Is Crowdy Head, NSW a viable stop?

[ozsailer]

Hi Seachange,
I did a drive by of Crowday Head only a couple of months ago and wrote a detailed account of the anchorage on a Aussie web site called Deckee. I have copied and pasted it below.

Crowdy Heads
New South Wales



We had always planned on sailing into Crowdy Heads north of Forster Toncurry and checking out the anchorage and small fishing harbour as outlined in Alan Lucas’s cruising guide “Cruising the NSW Coast” but weather and other passage plans always saw us by bypassing this area. When we were on a recent road trip in January 2017 from Queensland back to Lake Macquarie we decided to deviate to Crowdy Head via Harrington to check out the area in January 2017. Crowdy Head is located approximately 25nautical miles north of Forster/Tuncurry and 25 nautical miles south of Camden Haven.

I am glad we made the diversion as the small harbour has changed significantly. The old jetty
as listed in “Lucas” is now not serviceable and is breaking apart. The path from the land to the jetty has disintegrated to the point that it posed significant danger to those on foot accessing the jetty due to what appears to be sea erosion. Many of the poles supporting the jetty are in the process of falling back into the sea and in very poor repair. It appears that water and power have been disconnected due the the major damage. In short I would not tie my boat to this pier with Marine rescue not recommending tying up to the wharf but if you did so it would be at your own risk.

The old Fishermans CO Op is now close and abandoned. A newer wharf is now located adjacent to the old Fishermans CO OP but is would only be capable of having two large craft ( 2 x 12 metre ) or possibly three smaller craft alongside. There is only one side to tie boats against as opposed to the two side of the old jetty. The newer jetty parallels the shoreline whereas the old jetty jutted out into the small harbour. I have been advised by Marine Rescue that this wharf is still used as a refuelling wharf and if you tie up there overnight you may be asked to move to facilitate the refuelling of the Marine Rescue vessel or other.

There is no fuel available at Crowdy Head !!. From my conversation with VMR personal it appears that fuel used to delivered out to the wharf by one of the petrol stations at Harrington but this may be in doubt now due to the petrol station undergoing new management.

I was also who advised that the fishing fleet that serviced the Fishing Co-op no longer operates out of Crowdy Head with visiting boats able to utilise old marina section which still has power and water connected.

The old marina wharf in the eastern sector of the harbour appears to be in relatively good repair with the local VMR boat moored at this location. It appears that there are few commercial fishing boats left in the area and using the marina wharf. Having walked the wharf be aware of large pieces of metal obviously used to tie up boats now sticking out ready to catch the unwary mariner coming in to tie up to this section of the wharf. A very good launching ramp and floating jetty is available in the harbour for trailerable boats and it appears they could be launched in most weather.

During our time we observed that the bay is very similar to Trial Bay and appears to be good anchorage in South to Westerly winds with moderate swells over sand. Being on a road trip we were unable to confirm the holding but Crowdy Heads is now on our list of anchorages to try.

There are no facilities such as garages or shops in this area. The only available service is a Cafe that operates out of the Surf Life Saving Club located at the Crowdy Head Beach.


As per Lucas and to re-enforce his observations there is no room to anchor in this small harbour. The closest town is Harrington which has most services for provisions and fuel but its a good ten minute drive ( at 80KPH) or a significant walk. Marine Rescue have a well staffed and friendly unit at Harrington and can be contacted on VHF 16 and 67. They can also be contacted on 02 6556 1564. Chart AUS 811 relates.

Greg H
Sunshine
Lagoon 410 S2

[svseachange]

Great review and great information. Thanks!

[JPA Cate]

44'cruisingcat, and sea-bee, thanks for that, both of you. Chris, that makes so much sense, putting the boat on the offshore tack for the night, there would be large gaps. I would note that Mt. Warning and Danger Reefs, are also very evocative, as are names like "Starvation Bay"; Disaster Bay, not so much, not specific enough.

Sorry for the thread drift, svseachange. Next stop Coff's Hbr?

Ann

[svseachange]

Thinking over the next leg now. With distance schooling for both our boy and I, half the day is gone before we have time to do boat maintenance and navigation planning.

