WELCOME TO
SIMON'S TOWN MARINA COMPANY
VISITORS INFORMATION
APPROACH
On entering False Bay, make for an approach waypoint 34°10.080’S – 18°27.720’E and then to a final approach waypoint 34°11.250’S – 18°26.000’E. This will position you just off the Bullnose outside the marina. From there you can proceed to anchor, swing or marina moorings.
On arrival in Simon’s Bay, call the SA Navy on call sign “Bullnose” on channel 17 to inform them of your intentions. You can also use STMC Tel +27 21 786 3853, Tel FBYC +27 21 786 1703. Watch out for heavy winds in this bay, 50 knots is commonplace here and can change from SE to NW overnight.
NOTE: NEITHER THE STMC NOR FBYC TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR DISASTER RESULTING FROM ANCHORING OR MOORING IN SIMON’S BAY
MOORING INFORMATION
Line numbers are in the order one should attach them.
Set 1 and 2 to position the bow, set 3 tight against the first two, set the length of 4 and then set 5 tight to position the boat. Set 6.
Line 7 is optional, but a good idea….
Keep pulpits and bowsprits off the marina.
The preferred knot is “two round turns and two half hitches”. Pulled tight!
STRONG WINDS – TAKE NOTE
Although quite well protected from the sea, Simon’s Town marina is subject to very strong winds, from both directions!
South Easters, prominent in summer, can maintain 30 knts plus for 7 days or more at a time, with gusts of 70 knts not uncommon.
North Wester, the winter wind, can rise very fast and often reaches 40 knts. Both of these winds can blow in the same week!
ANCHORING
An area has been set aside with permission from the SA Navy for visiting yachts to anchor in Simon’s Bay. (see notations on chart extract on the Maps page)
PLEASE NOTE THAT SIMON’S BAY IS SUBJECT TO VERY HEAVY WINDS FROM THE SE AND NW AND THE ANCHORAGE IS EXPOSED. A 24/7 ON BOARD ANCHOR WATCH IS REQUIRED BY THE SA NAVY.
ONCE ANCHORED YOU FALL UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE YACHT CLUB AND MUST REPORT TO THE CLUB AND MARINA OFFICES.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP OF THE YACHT CLUB AND WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE USE OF ALL THEIR FACILITIES.
Anchor strictly within a triangle bounded by the following co-ordinates:
34°10.92’S – 18°25.67’E
34°11.23’S – 18°25.67’E
34°11.23’S – 18°25.87’E
This is in 5 to 10 meters of water above chart datum, seabed is a combination of stones and sand.
EMERGENCY MOORING BUOY
This is an orange mooring buoy position 34˚11.276’S x 18˚ 25.938’E, marked EMERGENCY which is open for emergency mooring. It is rated at 17 tons. It has a “pick up” buoy on a light line. Haul this up till you get to a single heavy rope strop with an eye splice. We strongly advise that you back this up with a second line.
DOCKING
Please make use of the chart extracts and marina layout in order to find the berth allocated to you in advance. If you have no advance allocation, please make use of the Working Dock, W6 to W8 to come alongside if no assistance is available. Draft here is limited to 1.8m. If open, Visitors Dock V6 and V7 can also be used, with a draft of up to 4m. Please do not occupy any other open berth you come upon, as they are privately owned.
BOOKING IN
Make yourself comfortable and safe and then report to the marina office during business hours, (weekdays 8:30 to 17:00, weekends till 12:00 at FBYC) to sort out the paperwork. Please bring all boat papers, crew passports etc with you, but only the skipper needs to attend.
CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION
International visitors must clear into and out of the country via a Port of Entry. As we are not such a port, we advise that you plan your route around our coast with your entry and exit ports in mind. From the East, they are:
- Richards Bay
- Durban
- Port Elizabeth
- East London
- Cape Town
Once cleared in, you are free to roam as you please, and you do not have to clear out at the same port you came in.( Clearance at the same port is to be done if you plan to sail directly to a foreign country from any of the above mentioned ports of entry) At this moment if a yacht is lighter than 100tons then it is seen as a pleasure vessel and is therefore exempted from clearing customs after the first port of entry and that person will then only clear customs at the last port of exit and nowhere in between..(E.g. entry at Cape Town and exit clearance at Richards bay)
Foreign registered yachts may only stay in the country for a maximum of 6 months. There after they must leave South Africa. Keep in mind that the yacht is not allowed to be stored in South Africa. (E.g. the owner cannot fly home and leave his yacht behind.) If a yacht was built in South Africa and is sailing for the first time going for delivery or ownership was taken over, it may only return once a full year has elapsed. Failure to observe these requirements can lead to seizure of the said yacht, fines, -etc.
The following documents are needed for the arrival clearance of your yacht:
1. DA1 form – Inward /outward clearance
2. Yacht registration documents
When leaving for an international clearance the following procedure applies (all to be presented to the customs officer upon clearance):
1. Immigration clearance
2. Letter from the yacht club
3. Registration document of the yacht
4. A completed DA1 form for outward clearance of the yacht
5. DA3 –in order to be cleared for sailing to an international destination
ANIMALS ON BOARD
FBYC does not allow animals at the club, but if you have pets on board, as long as they are kept on board at all times, they will make an allowance. If dogs are taken for a walk off the property, please ensure that they pass through the marina and club grounds on a lead, and that they do not enter the buildings.
SIMON'S TOWN MARINA COMPANY
The Simon’s Town Marina is tucked in behind the naval harbour wall, well protected from the strong Cape South Easter wind in summer and sheltered from the North Wester in winter. The marina consists of 260 walk on moorings and a number of swing moorings for members of False Bay Yacht Club and visitors, both local and international. The marina and club face into the north, picking up all the sunlight for the benefit of all making use of the lawns and Pier 23 Restaurant.