Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide. Knysna lies on the South African south coast between Mossel Bay and Gqeberha. The town occupies the northern shore of a tidal estuary connected to the Indian Ocean through the Knysna Heads. The estuary extends inland through a system of tidal channels, sandbanks, mudflats, islands and river reaches. The enclosed water supports fishing, aquaculture, recreational boating, passenger vessels and protected estuarine habitats. The surrounding coast remains exposed to Southern Ocean swell and weather systems crossing the Agulhas Bank.

The estuary forms part of the Garden Route National Park and is administered as a protected marine and estuarine area. Vessel operation is controlled by national maritime law, conservation regulations, marked channels and local harbour requirements. Ocean swell, tide height and tidal stream determine whether the Heads are open to a yacht of a given size and draught. Conditions inside the lagoon do not indicate the sea state at the entrance. Knysna must be treated as a bar entrance rather than an open commercial harbour.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - History

The Knysna estuary was used by Khoisan communities before European settlement, with shell middens, stone tools and other archaeological deposits recording the use of marine and forest resources. Archaeological work on the Western Head has identified a stone-tool production site dating back approximately 300,000 years. The site contains evidence of repeated stone working close to the coast during the Middle Stone Age. Later occupation sites around the estuary contain shellfish remains, pottery and stone implements. These sites are protected, and artefacts must not be removed or disturbed.

George Rex acquired Melkhoutkraal on the northern side of the estuary in 1804 and later acquired additional land around the lagoon. The Royal Navy transport brig Emu became the first recorded European vessel to enter the Heads in April 1817, striking the rock now known as Emu Rock during the passage. The vessel was damaged and beached inside the estuary. Knysna subsequently developed as a timber-export port serving the surrounding indigenous forests and inland sawmills. Coastal vessels used the Heads to load timber and supplies until road and rail transport replaced most commercial shipping, while wrecks including the German vessel Paquita record the continuing danger of the entrance.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Ocean Currents and Tidal Flow

The offshore Agulhas Current flows southwestward beyond the continental shelf and does not run directly through Knysna Bay. Current intrusions, eddies and coastal counterflows can alter the set experienced outside the Heads. A yacht approaching from the east can receive a southwest set offshore, while an eastbound yacht can meet a direct adverse current. Southwest wind opposing the Agulhas Current produces steep seas on the outer Agulhas Bank. The coastal water near Knysna is less predictable than the main current and must be assessed from heading, course over ground and observed drift.

The estuary is tide-dominated and has a semi-diurnal cycle with two high waters and two low waters during each lunar day. Tidal flow at the Heads can reach approximately 1 metre per second, equivalent to about 2 knots, while flow near Thesen Island can approach 0.5 metre per second, equivalent to about 1 knot. The flood carries marine sand into the estuary and maintains shoals between the Heads, Leisure Island and Thesen Island. The ebb accelerates through the narrow entrance and produces overfalls where it meets incoming ocean swell. Enter during the final hour of the flood before high water and do not attempt entry against a developed ebb stream.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Weather

Cold fronts pass from west to east throughout the year and occur more frequently during winter. Pressure falls ahead of a front as wind develops from north or northwest, followed by a shift through west to southwest. Rain, low cloud and reduced visibility accompany the frontal passage. Southwest swell can remain after the local wind has reduced and can continue breaking across the entrance. The condition of the Heads must therefore be checked after every frontal passage regardless of the wind recorded inside the estuary.

Summer weather contains longer periods of east and southeast wind, coastal low-pressure systems and inland thunderstorms. Sustained easterly wind drives sea and swell directly toward the Heads and can close the entrance even when the weather inside Knysna remains settled. Fog and low cloud can obscure the leading lights, headlands and channel marks. Thunderstorm outflows can produce sudden wind shifts and reduced visibility over the lagoon. Entry requires daylight, visible leading marks and a direct view of the breaking pattern between the Heads.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Local Winds

East and southeast winds are the main onshore winds affecting the entrance. These winds build a short sea across the coastal approach and increase breaking water over the entrance shoals. An easterly operating against an ebb stream produces the critical combination of steep waves, reduced steering control and breaking crests. The lagoon provides no evidence of this condition because the Heads block most of the ocean sea. Delay entry while white water extends across the usable channel or wave height at the entrance exceeds 2 metres.

