Mossel Bay Sailing Guide

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide. Mossel Bay Sailing Guide. Mossel Bay lies on the north side of Cape St Blaize on the South African south coast. The town and port occupy the western end of a bay extending east toward Great Brak River. The port handles fishing vessels, offshore energy support vessels, cargo movements and recreational craft. Cape St Blaize separates the bay from the exposed coast running west toward Vleesbaai and Cape Agulhas. The position makes Mossel Bay a working stop between Cape Town, Knysna and Gqeberha.

The coast lies on the northern margin of the Agulhas Bank, where the continental shelf extends offshore before meeting the Agulhas Current system. Offshore conditions are controlled by Southern Ocean swell, passing cold fronts, coastal lows and seasonal east or southeast winds. Fishing grounds, offshore energy infrastructure and commercial traffic occupy the waters outside the port. Sea conditions inside the bay can differ from conditions south of Cape St Blaize because the cape blocks part of the southwest swell. Yacht movements remain dependent on the harbour authority, commercial traffic and the condition of the outer bay.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - History

Bartolomeu Dias entered Mossel Bay on 3 February 1488 while sailing east along the southern African coast. He named the anchorage Angra dos Vaqueiros after seeing cattle tended on shore. Portuguese ships later used the bay as a watering point on voyages between Europe and the Indian Ocean. The Post Office Tree developed from the practice of leaving letters in a boot or container near the spring for collection by passing vessels. The bay remained an open roadstead, with cargo and passengers transferred between ships and the shore by small craft.

A granary was constructed in 1787, and wheat exports began during the following year. Mossel Bay later handled agricultural products, wool and ostrich feathers from the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo. Construction of harbour works began during the early twentieth century, with the first breakwater completed in 1912. Offshore gas discoveries during the twentieth century changed the port’s function by adding offshore supply and energy-related vessel movements. The harbour now combines fishing, cargo, repair, offshore support and controlled recreational berthing.

Pinnacle Point contains cave sites with evidence of human occupation extending back more than 160,000 years. Archaeological material includes shellfish remains, ochre processing, heat-treated stone and small stone tools. These deposits record early use of marine food resources and planned production of stone implements. Cape St Blaize Cave, below the lighthouse, contains deposits extending from the Middle Stone Age into the later precolonial period. Both areas are protected archaeological sites, and access outside marked areas is restricted.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Ocean Currents and Tidal Flow

The main Agulhas Current runs southwestward beyond the coastal shelf and does not form a fixed harbour current inside Mossel Bay. Current strength increases toward the outer Agulhas Bank and the shelf edge, where the main flow can exceed 3 knots. Meanders, eddies and inshore intrusions can alter the set experienced by a yacht approaching from the east. Westbound yachts can receive a following set offshore, while eastbound yachts can encounter a direct adverse current. Wind against the Agulhas Current produces steep seas, reduced wave spacing and breaking crests

Inside Mossel Bay, current is governed by tide, wind, swell circulation and local coastal flow. There is no dependable fixed set across the outer harbour approach. Easterly wind can generate westward surface flow within the bay, while west or southwest wind can produce an eastward surface set. A skipper must compare the vessel’s heading, course over ground and visual transit during the final approach rather than applying a fixed current allowance.

Mossel Bay has a semi-diurnal tide with two high waters and two low waters during each lunar day. Spring ranges are commonly around 1.7 to 1.8 metres, with smaller ranges during neap periods. Tidal streams inside the harbour are limited, but tide height affects under-keel clearance at yacht berths, the inner quays and the marina basin. Swell surge can create fore-and-aft movement at the entrance and alongside Vintcent Jetty even when tidal flow is weak. Use the current South African Navy Hydrographic Office tide table for Mossel Bay and apply the predicted height to chart datum.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Weather

Cold fronts pass from west to east throughout the year, with greater frequency during winter. The normal sequence begins with falling pressure and north or northwest wind ahead of the front. Wind then shifts west and southwest as the front passes, followed by rising pressure and lower temperature. Rain, low cloud and reduced visibility occur during the frontal passage. Southwest swell can continue after the local wind has decreased.

