radio Algoa, a local commercial radio station
- Some of the best dive spots in the world
- Port Elizabeth Deep Sea Angling Club
- Ocean Divers International
Personal Notes
Personal experience?
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