West and southwest winds follow frontal systems and can produce gusts through the Heads and across the lagoon. The western land reduces part of the local wind-generated sea, but offshore southwest swell can continue entering the channel. The regional berg wind arrives from north or northwest ahead of a front or coastal low and carries dry air from the interior. It can end with a rapid shift to west or southwest and a fall in temperature.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Approaches

From the west, maintain an offing of at least 0.5 nautical mile from the Western Head because rock and foul ground extend south to approximately 34°05.3′S. Do not pass close under the cliffs to shorten the approach. Remain in water deeper than 20 metres until both Heads, the entrance and the leading marks are identified. Approach the position near 34°05.5′S, 23°03.5′E from seaward. This position places the yacht south of the entrance and close to the 006-degree leading line.

From the east, clear the rocky coast extending south from the Eastern Head to approximately 34°05.4′S. Give the cape more than 1 nautical mile where swell is breaking on the outer rocks. Fishing craft, passenger vessels and small powerboats can operate near the entrance but do not establish that conditions are safe for a yacht. Confirm that no breaking line crosses the channel and that individual waves remain below 2 metres. Do not close inside the 20-metre contour until the entry track and escape route are established.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Navigation

The entry track begins from the offshore safe position on the 006-degree leading line formed by the front light at Fountain Point and the rear light near Leisure Island. Hold the transit while entering between the Heads and pass west of Emu Rock at approximately 34°04.87′S, 23°03.64′E. Duiker Rocks remain to port during the initial section. Continue toward Fountain Point and pass approximately 30 metres off it in the deepest part of the channel. Do not allow the flood stream to set the yacht east toward the rocks or west outside the marked water.

Make the port alteration immediately before Fountain Point comes abeam, then follow the western side of the navigable channel toward Green Point, Best Cove and Monkey Point. The flood stream can carry a yacht north onto the shoals if the turn is delayed. Continue through the charted safe-water marks, then use the white transit beacons on the lower Western Head astern to maintain the required channel line. Follow the marked channel north toward Thesen Island without crossing the banks on either side. No continuous VHF watch is maintained for the entrance, Knysna Yacht Club or Knysna Quays, so entry and berth arrangements must be completed by telephone before arrival.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Lighthouses and Lights

Fountain Point Front Leading Light. The Fountain Point front light marks the forward end of the main entrance leading line. The characteristic is a white flash every 3 seconds, recorded as Fl W 3s. The light stands near the western side of the inner entrance. When aligned with the rear light near Leisure Island, it establishes an approximate course of 006 degrees through the outer channel. It is not a turning mark, and the vessel must alter course before passing Fountain Point.

Leisure Island Rear Leading Light. The rear leading light stands approximately 910 metres behind the Fountain Point light when viewed from seaward. The characteristic is recorded as a quick red light, Q R. The greater elevation separates it from the front light when approaching from offshore. Background lighting around Leisure Island and the northern lagoon can make the light difficult to distinguish at night. Entry must not be attempted when the transit cannot be identified continuously.

Western Head Transit Beacons. White transit beacons on the lower Western Head provide a stern transit after the yacht has passed Fountain Point and turned into the inner channel. Keep the marks aligned while proceeding toward the first safe-water marks. These are daymarks rather than a substitute for the charted leading lights. Rain, mist and low cloud can obscure the beacons.

Channel Marks and Safe-Water Marks. The estuary uses IALA Region A lateral marks and red-and-white safe-water marks. Red lateral marks are kept to port and green lateral marks to starboard when entering from sea. Buoys can move following floods, dredging, strong tidal flow or maintenance work. A buoy position that conflicts with the chart, depth sounder or visible channel edge must be treated as suspect. Temporary marks and notices issued for shoaling take priority over stored electronic-chart data.

Light Reliability. The entrance and leading lights can be affected by local electricity failures. Do not assume that both leading lights will be operating. A yacht without a visible transit, accurate position, depth trend and daylight view of the channel has no safe basis for entry. Report failed or obscured lights to the Harbour Master and the hydrographic authority.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Chart Accuracy

Use South African Navy Hydrographic Office chart SAN 1021, Knysna, at a scale of approximately 1:10,000 for the Heads and estuary. SAN 123 covers Cape St Blaize to Cape Seal at approximately 1:150,000, while SAN 82 covers the wider coast between Cape St Blaize and Cape St Francis at approximately 1:300,000. The large-scale Knysna chart is required for the entrance and lagoon channels. Apply all current Notices to Mariners and temporary coastal navigation warnings before departure.