Summer periods contain more east and southeast wind, coastal low-pressure systems and afternoon convection over the interior. Easterly conditions generate sea directly across Mossel Bay and increase movement at the harbour entrance and roadstead. Coastal fog can form when moist air passes over cooler water, particularly during weak wind and stable pressure. Thunderstorms approaching from inland can produce short gust fronts, electrical activity and rain. Visibility can fall before the wind change reaches the harbour.

Cape St Blaize creates a local division between conditions inside the bay and conditions south of the cape. A yacht inside Mossel Bay can experience reduced southwest swell while vessels south of Cape St Blaize remain in a full ocean sea. This shelter does not apply during east or northeast conditions. An easterly sea enters the bay without a land barrier and affects Munro Bay, Santos Bay and the harbour entrance. Harbour conditions must therefore be assessed from the seaward side and not from wind observations made inside the town.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Local Winds

West and southwest winds are associated with cold fronts and post-frontal pressure gradients. Southwest wind is partly blocked by Cape St Blaize inside the western bay, but strong gusts can descend from the land around the cape and port. Offshore, southwest wind opposing the Agulhas Current creates the principal heavy-sea hazard on this coast. A westbound yacht running inside the shelf can avoid part of the current but remains exposed to swell and coastal acceleration. A yacht must not enter the main Agulhas Current during an established southwest gale.

East and southeast winds occur more often during summer and can persist for several days. These winds build a short sea across the bay and remove protection from the external anchorage. The entrance can remain usable in moderate conditions, but swell reflection and surge increase between the breakwater and the outer harbour. Strong east wind can also restrict fishing-vessel movements and delay berth allocation. Munro Bay becomes unsuitable once sustained easterly or northeasterly wind develops.

The berg wind is the regional named wind affecting Mossel Bay. It arrives from north or northwest ahead of a coastal low or cold front and carries dry air from the interior. Temperature rises, humidity falls and visibility can be reduced by dust, smoke or haze. A berg wind can end with a rapid shift to west or southwest as the front or coastal low passes. Secure the vessel for the later wind shift rather than treating the offshore phase as a settled condition.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Approaches

From the east, approach Mossel Bay across the northern part of the bay while remaining clear of commercial vessels, fishing gear and offshore support traffic. Cape St Blaize and its lighthouse form the main land reference south of the harbour. The entrance lies west of Cape St Blaize at approximately 34°10.4′S, 22°08.7′E. Water depths remain greater than 20 metres across much of the outer bay before reducing toward the harbour and beaches. Do not close the coast until the harbour breakwater, Cape St Blaize and the vessel’s electronic position agree.

Offshore energy moorings, pipeline infrastructure and support-vessel operating areas lie east and southeast of the port. A catenary buoy and single-point mooring installations can occupy water of about 20–25 metres outside the immediate harbour approach. Maintain clearance from mooring buoys, hoses, service vessels and exclusion areas shown on the current chart. Offshore support vessels can manoeuvre at low speed or hold position without following the normal coastal traffic line. AIS information does not replace the exclusion distances marked on the chart or directed by Port Control.

From the west, clear the reefs and rock ledges extending from Cape St Blaize before turning into Mossel Bay. Do not pass close under the cape in darkness, poor visibility or a breaking southwest swell. Water shoals rapidly near the cliff line, and reflected waves can produce an irregular sea close to the rocks. Remain in charted water beyond the foul ground until the lighthouse is abaft the beam and the port entrance can be approached from seaward. Account for eastward or westward coastal set by checking course over ground.

Fishing vessels operate day and night throughout the approach. Trawlers and line-fishing craft may alter course while hauling gear and can display restricted manoeuvrability signals. Small fishing craft may carry weak lights and may not transmit AIS. Keep outside visible gear markers and do not cross close astern of a vessel engaged in fishing. Commercial ships and offshore supply vessels retain priority within the port approach control area.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Navigation

Call Mossel Bay Port Control on VHF Channel 12 before entering the controlled harbour area. State vessel name, position, length, beam, draught, last port, requested destination and clearance status. Maintain a listening watch on Channel 12 and do not enter until Port Control issues permission. Port movements are controlled because the entrance, commercial quays and yacht berthing area share the same water. Channel 16 remains the distress and initial calling channel when Channel 12 cannot be contacted.

