PORT OWEN YACHT CLUB

Harbour Authority

Laaiplek Harbour is controlled by Sea Fisheries and POYC Harbour Regulations. Port Owen Marina is controlled by Port Owen Marina Association, to SA Sailing Safety at Sea standards.

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Approach & Radio Procedure

The Port Owen Yacht Club requests that all owners of visiting yachts phone the Marina Manager during office hours 08h30 - 16h30, with their estimated time of arrival, before departing for Port Owen. The Harbour Master does not stand by on any radio channel, however, Port Owen Marina stand by on V.H.F. Channel 71 and 16. Call sign is "Port Owen Marina" or "Port Owen Rescue", with a 24hr service and to ensign berths.

When entering the breakwater at the mouth of the Berg River, proceed up the centre of the channel. As soon as you enter the river, turn to Port and stay close to the fishing boats and jetties on your Port side. From the last jetty on your Port side, take a straight course to the first mid-channel marker and follow these to the Port Owen entrance to the Marina Basin. Leading marks, a red -and yellow will guide you into the Marina. Once inside the Marina, proceed to your allocated berth. Yachts are requested to motor up the river if you are new to Port Owen. Once tied up please contact the Marina Manager. Yachts visiting Port Owen Marina for the first time may wish to request, via VHF Channel 71, a skipper to guide them in.

As the Club is situated on a river, problems are sometimes experienced with tides. If, at the time of entry, it is low tide or an hour-and-a-half either side of low tide, yachts are requested to tie-up to the holding jetty, the last jetty to Port as you proceed up river, until the water is deep enough. The Club also requires skippers to sign the Club Skipper's Register at the Marina Offices when arriving and departing.

Port Facilities

There are complete facilities for yacht repairs and maintenance and a ten tonne crane is available. In the fishing harbour there is also a 50 tonne slip, the use of which can be arranged through the Yacht Club. Diesel/petrol, paraffin and gas are all within 100 metres from the jetties. Fuel prices are charged at local service station rates.

Clearance Formalities

No clearance formalities apply to yachts arriving/departing from or for local destinations.

Foreign yachts arriving/departing or South African yachts departing overseas must officially clear in Saldanha and the Marina staff will contact the Customs Officer at Saldanha and can arrange transport for foreign yachties to Saldanha for this purpose.