Knysna contains mobile marine sand, flood-tide shoals and channel edges that change after high river discharge and storm events. Electronic charts can retain obsolete soundings or buoy positions between hydrographic updates. A temporary hydrographic notice has remained associated with Knysna shoals and aids to navigation, making current corrections necessary before entry. Satellite imagery can identify broad shoal patterns but does not establish present depth or channel position. The yacht’s sounder, visual transits and current Harbour Master information control where they conflict with stored chart data.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Anchorages

Thesen Island and Yacht Club Anchorage. The main visiting-yacht anchorage lies west and southwest of Thesen Island, outside the marked channel and the Knysna Yacht Club swing-mooring field. Usable positions contain approximately 3–5 metres at chart datum over sand and soft mud. Holding is secure once the anchor penetrates the mud layer, but the tidal stream reverses twice during each tidal cycle. Set the anchor for the expected maximum stream and maintain clearance from adjacent swinging vessels.

The anchorage is protected from ocean swell after the Heads have been passed. Northwest and west winds can generate chop across the open lagoon, while east and southeast winds produce less fetch at this location. Passenger vessels, sailing craft and powerboats create wake throughout the operating day. Do not anchor in the marked channel, within a mooring swing circle, over eelgrass beds or where the yacht can dry against the edge of a bank.

Featherbed Bay. Featherbed Bay lies on the western side of the inner estuary between the Heads and the main lagoon. The usable part contains approximately 4–7 metres over sand and mud, with rock close to the Western Head and shoreline. Holding is secure in clear sand but must be confirmed by a controlled reverse load because tidal flow affects the bay. Remain outside the entrance transit and the route used by passenger vessels.

The bay is protected from west and southwest wind by the Western Head. East and southeast wind can blow across the entrance and produce chop and surge in the southern part of the bay. Tidal stream remains significant near the channel edge. Do not use Featherbed Bay when the anchor position can place the vessel in the entrance track after the tide reverses.

Northern Lagoon Anchorage. Positions north of Thesen Island and south of the Knysna River channel contain approximately 2.5–4 metres in the navigable sections, reducing rapidly to drying mud and sandbanks. The seabed is soft mud with patches of sand, giving secure holding once the anchor is buried. Access requires the marked channel because the banks cannot be crossed by a cruising yacht at low water. This area is suitable only where the vessel’s draught leaves an under-keel allowance for the predicted low tide.

The position is exposed to northwest and west wind across the lagoon but remains isolated from ocean swell. Tidal stream is weaker than at the Heads but remains sufficient to reverse the yacht around the anchor. Do not anchor across the Knysna River channel, near oyster infrastructure, inside a designated activity area or where the vessel can restrict tour-boat operations.

Belvidere Reach. The channel toward Belvidere contains isolated sections of approximately 2.5–4 metres over mud, but access is bordered by shoals and drying banks. A yacht must remain in the surveyed channel and verify the complete tidal route before proceeding beyond the main lagoon. Holding in the mud is secure where adequate swinging room exists. This is not an entry-day anchorage for a vessel without current local channel information.

Visitor Swing Moorings. Knysna Yacht Club administers visitor swing moorings subject to availability and a SANParks permit. A swing mooring removes the need to anchor among established moorings but does not establish that the tackle is suitable for the yacht’s displacement. Obtain the assigned mooring number, depth and load limit before securing. Inspect the pickup, swivel and visible chain before leaving the vessel unattended.

Anchoring within the protected estuary is limited to a maximum of three days except during an emergency. A SANParks permit is required, and the yacht must carry a functional black-water holding system. Sewage discharge into the estuary is prohibited.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Entry Formalities.

Knysna is not a South African maritime port of entry. Customs, Immigration, Border Management, Port Health and agricultural clearance are not available as a routine yacht-arrival service. A yacht arriving from another country must clear at a designated small-craft port before proceeding coastwise to Knysna. Mossel Bay can provide small-craft clearance where attendance has been arranged in advance, while Cape Town, Saldanha Bay, Gqeberha, East London, Durban and Richards Bay provide other route-dependent options.

