South Gippsland & Phillip Island
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:43 pm
Hi,
We just got back from three days looking at the wharves and docks of Gippsland, Victoria (What can I say - its the kind of holiday that appeals to me). We looked at Port Albert, Port Welshpool, Port Franklin, Yanakie Beach, San Remo, Newhaven, Rhyll and Cowes (the last three on Phillip Island). Our remit was to see if the area could be considered Investigator friendly.
In general, the answer is possibly but make sure your eyes are wide open. The tide is considerable and some places do not employ much in the way of floating docks for the public which means you have to tie up to structures designed for much larger boats.
SOUTH GIPPSLAND (East side of Wilson's Prom')
Port Arthur (hotel and restaurants) - ramp length short at low tide - public wharves suit large boats only. Is grounding an option?
Port Welshpool (hotel and shop) - excellent ramp (coastguard station so fees apply) - floating dock available for launch and retrieval - other wharf structures designed for larger craft only. Is grounding an option?
Port Franklin (drop toilet) - no ramp found and we looked - loads of private wharves - a strange place in amongst the mangroves. Lots of houses but no shop or hotel spotted.
Yanaikie Beach - (Caravan Park next to free ramp) - leads on to corner inlet (beautiful). Noted what appeared to be lots of mooring buoys following a regular pattern in the water in the front of the caravan park.
West side of Wilson's Prom
Inverloch (entire town within walking distance) - public ramp subject to strong current / tide (when we were there the end of the wharf was under water) - honestly you would want to be able to power on and off of your trailer (Investigators need not apply). Found the South Gippsland YC which was entirely focussed on OTB and cats and had its own ramp - not usable by visiting trailer sailers..
WESTERNPORT
San Remo (small town within walking distance) - no ramp found on this side of bridge - floating dock available but be on the water side not the land side (very little water once the tide goes out) - the tide was unbelievable (too much for most little outboards IMHO).
Newhaven (shops and location of Newhaven Yacht Squadron) - excellent ramp, excellent protected marina (check with club for moorings), across bridge from San Remo.
Rhyll (shops restaurants next to ramp including boat shop) - excellent ramp with floating dock to assist launch and retrieval - Wharves more suited to large boats and there was a floating dock off the main dock. It has been in 12 months and is already broken by the force of the tidal flow. Local sailor told us the dock can be exposed under some come conditions.
Cowes (entire small town) - large dock structure. I have sailed here from Hastings and back on the same day following the tide.
I post elsewhere in the mooring and anchoring thread about grounding.
We just got back from three days looking at the wharves and docks of Gippsland, Victoria (What can I say - its the kind of holiday that appeals to me). We looked at Port Albert, Port Welshpool, Port Franklin, Yanakie Beach, San Remo, Newhaven, Rhyll and Cowes (the last three on Phillip Island). Our remit was to see if the area could be considered Investigator friendly.
In general, the answer is possibly but make sure your eyes are wide open. The tide is considerable and some places do not employ much in the way of floating docks for the public which means you have to tie up to structures designed for much larger boats.
SOUTH GIPPSLAND (East side of Wilson's Prom')
Port Arthur (hotel and restaurants) - ramp length short at low tide - public wharves suit large boats only. Is grounding an option?
Port Welshpool (hotel and shop) - excellent ramp (coastguard station so fees apply) - floating dock available for launch and retrieval - other wharf structures designed for larger craft only. Is grounding an option?
Port Franklin (drop toilet) - no ramp found and we looked - loads of private wharves - a strange place in amongst the mangroves. Lots of houses but no shop or hotel spotted.
Yanaikie Beach - (Caravan Park next to free ramp) - leads on to corner inlet (beautiful). Noted what appeared to be lots of mooring buoys following a regular pattern in the water in the front of the caravan park.
West side of Wilson's Prom
Inverloch (entire town within walking distance) - public ramp subject to strong current / tide (when we were there the end of the wharf was under water) - honestly you would want to be able to power on and off of your trailer (Investigators need not apply). Found the South Gippsland YC which was entirely focussed on OTB and cats and had its own ramp - not usable by visiting trailer sailers..
WESTERNPORT
San Remo (small town within walking distance) - no ramp found on this side of bridge - floating dock available but be on the water side not the land side (very little water once the tide goes out) - the tide was unbelievable (too much for most little outboards IMHO).
Newhaven (shops and location of Newhaven Yacht Squadron) - excellent ramp, excellent protected marina (check with club for moorings), across bridge from San Remo.
Rhyll (shops restaurants next to ramp including boat shop) - excellent ramp with floating dock to assist launch and retrieval - Wharves more suited to large boats and there was a floating dock off the main dock. It has been in 12 months and is already broken by the force of the tidal flow. Local sailor told us the dock can be exposed under some come conditions.
Cowes (entire small town) - large dock structure. I have sailed here from Hastings and back on the same day following the tide.
I post elsewhere in the mooring and anchoring thread about grounding.