Port Phillip
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Port Phillip Bay There are Port(s) of Entry here
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Port Phillip, often known as Port Philip Bay, incorporates Corio Bay to the west and joins Bass Strait with Victoria's capital city Melbourne and Victoria's largest regional city Geelong. The bay is large, covering approximately 1,930 km2 (745 mi2) with a shoreline of approximately 264 km (164 mi) with a single opening to the sea in the south known as "The Heads".
Although the bay is relatively shallow, it is mostly navigable but care is required in the southern area which has two navigable channels: the West Channel usually used by recreational vessels and has a depth of around 4m; and the South Channel that is used by all commercial traffic and has a depth of around 12m. The bay has Yacht Clubs and Marinas dotted around the shoreline.
The Yarra River flows into the northern end of the bay and is the site of both the city of Melbourne and the Port of Melbourne, which is Australia's busiest commercial port. To service this port, Port Phillip Heads and the mouth of the Yarra River were dredged to allow deeper drafted vessels to enter the bay. This work was started in 2004 and finished in late 2009 and has been the source of great controversy by environmental groups.
Charts
- Australian Hydrographic Service
- AUS 158 Entrance to Port Phillip
- AUS 143 Port Phillip - The Rip
- AUS 154 Port Melbourne
Weather
The prevailing wind for the West and Central Victorian Coast is South West all year round, but during summer Northerlies and North Westerlies are common, and during Autumn (Fall) Easterlies can prevail for periods. Weather patterns always flow west to east, with low and high pressure systems developing in the Southern and Indian Oceans and travelling across the Great Australian Bight, across Victoria and on through the Tasman Sea, drifting south east to New Zealand.
Passages
See Victoria.
Islands
See Melbourne.
Communication
See Melbourne
The approaches to Port Phillip Bay at "The Heads" whether from the East, South or West, are free from hazards. However, the heads themselves must be approached with extreme care. Due to the larges body of water and the relatively small opening, the area in the middle of the heads, known as The Rip, has tidal streams that can run in excess of 6 knots and large breaking seas can be encountered in wind against tide situations.
The recommended timing of entry through the heads is at 'slack water', which occurs 3 hours after high or low water at Port Philip Heads and the ideal is 3 hours after low water as this allows the trip up the bay on a rising tide with a favourable tidal stream. This information can be found from the Victorian Tide Tables or from the Bureau of Meteorology web site.
When approaching the heads, Point Lonsdale Lighthouse can be seen on the western side, which has a characteristic of a group flash 2 every 15 seconds. At night, the light also displays a single red light to show the first half of an ebbing tide, two red lights to show the second half of an ebbing tide, a single green light to indicate the first half of a flooding tide and two green lights to indicate the second half of a flooding tide. If in any doubt at all call "Lonsdale VTS" (Vessel Traffic Service) on VHF channel 12 or 16 and they will tell you the state of the tide and also conditions at the heads. As a courtesy, it is a good idea to call Lonsdale VTS anyway and ask if there is any commercial traffic. Vessels over 35 metres require a pilot.
There are 4 recognised channels into the heads, east, central, west and four fingers west. These channels are detailed on the Australian chart AUS 158 "Entrance to Port Phillip" and are aligned with 4 lighthouses on Shortland Bluff inside the heads, a high light and 3 low lights, east central and west. The recommended channels for recreational vessels are the west channel or four fingers west, these channels keep you away from commercial traffic that uses the central channel.
Hazards at the heads include Lonsdale reef on the western side and corsair rock on the eastern side. Neither of these hazards come into play if you are aligned with any of the recognised channels.
Contact Customs and Quarantine for information on anchorage/berthing.
Berthing



Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

Has 350 berths for 8 m to 25 m boats. No fuel but provides water and elecricity. Travel lift infrastructure able to carry 20 tonne.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 5988 8453; VHF channel XX
- Address: 2900 Point Nepean Road, Blairgowrie, VIC 3942, Australia
- Hours:
Martha Cove Harbour