South African pre-arrival authorisation must be completed before entering the country from international waters. Submit the vessel registration, crew list, passport details, last port, intended port, estimated arrival time and voyage information within the required notification period. Carry the Customs release, Immigration clearance and coastwise documentation on board when entering Knysna. Do not land an uncleared person or undeclared goods through Knysna.

Contact the Knysna Harbour Master and Knysna Yacht Club before approaching the Heads. Provide vessel length, beam, draught, displacement, engine capability, intended arrival time and required mooring. Obtain the SANParks vessel and anchoring permits before remaining in the estuary. The yacht must have a functional black-water holding tank and must not discharge sewage, oil, fuel, garbage or contaminated bilge water.

Firearms, ammunition, animals, plants, meat, dairy products, fresh produce, seeds, controlled medicines and commercial goods must have been declared at the port of entry. Pets remain subject to veterinary and park controls when landed. International garbage cannot be placed in local waste facilities unless released under the applicable clearance procedure.

No Knysna-specific exemption applies to satellite communications equipment. Starlink and other satellite terminals remain subject to national ICASA licensing, service-authorisation and equipment-approval requirements. Foreign registration or roaming activation does not itself establish lawful operation in South Africa.

Drone operation is controlled by South African civil aviation law, SANParks rules and landowner requirements. Do not launch from a yacht, club facility, marina, protected shoreline or park land without the applicable approval. Flights over the estuary, people, passenger vessels, private property or protected habitat require the operating limits and permissions to be established before launch.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Marina Facilities

Knysna Yacht Club. Knysna Yacht Club lies on the northern side of the lagoon west of the Knysna Quays development. Visiting yachts are accommodated on allocated swing moorings or periodically alongside the club jetties. Depth at the club jetties is approximately 2 metres at mean low-water springs. Individual mooring positions can carry greater depth, but the assigned depth must be confirmed before entry.

The club does not maintain a continuous VHF watch. Contact the office by telephone and complete the berth arrangement before transiting the Heads. Published office hours are Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 13:00. A yacht arriving outside those hours requires a confirmed contact and mooring allocation.

Facilities include potable-water connections, limited shore power at applicable jetty positions, toilets, showers, Wi-Fi and waste disposal. The club has a haul-out facility for vessels weighing up to 12 tonnes. Haul-out work is subject to vessel dimensions, keel configuration, lifting points, tide and operator approval. Provide the yacht’s actual displacement rather than the builder’s empty weight.

Published visitor limits vary between individual berths and moorings. Positions have been recorded for yachts up to approximately 18 metres length, 8 metres beam and 2.7 metres draught, but these figures do not apply to the 2-metre club jetty or every swing mooring. The Harbour Master and club allocation control the admissible dimensions.

Knysna Quays Marina. Knysna Quays Marina occupies the developed waterfront basin east of the yacht club. Berths are privately managed and do not operate as an unrestricted public waiting dock. Entry requires an assigned berth and confirmation of available depth, length and beam. Do not enter the basin to search for a vacancy. Water and electricity are available at equipped berths. Access to toilets, showers, parking and security depends on the berth agreement and waterfront management. The basin is affected by tide and by the depth of the connecting channel. Confirm the low-water depth at the allocated berth and along the route from the main channel.

Thesen Island Berths. Thesen Island contains private pontoons and commercial passenger-vessel berths. These are not general visitor berths. A yacht may use a position only with approval from the berth owner, Harbour Master and local management. Keep clear of ferry, excursion and service-vessel landing areas.

Alternative Berthing. Where no club or marina position is available, use an authorised anchorage or assigned swing mooring. Do not secure to a private pontoon, navigation mark, oyster structure or passenger-vessel berth. A yacht unable to enter the Heads must remain offshore or divert; there is no protected external waiting harbour at Knysna.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Provisioning

Supermarkets. Checkers Knysna, SUPERSPAR Knysna and Pick n Pay Knysna are the main supermarkets within road access of the yacht club and waterfront. Checkers is located at Village Square near Rawson Street, approximately 1–1.5 kilometres from Knysna Yacht Club. Hours are 08:00–18:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00 Saturday and 08:00–14:00 Sunday. The route is walkable, but bulk loads require a vehicle or trolley.

SUPERSPAR Knysna operates from Knysna Mall on Main Road, approximately 1.5–2 kilometres from the yacht club. Published hours are 08:00–19:00 daily, including public holidays, apart from notified holiday closures. TOPS at SPAR operates from the same centre under licensed alcohol-trading hours.

