Flying Fish Articles

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Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania


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Bryans Corner; lat 42°15’45S, long 148°16’64E.
Prosser Bay; lat 42°34’04E, long 147°53’50E.
Maria Island. Chinamans Bay; lat 42°39’86S, long 148°02’8E.
Canoe Bay, NW corner of Fortesque Bay; lat 43°07’7S, long 147°57’24E.
Port Arthur; lat 43°09’29S, long 147°50’9E.
Parsons Bay; lat 43°06’3S, long 147°44’24E
HOBART; lat 42°53’06S, long 147°19’9E
Cornelian Bay, Hobart – 42°51.40'S, 147°19.60'E
Port Davey. Lat 43°21’39S, long 145°54’91E
Port Macquarie Harbour lat 42°11’04S, long 145°19’2E
Stanley lat 40°46’18S, long 145°18’08E
Devonport lat 41°11’48S, long146°22’06E
Prime seal Island lat40.04.28S, long147.45.4E
Royston island lat 39°54’56S, long 147°46’7E
Launceston (River Tamar) – 41°26.30'S, 147°07.70'E





We thought that Tasmania was arguably the best cruising in Australia, in spite of the higher latitude weather. It is a gem and well rewards the effort to get there. Anchorages are sheltered and quiet with short distances until on the west coast.

Wineglass Bay A national beauty spot, and a very good anchorage except in NE weather.

Bryans Corner; lat 42°15’45S, long 148°16’64E.

This is a beautiful anchorage on white sand, in 2-5ms, good holding. The swell doesn’t get through Schouten pass and neither does the sea. In W-N-E it is flat! The wind seems to miss it. Coles Bay to the North had NE30knts while we had 5knts!! The Freycinet Peninsular has good walking and is lovely but no facilities.

Friends anchored in 30knts S in Crocketts Bay on the south side of Schouten pass. They found the holding good and were very comfortable with no swell.
Spring Bay; Triabuna

We anchored in the N end near the public jetty and the posts marking the entrance to Triabuna. It was blowing 35knts as we anchored with a chop but the anchor held well and we were very comfy. The bottom is thick mud. It is possible to go up to the town via a well-marked channel kept dredged to 3ms. Be careful of the dogleg to port as you get to the end of the fishing quay. There is a jetty for 2-3hr stops on the port side with water or raft up on the next quay overnight. The Harbourmaster will visit and there is an overnight fee of $10. This includes showers at the Visitor Centre.

The visitor centre has showers, $2 if you are at anchor, and e-mail. There is a supermarket in town but it is limited especially for meat. The baker has good pies! There is a garage and pub.

Both N and S winds seemed to funnel here. Prosser Bay was more restful and Orford was within walking distance.

Prosser Bay; lat 42°34’04E, long 147°53’50E.

There are good anchorages in both N and S bays here. The southerly anchorage is amongst moored boats but there is room and the holding is good. Some NE swell did get in but nothing too rolly.

Maria Island. Chinamans Bay; lat 42°39’86S, long 148°02’8E.

This anchorage is way offshore in 2-3ms but well sheltered from the W-N-ESE. There is a further anchorage in the south part of the Bay in s winds but I wouldn’t want to sit out a SW, it would roll straight in.

The whole island is a delight with good walking, lots of wildlife and birds. There are no facilities at all on the island.

There is a campsite on the west shore, near the remains of the penal colony. BBQ pits and firewood are provided. We were joined by Kangaroos as dinner cooked and Possums as we watched our fire die out.

Canoe Bay, NW corner of Fortesque Bay; lat 43°07’7S, long 147°57’24E.

This bay is good in anything but strong E-ESE winds. There is a small wreck blocking the south part of the entrance and tucking behind this is great. We anchored with a line ashore parallel to the wreck in 2.4ms. The bay is small, 5 boats would be a crowd. It is dramatic, wild and beautiful. Good walking around the area. The entrance to Fortesque Bay was rough with a NE 2-3m swell running but flat once in the bay. Watch the Katabatic winds on entry; they are fierce! We saw lots of Seals around this area and the occasional Albatross.

