Robben Island

Robben Island lies 4 miles westward of Blouberg Strand (5 miles NW of Green Point Lighthouse), and is a little under 2 miles lying in an NNW-SSE direction, and just over a mile across at its widest part. It is low and flat, and is fringed with reefs.

No power boats are allowed!

Although the island is no longer being used as a high security prison, visitors to the island have to obtain permits from the prison authorities. An area 1 mile wide, measured from the low water line, in which entry and anchoring are prohibited, has been established around the island.

However, in an emergency, yachts are allowed to anchor in Murray's Bay Harbour situated on the NE side of the island. Skippers are requested to call up Cape Town Radio-Channel 16, for a link call to this island, to obtain permission to anchor before transgression of prohibited area.

Murray's Bay Harbour is enclosed by two breakwaters. The northern one extends eastward for 155m before turning to the SE for a further 257m. The souther breakwater extends eastward for 265m, leaving an effective entrance approximately 42m wide between the two heads. The quay between the roots of these two breakwaters is some 265m long with depths of from which is on the inner side of the southern breakwater, has depths of 2,4 to 4,9m alongside. Elsewhere in the harbour there are depths of between 2,1 and 5m.

The bottom within the harbour consists mainly of mud and sand except close to the NW corner where it is rocky. A light is exhibited, at an elevation of 6m, from the head of the southern breakwater, and a fog signal is also sounded there.

Dassen Island

Dassen Island's (33E25'S 18E05'E), highest point is 18m high, but generally most of the island lies well below this. It is about 220 hectares in extent, situated 4,5 miles SW of Ysterfontein Point and is a proclaimed Nature Reserve.

The island consists of a fine grained granite outcrop overlaid with sand and sandy soil which, during the winter, supports a luxuriant carpet of succulent vegetation. A large colony of African Penguins inhabit the island, and many other species of land and sea birds are also to be seen there. All four species of marine cormorant, terns, gulls and at certain times of the year pelicans. In fact, Dassen Island is one of only two breeding colonies in South Africa, the other being St Lucia, in Natal.

Yachts are allowed to anchor at Dassen Island but crew are not permitted ashore. House (Huis) Bay provides good anchorage for small craft in depths of about 18m but is not safe during NW winds. When these winds prevail, anchorage may be obtained in Waterloo Bay on the east coast, in depths of from 18 to 25m, and has a sand and mud bottom, at a distance of from 4 to 5 cables from the shore. House Bay lies on the Northern side of the island.

Except for the eastern side, which is clear of dangers, Dassen Island is fringed with dangerous reefs and a good chart of the island must be carried onboard.