Pick n Pay operates from Woodmill Lane Shopping Centre on Main Road, approximately 1.5 kilometres from the waterfront. Published hours are 08:00–19:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00 Saturday and 08:00–16:00 Sunday and public holidays. Road access is required for gas cylinders, bulk liquids and large food loads.

Woolworths Food operates in the Knysna Mall area at the corner of Nelson and Grey Streets. It is approximately 1.5 kilometres from Knysna Yacht Club. Current store hours must be checked directly because the published mall and food-store schedules can differ.

There are convenience and food outlets at Knysna Waterfront and Thesen Island and they do not replace the town supermarkets for bulk provisioning.

Markets. Harkerville Farmers Market operates beside the N2 approximately 20 kilometres east of Knysna. It trades every Saturday from 08:00 to 12:00. Produce includes vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, bread, cheese, preserves and prepared food from farms and producers in the Garden Route district. A road vehicle is required.  The Friday Night Market operates off Welbedacht Road during the spring and summer season. Trading is normally on Friday afternoons and evenings, but the operating calendar changes outside the main season. The market concentrates on prepared food, baked products and small-scale local produce. Wild Oats Community Farmers Market operates at Sedgefield approximately 24–30 kilometres west of Knysna. It trades every Saturday from 07:30 to 12:00 during summer and from 08:00 to 12:00 during winter. It carries vegetables, fruit, dairy products, eggs, meat, bread, preserves and regional farm products.

Fish Markets. Freshline Fisheries operates a fish market and seafood business in the central Knysna area. Retail fish is sold Monday to Saturday according to the day’s supply.

Local and regional seafood includes hake, known as stokvis in Afrikaans; snoek; yellowtail, known as geelstert; kob or kabeljou; geelbek or Cape salmon; kingklip; sole; Cape Hope squid or chokka; mussels; and oysters. Availability is controlled by landings, aquaculture supply, closed seasons and legal catch restrictions.

Oysters are available through licensed oyster distributors, seafood retailers and waterfront food businesses. Do not purchase shellfish collected privately from the estuary. Harvesting within the protected area is controlled, and water quality closures can suspend legal collection.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Local Cuisine

Knysna is associated with oysters, line fish, mussels and Southern Cape seafood. Oysters sold under the Knysna name are commonly Pacific oysters supplied through licensed South African aquaculture operations. They are served raw, grilled, baked or cooked with a butter, lemon or cheese topping.

Local fish preparations include grilled yellowtail, fried hake, snoek braai and line fish cooked over coals. Ingelegde vis is fish preserved in vinegar with onion, turmeric and spices. Vispotjie is fish or mixed seafood cooked in a cast-iron pot with vegetables and stock. Mosselpot consists of mussels cooked with onion, herbs, stock, cream or wine.

Regional foods include roosterkoek, bread cooked over coals; bobotie, spiced minced meat baked under an egg topping; boerewors, seasoned sausage cooked over a fire; and potjiekos, meat and vegetables cooked in a cast-iron pot. Forest and agricultural products from the district include honey, mushrooms, berries, preserves and farm cheese. Wild mushrooms must not be collected or consumed without species identification and landowner permission.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Local Beverages

National beers stocked in Knysna include Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Carling Black Label, Hansa Pilsener and Windhoek Lager. South African spirits include brandy, gin, cane spirit and Amarula cream liqueur. Western Cape wines are available through supermarkets and licensed bottle stores.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Diesel Fuel Supplies

Do not enter Knysna expecting direct alongside refuelling. Confirm any current marina dispensing arrangement before the yacht passes through the Heads. Diesel is available from road service stations on Main Road and the Knysna commercial road network. Limited quantities can be transported in approved fuel containers, subject to yacht club, marina and protected-area controls. Do not carry leaking containers through public waterfront areas or leave fuel on a jetty.