Tasman Island.

There is safe passage between this island and the Tasman peninsular with 10m water depths. However two swells meet here, and wind against tide conditions can be fierce. We went through with 10knts NE wind, 2m NE sea and swell meeting a 2m SW swell. It was interesting. We sort of surfed through and no way would I wish to tackle that in rougher conditions. Beware of extremely strong williwaws off Tasman Island and the adjacent coast in fresh NE winds - they are signalled by a cloud-cap pouring over the edge of the 300m cliffs.

Port Arthur; lat 43°09’29S, long 147°50’9E.

We dropped anchor amongst the moored boats in 4.5ms on a sand/weed bottom but held well in 30kt winds. We were a short dingy trip to the Historic Site, well worth a visit. There is a small store ashore with basic provisions only. The Visitor Centre has a restaurant.

This is a wonderfully sheltered bay. The swell just can’t get there, great. There are lots of alternatives for anchoring and pottering in the area.Ladies Bay is the quietest and most swell-free.

Seals, Dolphins and Fairy Penguins were all present.

Parsons Bay; lat 43°06’3S, long 147°44’24E

This is a totally protected anchorage with thick mud bottom in 3-7ms. There are a few moored fishing boats but masses of space. The east side before the jetty gets very shallow very quickly don’t be tempted to cut inside the moorings. We went aground trying to get ashore in the dingy!

There is a large fish farm on the way in with lots of seals around.

Ashore is a small but well stocked supermarket, PO and garage.

There is water on the jetty.

HOBART; lat 42°53’06S, long 147°19’9E

This is one of the most boat friendly ports in Australia. It is a lovely place to visit by boat and safe to leave it whilst travelling inland. A port of entry so Customs do like you to visit them with your Cruising Permit. They are in the MBF building just up from the dock on Argyle Street.

Constitution Dock is where visitors berth. There is a lifting bridge, which is opened on request by Hobart port Control. Contact them on vhf 16 or 12 to advise of your arrival. Inside the dock berthing is alongside with rafting usual. Some of the ladders are less than useful so it pays to spend a bit of time searching for a good one. The best are on the SW wall. It helps to have a mooring plank if on the inside and port control will provide them if asked. The SE wall is occupied by barges selling fresh Fish and Fish and Chips, handy. Water and electricity are on the quaysides and included in the berthing fee. The fees are $40/week for a vessel under 13ms and $54/week over 13ms. Security is better than one might expect as surveillance cameras are in use and Port Control is manned 24hrs a day.

Live-aboards are discouraged, don 't expect to stay more than a week or two.

There is an excellent amenities block with showers and good laundry. The key deposit is $20.

Shopping is excellent. You are right in the centre of town.

There is a marina area outside Con dock for large boats.

Our OCC Port Officer, John Solomon, was very helpful and is keen to see more members visit. We enjoyed our time in Hobart and felt at ease leaving the boat to travel inland.

The shelter in the dock is good and we had only slight surge in the SE gale while the NW gale passed almost unnoticed. The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania offers a warm welcome to visiting yachts at its marina and has a good fuel berth with cheap diesel. It is bows to pontoon mooring. There are good shops in Sandy Bay but it is a bus ride into Hobart.It is possible to anchor off the RYCT but the many laid moorings mean you are well offshore and the anchorage is exposed. A better anchorage is at Bellerive off the Yacht club on the other side of the Derwent.Also Cornelian Bay, just above the Tasman Bridge on the Hobart side, a long walk into town, and a shorter walk to the supermarkets. A walk/cycle track runs in both directions to Hobart and to Glen Orchy, where there are many industrial supplies available. Try http://www.motoryachtclub.org/ for a marina berth opposite Hobart.