Has 232 berths for 10 m to 30 m boats. Fuel dock
- XX@XXX; Tel: +61 3 5987 0827; Fax: +61 3 5987 0870; VHF channel XX
- Address: Cnr Mariners Way & Anchorage Ave, , Martha Cove, VIC 3936, Australia
- Hours:
Mordialloc Motor Yacht Club

93 moorings to members only.
- XX@XXX; Tel: +61 3 9580 1203; VHF channel XX
- Address: 1 Nepean Hwy, Aspendale, VIC 3195, Australia
- Hours:
Mornington Yacht Club

40 moorings for members only.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 5975 7001; Fax: +61 3 5975 8355 ; VHF channel XX
- Address: Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington, VIC, 3931, Australia
- Hours:
Newhaven Yacht Squadron Marina

188 berths, is the only marina on Phillip Island and provides an all weather, safe haven for boats from 6 to 12 m. Visitor berths available for overnight stays.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 5956 7515; Fax: +61 3 5956 6127; VHF channel XX
- Address: Seaview Street, Newhaven, VIC 3925, Australia
- Hours:
Patterson Lakes Marina

The marina caters to power boats, it has 300 berths for boats up to 55 ft. Provides fuel, water, and electricity plus repair services.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 9772 6622; VHF channel XX
- Address: Patterson Lakes Marina,, 76 Pier One Drive, Patterson Lakes, VIC, 3197, Australia
- Hours:
Queenscliff Harbour

280 berths for 6 m to 25 m boats. Visitos are welcomed. Fuel dock within the harbor. Water, electricity, and slipway.
For the latest prices see Price Listing.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 5258 5459; Fax: +61 3 5258 5460; VHF channel 16
- Address: 1 Harbour St Queenscliff (PO Box 237), Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia
- Hours:
Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club

The Club actively encourages visiting yachts to make use of the extensive facilities available at the club for overnight stays, upon payment of the relevant wharfage fees. Yachts up to 15 m in length are accomodated on the wharf.
For the latest prices see Price Listing.
- [email protected]; Tel: +61 3 5258 1692; VHF channel XX
- Address: PO Box 77, Queenscliff, Vic 3225, Australia
- Hours:
Royal Brighton Yacht Club

241 berths for 8 m to 18 m boats. Full service fuel, water, electricity, and slipway. Hardstanding storage. Visitor welcomed.
- XX@XXX; Tel: +61 3 9592 3092; VHF channel XX
- Address: 253 Esplanade, Middle Brighton, VIC 3186, Australia
- Hours: Office is open from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday
Sandringham Yacht Club

356 berth floating marina. Located about 10nm south east of Melbourne on the eastern shore of Port Philip Bay. All facilities, fuel berth, clubhouse with restaurant and bar. Boatyard with 40 ton hoist, 3ton crane and repair services, on site chandlery.
- [email protected]; Tel: ++61 3 9598 7444; Fax: +61 3 9598 8109; VHF channel XX
- Address: Jetty Road, Sandringham, Victoria 3191, Australia
- Hours:
Anchorages
Port Phillip Bay is well protected from the elements and most places should provide a good anchorage. Just be sure not to drop the hook inside the shipping lanes and you'll be fine. It would be advisable to ensure you're not moored in an environmentally protected area as well, such as parts of Swan Bay.
Amenities
See individual marinas and either Melbourne or Geelong.
Provisioning
See individual marinas and either Melbourne or Geelong.
Eating out
See individual marinas and either Melbourne or Geelong.
Transportation
See either Melbourne or Geelong.
Tourism
See either Melbourne or Geelong.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Port Phillip at the Wikipedia
- Port Phillip at the Wikivoyage
References
See Australia.
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.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Port Phillip and this page's details validated:
- Compiled from research (pilot books, internet, etc.) May, 2017 --Istioploos
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