St Helena Bay & Port Owen - General Info
Description:
St Helena Bay is a large bay in the Western Cape approx. 80NM north of Cape Town and 35NM north of Saldanha Bay. The Sandy Bay harbor is around Shelly Point and faces east.
Eight miles further to the east, is the Berg River which leads to the sheltered Port Owen and is probably the best spot on the South African coast to spend the winter months. It makes an ideal departure port from SA.
Entrance Notes or Cautions:
Caution is advised at the Berg River entrance, as storm fronts with a large swell will likely result in breaking waves.
Vessels approaching from the North heading to the breakwater at the entrance should note there is a shallow bar at a depth of 1.5m LAT from 0.5NM out from the breakwater walls. It is advisable to enter at half tide.
- Entrance to the Berg River from the sea and the Holding Jetty where visiting yachts must wait before proceeding upriver.
Position:
32°44’34″S, 18°01’23” E (Sandy Point)
32° 47’029″S, 18° 08’908″E (Port Owen)
Read and Post Related Comments
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Clearance
Related to following destinations: South Africa, St Helena Bay & Port Owen
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - South Africa
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Posted on behalf of Evan Gatehouse & Diane Selkirk:
We just hauled our 40′ catamaran at Port Owen boatyard. Couldn’t have had a better experience. Cheap, especially for a catamaran. Many places in South Africa want to haul catamarans on the bridge deck on rudimentary trailers, which we are not keen to do.
The manager, Frank, was super helpful and lent us his car to go grocery shopping and fill fuel jugs. We made free use of the office wifi while hauled out. The local Yacht club had showers at reasonable cost and meals available on 2 nights a week. Labour was very economical to sand and paint the boat if requested. We really recommend this boatyard.