D’entrecasteaux Channel has many lovely anchorages with only short distances between them. Provisions can be found at Dover, Southport, Cygnet and Port Huon. New Kermandie marina at Port Huon with the best shelter for an over-winter stay - http://www.porthuonmarina.com.au/. New marina at Kettering with a good chandler, diesel available - http://www.oystercovemarina.com.au/ Bus from both to Hobart.


Cornelian Bay, Hobart – 42°51.40'S, 147°19.60'E
A quiet anchorage within walking distance of Hobart, supermarkets and bus route to the Derwent Park/Glenorchy area, where all industrial goods and services are available.
Anchor outside the moorings, good holding in mud. Approach: up the Derwent river and under the Tasman Bridge (avoiding the 3 central arches, which are reserved for shipping), and turn to port into the bay.
Land on the beach near the old fishing cabins, and walk up the path to join the walk/cycle way that goes into town or out towards Glenorchy.
Coles and Woolworths supermarkets 1 kilometre away at Newtown.




Port Davey. Lat 43°21’39S, long 145°54’91E

This is a desolate, wild, remote and incredible place to visit. The only way in is by boat or a 10-day walk. There is a small landing field that caters to walkers and kyakers. There are good anchorages, which is fortunate as one is well and truly in the Roaring Forties and it doesn’t half blow down here! The high hills result in severe katabatics in some anchorages. We found Kings Point very good holding and well sheltered in 40kts NW- SW. Be prepared to get weathered in, spending two weeks here is not unusual. VHF coverage is lost so an SSB for weather forecasts is essential. When it’s fine the walking is excellent. Water from the streams is discoloured by Button Grass but is said to be fine to drink. It’s a 60+NM trip round from Recherche Bay in the Southern Ocean the whole way.

Port Macquarie Harbour lat 42°11’04S, long 145°19’2E

This is 90+ Nm from port Davey and again in the Southern ocean. The entrance is called Hells Gates, very appropriate. The current is constantly outgoing due to the Gordon River Hydroelectric scheme and it runs hard. We had 2-3kts when we entered and 4kts as we left. It swirls through a narrow 100m gap and is awesome when calm! The entrance is not possible with heavy W swell or strong NW winds. Once inside a delightful area opens up with interesting historic sites, good walking, the Gordon River and Strahan.

Strahan town is a friendly tourist town with an active fishing fleet. We tied up to the town quay at the northern end away from the tour boats. There was power and water and best of all no charge. There was a laundry across the road, good shopping and email facilities.

NW yacht charters owner Alan, has an excellent map of the upper reaches of the Gordon River.

It is possible to travel 27 nm upriver to Sir John Falls where a good landing stage for the seaplanes also allows 2 yachts to moor. Take your dingy a further 8 miles up the Franklin if you have a good outboard as there are 2 sets of rapids to shoot, exciting stuff. There are 3 other landing stages enroute. Anchoring in the river is possible but not advised due to debris.

The tour boats only go a short distance to the Heritage landing stage and leave by 6.30pm after which one is free to moor there. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Tasmania. While at Sir John Falls we had nocturnal visitors! Possums! Evidently they are frequent visitors to boats. They are amazingly heavy footed! In Strahan we heard of a boat having a TasmanianDevil inside. Motto ; close up hatches!

Birches Inlet is a good anchorage but the pilot, Bellingham Moore, gives depths in the approaches of 15ms. This is rubbish. You need to hug the west side, the shoal area to the east is extensive, and may get some holes with 15ms but mostly 4-5ms. Once inside the depths are 5-6ms.

Stanley lat 40°46’18S, long 145°18’08E

A fishing harbour which makes yachts welcome. The entrance is narrow approx 50ms. Tie up to the north wall and speak to the harbour master. There is a fee of $10 /day. Showers and water on the quay. It’s a pleasant town and the Nut is worth the trip up.

Hunter Passage round Cape Grim is easy but the tide runs hard. LW+1 it starts to run east.