Approach the breakwater opening on a track that permits visual inspection of outbound traffic. Do not cross the entrance on a diagonal course. The main commercial entrance channel carries about 8 metres, but depths reduce inside the harbour and at individual quays. Maximum commercial draught is about 6.5 metres. Yacht berth depth is controlled by the assigned position and cannot be inferred from the entrance-channel depth.

The breakwater head and inner harbour structures can be difficult to separate from town lighting at night. The main breakwater light D6379 was reported unlit by the South African Navy Hydrographic Office on 25 May 2026 and remained subject to an active warning in July 2026. Navigate on the assumption that this light is unavailable until a later warning cancels the notice. Confirm the entrance by radar range, charted breakwater alignment, depth sounder and visual shape rather than relying on the missing light.

Reduce speed before crossing the breakwater line but retain steerage against surge. The harbour contains fishing vessels, pilot craft, workboats and recreational moorings close to the manoeuvring area. Do not anchor, stop or turn in the entrance. Proceed directly to the waiting position or berth allocated by Port Control. A visiting yacht can be directed to Vintcent Jetty, a rafted position or another commercial berth rather than the recreational mooring area.

South Africa uses IALA Region A buoyage. Red lateral marks are kept to port and green lateral marks to starboard when entering from seaward. Harbour construction, temporary marks, dredging equipment and unlit work buoys can alter the available channel width. The current chart and Notices to Mariners control over stored chart-plotter data.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Lighthouses and Lights

Cape St Blaize Lighthouse — D6378.  Cape St Blaize Lighthouse stands above the cliffs south of the port at approximately 34°11′S, 22°09′E. The lighthouse entered service in 1864. It consists of a white square masonry tower attached to the keeper’s building. The focal height is approximately 73 metres above mean sea level. The light characteristic is Q(2) W 15s, consisting of a group of two white quick flashes every 15 seconds.

The light is the main coastal identification mark for Mossel Bay but does not define the harbour entrance track. Its elevation means that it can be visible while the breakwater remains obscured by haze, rain or background lighting. Do not steer directly toward the lighthouse because reefs and cliff-backed foul ground lie below it. The fog signal has previously been unavailable and must not be treated as an operating navigation aid without current confirmation.

Mossel Bay Breakwater Light — D6379 / Z6045. The breakwater light marks the outer harbour structure. Its function is to identify the breakwater end rather than provide a leading line through the entrance. South African Coastal Navigation Warning 305 of 2026 recorded the light as unlit from 25 May 2026. The warning remained in force during July 2026. Check the latest coastal warnings before approach and continue to treat the light as extinguished until cancellation is published.

Inner Harbour Lights. Inner quay and working lights identify commercial areas but are not substitutes for charted aids to navigation. Floodlighting from fishing operations, cargo handling and buildings can obscure small navigation lights. Confirm every light characteristic against the current South African List of Lights. Report any further extinguished or displaced aid to Port Control.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Chart Accuracy

Use South African chart SAN 1020, INT 7521, Approaches to Mossel Bay, at approximately 1:40,000. The chart includes a Mossel Bay harbour inset at approximately 1:10,000. The corresponding official electronic navigational chart for the harbour is ZA500090. Smaller-scale coastal charts are suitable for passage planning but do not contain enough detail for harbour entry.

Apply the current South African Notices to Mariners and Coastal Navigation Warnings before departure. Current warnings include the extinguished breakwater light and temporary offshore mooring information. Temporary foul ground, construction equipment and offshore energy infrastructure can be added by notice before appearing in a new chart edition. Do not rely on downloaded satellite imagery to determine depths or buoy positions.