Larger quantities require a road supplier and an approved transfer point. The berth operator, Harbour Master and environmental authority must accept the transfer method before delivery. A tanker cannot enter a marina area without access approval, spill controls and a clear hose route. Inspect a fuel sample for water and sediment before transferring a large quantity. Use the yacht’s deck-fill filter and primary water-separating filter. Stop filling before fuel reaches the tank vent and keep absorbent material around the deck fitting. Any spill into the estuary must be reported immediately.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Water Supplies

Potable municipal water is available at equipped Knysna Yacht Club jetty positions and marina berths. Water is not guaranteed at every swing mooring or private pontoon. Confirm the assigned outlet and obtain permission before connecting a hose. Flush the outlet before connecting it to the yacht. Use a hose reserved for drinking water and keep the hose end clear of lagoon water, fuel areas and the jetty surface. Municipal treatment does not correct contamination in an unclean hose or yacht tank.  Knysna can experience water restrictions, supply interruptions and reduced pressure during infrastructure faults or periods of high demand. Do not begin a large fill until supply availability is confirmed. 

The estuary is a no-discharge area for sewage. A yacht entering or remaining at Knysna must have a functional holding tank. Grey-water discharge must also be controlled where it contains detergent, oil, food waste or other contaminants.

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Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Marine Services

Knysna Yacht Club provides haul-out capability for vessels weighing up to 12 tonnes. The service is subject to vessel dimensions, lifting geometry, tide and operator approval. Local personnel can undertake general maintenance after the work scope and insurance arrangements have been accepted.

Knysna contains boatbuilding businesses with composite, joinery, electrical and fabrication capability. Knysna Yacht Company builds sailing catamarans in the district. Production yards are not public repair yards, and work on a visiting yacht requires a separate commercial agreement. No verified authorised Volvo Penta, Yanmar, Nanni Diesel, Vetus or Beta Marine inboard-engine agent is based at Knysna. No verified locally based authorised Raymarine, B&G or Simrad service agent operates at Knysna.

OSASA - South African Yacht Assistance

The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA) came into being during the COVID pandemic crisis where they actively assisted entry to South Africa by cruising yachts into its various ports. It is a non-profit company created to liaise with Maritime officials to facilitate entry to South African ports at the time.  OSASA was assigned by the SA Department of Transport to handle the mandatory pre-arrival authorisation (PAN) for all incoming non-SOLAS yachts, both local and foreign. OSASA services include the following:

• Manage and update the online registration portal for incoming non-SOLAS vessels
• Manage the pre-arrival authorisation (PAN) process with the Department of Transport for incoming small vessels at the Ports of Entry
• Provide up-to-date information for cruising yachts navigating South African ports and coastal waters
• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with SA maritime authorities and port officials, and with local offshore yacht clubs and marinas
• Work with local offshore clubs and marinas to develop and enhance their facilities

Cruising yacht visitors are encouraged to contact OSASA. They are a group of willing and like minded volunteers along the South African coastline and will assist with the needs of cruising yachts. This group is known as the OSASA Port Ambassadors and will assist cruising yachts with anything that may be required. Anything from entry procedures right down to directing you to the nearest dentist or barber and anything in-between. There is a published list on the OSASA website as well as on the Sail to South Africa WhatsApp group of the individual OSASA port Ambassadors.  Ports and marinas that are covered are Richards Bay; Durban; East London; Port Elizabeth; Port St. Francis; Knysna; Mossel Bay; Gordon's Bay, False Bay YC (Simon's Town), Hout Bay, Saldanha Bay; Port Owen; Cape Town (V&A Waterfront and Royal Cape YC).

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide – Local Etiquette

Knysna estuary is a protected national-park waterway. Keep within marked channels, comply with local speed limits and reduce wake near moorings, paddlers, sailing dinghies, fishing craft and shore facilities. Do not enter eelgrass beds, bird areas, oyster leases or marked conservation zones.

Passenger vessels operate fixed routes between the waterfront, Thesen Island, Featherbed Bay and the Heads. Do not obstruct their landing areas or hold position in a turning basin. Maintain a predictable course when meeting a passenger vessel in a confined channel.

Private pontoons at Knysna Quays, Thesen Island, Leisure Island and residential properties cannot be used without permission. Do not land a tender on a private structure because it appears unoccupied. Use the yacht club, public landing points or an assigned marina berth.

Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide - Summary

Knysna provides protected estuary berthing after a tide-controlled passage through the Knysna Heads. Entry requires daylight, a final-flood tidal window, waves below 2 metres and continuous identification of the entrance transits. Inside the estuary, movement is controlled by shoals, marked channels, conservation rules, allocated moorings and a three-day anchoring limit. These limits define the Knysna Sailing and Cruising Guide for all you need to know.