Devonport lat 41°11’48S, long146°22’06E

Easy entrance well buoyed but watch out for large vessels, they do not have much room. There is room to anchor up river near the bridge but it is tight and the tide runs hard. Mersey Yacht club has a visitors pontoon on the left side of the river. Visitors are made very welcome. There is water and electricity to the pontoon and showers for as$10/day. Good shopping, email etc are over the river. This is a good place to hire a car and visit Cradle Mountain.
Flinders Island Group

Prime seal Island lat40.04.28S, long147.45.4E

Well sheltered from SSW to N. Bottom is hard sand with weed. We had to resort to the Fishermans anchor to get a hold and could then tuck in to 4-5m. The swell can creep round the corner a bit.

Royston island lat39°54’56S, long 147°46’7E

This anchorage is not in Bellingham Moore pilot but is excellent with shelter from all but southerlies. Weed was again a problem but there were free sand patches easily seen in the clear water. Depths were 2-6m. No swell problems. Lovely walking and snorkelling on both the small islands and Flinders.

Badger Island Good anchorage on sand in a W 'ly.

Lady Barron Harbour Poor holding on weed, few facilities - not recommended.


Launceston (River Tamar) – 41°26.30'S, 147°07.70'E

1) Information Submitted by Mike & Pat Pocock in Blackjack .

2) Date Dec 1992 ,updated 2010 by David Tyler

3) Harbour or Area Covered, Include Lat & Long LAUNCESTON (Tamar River) Tasmania 41°30’S 147° 00 'E

4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts A pleasant town 55 miles up river through delightful countryside, can be hard work with a head wind but otherwise easily negotiated under sail. Noticeably friendly people who are extremely helpful.

5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage: The Tamar Yacht Club has shallow draft drying moorings and the boatyard has a few pile moorings . There is now a modern marina at Seaport, Launceston. There are two pontoon berths at Home Point, administered by Tamar River Cruises, at $10 a night There are also marinas down river at Beauty Point controlled by the Port Dalrymple YC and Tamar YC who are very welcoming. It is possible to anchor in many of the bays up and down the river, particularly the SW Arm and Devil 's Elbow.

6) Entry Ports Hobart

7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing.Must give more than 96 hours notice of arrival by HF or email from previous country

c) visa requirements Essential, arrival without a valid visa not permitted. Get a Tourist Subclass 676 visa online.

8) Location/Existence of:

a) harbour master Ch 12 VHF


11) Repair/Hauling Facilities At the yard in Launceston but possibly limited for draft and at the Port Dalrymple YC.

12) Sailing Directions or Charts. Large scale charts available all the way to Launceston.

13) Cruising Guide and where Obtainable Include Phone and/or E-Mail

Use the Royal YC of Tasmania Anchorage Guide for the whole of the passage to Launceston.

14) Port Radio Services Ch 12 VHF

15) Weather Forecasts Melbourne Radio

16) Yacht Club(S) Tamar Yacht Club and Port Dalrymple Yacht Club - both very welcoming

17) Other Facilities: drinking water: easiest at the PDYCand at Tamar River Cruises pontoon.

fuel: easiest at the PDYC

gas (propane)/gaz: At the yard in Launceston chandlers: At the yard in Launceston

bank: Very limited at Beauty Point, excellent in Launceston within walking distance

shops/market: Very limited at Beauty Point, excellent in Launceston within walking distance.

restaurants/hotels: In the clubs

post office/telephones including mobile facilities: Not found; none at Beauty Point

transport/air services: Direct flights from Melbourne or Hobart, we used it as a crew joining point very successfully. medical facilities/hospital: In Launceston

18) Recommendations or Warnings The streams run very fast between the entrance and Beauty Point. Their effect can be reduced by dodging along the East bank when leaving.

19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting.

The Batman Bridge is well worth seeing even if you do not go all the way up river.Good anchorage on port hand; just above the bridge

A winemaking district, particularly at Rosevears.

There are a number of public wharves for short-term berthing up the river.