Electronic charts can display the breakwaters, Cape St Blaize and the commercial basin correctly while retaining obsolete berth information. Marina occupancy, dredged depth and temporary rafted positions are not maintained as live electronic-chart data. GPS accuracy does not correct old survey information or an incorrectly positioned chart datum. Compare charted depth with the sounder and confirm the assigned berth depth with Port Control.

Do not apply an informal latitude or longitude shift taken from another South African chart. Datum correction, where required, is chart-specific and appears in the chart notes or current Notices to Mariners. Retain the official paper harbour inset or an independent second electronic chart source for the final approach.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Anchorages

Munro Bay Roadstead. Munro Bay lies west of the harbour breakwater and provides the principal external yacht anchorage. Select a position in approximately 5–8 metres over sand, outside port approaches, moorings, swimming areas and the breakwater manoeuvring sector. The sand gives secure holding when the anchor is set clear of weed and debris. Confirm the bottom on the sounder because local moorings and port-related equipment occupy parts of the bay.

The anchorage is protected from west and southwest wind by the land and harbour structures. It remains exposed to east, northeast and southeast wind. Easterly swell enters the bay and produces rolling, surge and reduced holding security. Leave before a sustained easterly establishes a sea across the bay. The anchorage is not usable during an onshore gale.

Southwest ocean swell can refract around Cape St Blaize and enter Munro Bay despite offshore wind. Movement can therefore continue after a frontal wind has shifted west. Check actual swell at the anchorage rather than relying on the local wind direction. Maintain clearance from the harbour entrance because fishing and commercial vessels require room to align with the breakwater.

Santos Bay. Santos Bay lies east of the harbour and west of the Cape St Blaize sector. The area contains beaches, swimming zones, small craft and nearshore moorings. A yacht can remain outside the swimming and small-craft areas in approximately 7–10 metres over sand during settled west or southwest conditions. The position has less protection from harbour structures than Munro Bay and receives more easterly swell.

Santos Bay is exposed to east, northeast and southeast wind and is unsuitable once an onshore sea develops. Do not anchor close to the beach, marked swimming area, harbour approach or pipeline infrastructure. Holding is based on sand, but surge can load the anchor and cause rolling. This is a temporary roadstead position rather than an all-weather anchorage.

Harbour Basin. Anchoring inside Mossel Bay harbour is prohibited unless Port Control gives a specific instruction. The basin contains commercial manoeuvring areas, fishing-vessel berths, swing moorings and service craft. Do not pick up an unallocated mooring. Port Control must approve the use of any mooring and confirm that its location and load rating match the yacht.

Cape St Blaize. There is no viable yacht anchorage under Cape St Blaize. Rock, reef, cliff-backed shore and reflected swell make the area unsuitable. The water close to the cape contains foul ground and breaking sections during ocean swell. Remain outside the charted dangers.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Entry Formalities

Mossel Bay is not an unrestricted first-entry port for an international cruising yacht. The Border Management Authority lists Mossel Bay for crew movement and coastal movement of passenger vessels and leisure craft. A foreign yacht must not arrive expecting full Customs, Immigration, Port Health and biosecurity attendance without prior written arrangement. Submit the required yacht pre-arrival documents through the South African ocean-sailing arrival process and obtain confirmation that clearance will be conducted at Mossel Bay.

Pre-arrival documentation includes vessel registration, crew list, passport details, last port, next port, estimated arrival time, voyage information and Customs declarations. Carry the clearance issued by the previous country and retain evidence of the yacht’s authority to enter South African waters. Port Control must receive the vessel’s arrival information before harbour entry. Do not allow crew to land before Border Management, Customs and other required officers release the yacht.

Customs declarations cover firearms, ammunition, alcohol, tobacco, currency, commercial goods, spare equipment intended for sale and controlled medicines. Firearms must be declared before arrival and must not be removed from the yacht without written authority. Undeclared firearms can result in detention, seizure and prosecution. Keep every declaration and clearance document on board until final departure from South Africa.