I don't hear much positive about the Coffs anchorage. Mary was there briefly at night to refuel once but it was dark and she was motoring into a southerly so she doesnt remember the harbour.

We do hear good reports about the Clarence River.

One possible plan is to day sail to Trial Bay and then overnight from Trial Bay to the Clarence. If we leave at day break from Trial Bay we should be able to make Yamba well before sunset the next day.

Do you know if it is possible to anchor in the protection of Yamba Point while waiting for good bar conditions?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by svseachange

Thinking over the next leg now. With distance schooling for both our boy and I, half the day is gone before we have time to do boat maintenance and navigation planning.

I don't hear much positive about the Coffs anchorage. Mary was there briefly at night to refuel once but it was dark and she was motoring into a southerly so she doesnt remember the harbour.

We do hear good reports about the Clarence River.

One possible plan is to day sail to Trial Bay and then overnight from Trial Bay to the Clarence. If we leave at day break from Trial Bay we should be able to make Yamba well before sunset the next day.

Do you know if it is possible to anchor in the protection of Yamba Point while waiting for good bar conditions?

OK, here's my opinion on these things:

Anchoring in Coffs: we do it all the time... that is, w henever we are transiting the area. Don't like the marina as it stands (or as it falls apart)! Best place is between the old wharf and the rock wall of the marina, but it is often over crowded. IMO, more than three boats of any size in there is too many for safety. Next best is just to the south of the end of the old wharf. Reasonable depth, good holding in sand, but can be pretty rolly with swells coming in the entrance. Have sat out fairly strong winds there, can't say it was fun!

The Clarence is one of our favourite areas. If not going up the river, we stay in the harbour at Iluka. Excellent protection, easy dinghy landing, a small village with a decent IGA, bottle shop, butcher, petrol station, etc. Bottom is mud, some of it soft, so set your anchor well. Best fuel price is at the ferry wharf/fuel dock just upstream from the boat harbour. MUCH cheaper than the Yamba marina on the other side.

No place to safely anchor outside the bar AFAIK, but the bar is one of the tamest on the coast. Usually passable even on the ebb, barring severe swell conditions. See Lucas for the best approaches... not following the leads in from out at sea, for they take you across the bar's shallowest areas!

We normally recommend going up the river for a inland cruise,but until sometime in July the Harwood bridge is being painted and will not be opening... a nuisance indeed!

Cheers,

Jim

[44'cruisingcat]

Coffs is an OK Anchorage in reasonable weather. The two public moorings are in the best spot.
We've been there about a dozen times, and it was only uncomfortable once, and only for a few hours. Swells that day were 2 - 3 metres, falling.

You'll be looking for low swell anyway to enter the Clarence.

The Clarence is excellent, a mini cruising ground in it's own right. Although I think the bridge may be being repainted, and not opening for a while.

Good calm anchoring in Iluka bay. Be careful not to get wrecked at Sedgers reef! (The pub)

Trial bay is pretty good for an open roadstead anchorage too.

[svseachange]

Thanks guys. We will keep Coffs on the burner.

[svseachange]

Good sail in 15-25 southerly northbound from Camden Haven, following seas until something broke on our inner forestay 15 n miles south of Coffs. Bit bumpy out there to go up the mast safely so we motored into Coffs.

All the standing rigging "professionally" installed in the last ten months but we probably should have been up the mast to inspect it again right before leaving Sydney. The only calm place here in Coffs is the marina so we will check in there tomorrow and go up the mast.

[44'cruisingcat]

Even the marina at Coffs can be quite active.make sure your mooring lines are tight before going up.

[peter nick]

Hi all,Crowdy Bay boat harbour has recently been refurbished,all jettys are in good condition.The fish co op is permanently closed.There are a lot of empty pens.Entrance has 3.0m on high tide,not much depth inside needs caution.First wharf on your left towards the outer end deepest.No shops,surf club kiosk.9/4 2019

[JPA Cate]

^^^^^
That's great to hear! Thanks for the update.

Ann