Maureens Cove Sailing Guide for Yachts
The Maureens Cove Sailing Guide. Maureens Cove is a small, coral‑fringed bay on the northern side of Hook Island, offering clear water, steep slopes and a compact anchorage suitable for short stays and overnight use only in settled south‑easterly conditions. The bay is one of the most popular snorkelling sites in the Whitsundays, with coral bommies rising abruptly from deeper water and a narrow band of sand patches available for anchoring. For skippers moving between Butterfly Bay, Manta Ray Bay and the northern island group, Maureen’s Cove is a scenic but weather‑dependent stop that rewards careful anchoring and good visibility.
Although Maureen’s Cove is inviting, the skipper must remain alert to its limited swing room, coral heads, fringing reefs and the exposure created by northerly winds. The bay is small enough that vessels lie mostly to the breeze, and swing is restricted by the reef edges. The seabed is a mix of sand and coral, and the skipper must anchor only in sand patches to avoid damaging coral and to ensure reliable holding. Maureen’s Cove is not a difficult anchorage, but it demands precise anchoring technique, deliberate weather selection and heightened situational awareness.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide Location
Maureen’s Cove lies on the northern side of Hook Island, east of Butterfly Bay and west of Manta Ray Bay. The bay opens northward toward the Coral Sea and is framed by steep, forested slopes and coral‑fringed shoreline. The entrance is narrow but easily identified in good visibility, with clear turquoise water and coral patches visible beneath the surface. Approximate position: 20°04.3’S 148°56.3’E
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide - Approach
The approach to Maureen’s Cove requires careful attention to bommies and fringing reefs, with 20–30 m of water outside the entrance and a narrowing line toward the central basin. The skipper can shape a direct approach from Butterfly Bay, Manta Ray Bay or offshore routes, with depths remaining consistent at 15–20 m until nearing the bay. Coral heads rise abruptly near both sides of the entrance, and the skipper must maintain a central approach in good visibility. In strong south‑easterlies, the bay remains moderately sheltered, but in northerlies the sea state becomes exposed and can develop short, steep chop.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide Navigation
Hazards
The primary hazards in Maureen’s Cove are coral bommies, fringing reefs, limited swing room and the exposure created by northerly winds. The skipper must maintain a central approach to avoid shoaling and anchor only in sand patches to avoid coral damage. The bay is small and popular, and the skipper must maintain situational awareness when sharing the anchorage with other vessels. There are no significant underwater obstructions in the central basin, but coral heads rise abruptly near the edges.
Keep a Bow Watch for Bommies
(Bomboras)
Bommies is a common cruising term (especially in the Pacific and Australia) referring to isolated coral heads that rise abruptly from the seabed, often from deep water to just below, or just above, the surface. Bommies are one of the biggest navigational hazards in reef environments because they can be hard to see in poor light, they are scattered unpredictably across lagoon floors, they are steep‑sided, rising from 20–30 m to 1 m in seconds, they are uncharted or inaccurately charted. A single bommie can ruin a keel, rudder, or prop.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide - Inside
Inside the bay, the water shallows to 10–15 m in the central basin, with sand patches interspersed with coral. The shoreline shelves quickly near the reef edges, and the skipper must anchor only in sand to avoid coral damage and ensure reliable holding. The bay is small, and swing room is limited, particularly when sharing the anchorage with other vessels. The water is exceptionally clear, and bommies are visible in good light, but poor visibility or low sun angles can make anchoring more challenging.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide - Anchorage
Maureen’s Cove offers 10–15 m of depth over sand patches, with moderate shelter in south‑easterlies and reliable holding when anchored correctly. The anchorage is compact, and vessels lie mostly to the breeze rather than the tide. Swing is limited by the reef edges, and the skipper must allow for restricted movement when setting the anchor. In northerly winds, the bay becomes exposed and can develop short, steep chop that makes the anchorage uncomfortable or untenable. The seabed is a mix of sand and coral, and anchoring must be done with precision.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide Wind, Weather
and Tides
Maureen’s Cove is moderately protected from south‑easterly trade winds, and the anchorage remains comfortable in these conditions. Northerlies expose the bay and can create short, steep chop that makes the anchorage uncomfortable or untenable. Tidal flow is minimal, and the vessel will lie mostly to the breeze rather than the tide. The bay is unaffected by swell in south‑easterlies, but northerly swell can enter the bay and increase motion. Weather selection is critical for overnight stays.
Mechanical
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Maureens Cove Sailing Guide Provisioning,
Fuel and Water
Maureen’s Cove has no facilities of any kind, and the skipper must arrive fully self‑sufficient with all provisions, fuel, water and spares already onboard. There are no shops, fuel points, water access, marinas or landing services anywhere in the bay. All resupply must be done at Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island before entering the Hook Island anchorages.
Maureens Cove Sailing Guide Summary
Maureen’s Cove is a small, scenic anchorage offering clear water, coral‑fringed shores and moderate shelter in south‑easterlies. The approach requires careful attention to bommies, the anchorage demands precise placement in sand patches and the bay becomes exposed in northerlies. In settled conditions, Maureen’s Cove is a rewarding stop for snorkelling and short‑stay anchoring in the northern Hook Island group. The Maureens Cove Sailing Guide is here to help.