Plant material, meat, dairy products, fresh produce, seeds, animals and animal products remain subject to agricultural and veterinary controls. Declare pets before arrival and carry identification, vaccination and veterinary documents. Waste, food and animal material cannot be landed until the responsible authority gives permission. International garbage can be restricted to controlled disposal.

Mossel Bay remains a TNPA-controlled commercial port. Port security can require vessel identification, crew identification, insurance details and proof of clearance before permitting access through the gate. Commercial quays, offshore support areas, fuel installations and processing zones are restricted. Crew movement through secure areas must follow the route directed by port security.

Starlink terminals and other satellite communication services remain subject to South African electronic communications, spectrum and equipment-approval law. Foreign registration or roaming activation does not remove the local regulatory requirement. ICASA has investigated unauthorised Starlink service and equipment use in South Africa. Keep the terminal switched off where operation has not been confirmed as lawful.

Drone launch and recovery from TNPA land require port permission. Operations must comply with South African Civil Aviation Authority requirements, airspace restrictions and aerodrome separation rules. Mossel Bay Aerodrome lies inland from the port, making unapproved harbour drone operation subject to aviation restrictions. Do not fly over the harbour, commercial vessels, offshore installations, security areas or people without the required approvals.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Marina Facilities

Mossel Bay does not have an operating yacht club controlling visitor berths. Recreational moorings and visitor positions are controlled by the Transnet National Ports Authority. The harbour contains about 50 recreational berths or mooring positions, but local occupancy limits visitor availability. A berth is not secured until Port Control confirms the location.

Published marina limits indicate a vessel length of about 15 metres, beam of about 8 metres and draught of up to 4 metres at low water. These figures do not apply uniformly to every mooring. Depth decreases toward the inner parts of the basin, and the assigned position controls the actual limit. Provide the yacht’s measured draught before entering.

Vintcent Jetty provides commercial berth faces with charted depths ranging from about 3.5 to 5.5 metres. Visiting yachts can be directed to the west side of the jetty or rafted alongside a fishing vessel when the recreational area is full. Rafting places the yacht against a working vessel with different freeboard, fender and line requirements. The position can be affected by wash, surge, commercial loading and early vessel departures.

Official berth information includes:

• Quay 4: approximately 274 metres long with about 6.5 metres depth, allocated to offshore and oil-industry activity.
• Quay 5: approximately 170 metres long with about 3.5 metres depth, used by fishing vessels.
• Vintcent Jetty: two berth faces of approximately 143 metres with about 3.5–5.5 metres depth.
• Quay 1: approximately 43 metres long with about 1.2 metres depth.
• No. 1 low-level berth: approximately 62 metres long with about 1.2 metres depth.
• Quay 2: approximately 53 metres long with about 2.2 metres depth.

These are commercial berth figures and do not grant a yacht permission to use the berth. Port Control allocates positions according to vessel traffic and port work

Water is available at parts of the harbour and Vintcent Jetty. Electrical connection is not guaranteed at every visitor position. Ablution access is associated with the controlled port area, and crew require security access through the port gate. Do not route power leads, hoses or mooring lines across commercial vehicle lanes.

There is no unrestricted marina waiting dock. Where the harbour cannot provide a berth, the immediate alternative is the Munro Bay roadstead in west or southwest conditions. East or northeast weather removes that alternative. Knysna has a bar-controlled entrance to the east, while Cape Town lies to the west and requires a coastal passage around Cape Agulhas.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Provisioning

Supermarkets. Checkers Mossel Bay, Pick n Pay Langeberg Mall and Woolworths Food Langeberg Mall are the main supermarket outlets serving the port. Checkers Mossel Bay lies in the central town area, approximately 1–2 kilometres from the harbour depending on the security-gate route. Published weekday and Saturday trading is normally from 08:00 to 19:00, with reduced or separately published Sunday and public-holiday hours. Confirm same-day hours before leaving the port because holiday schedules change.

Pick n Pay and Woolworths Food are located at Langeberg Mall in Voorbaai, approximately 7–9 kilometres by road from the harbour. A road vehicle is required for bulk carriage. The mall normally operates from 09:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, with shorter Sunday hours, while supermarket hours can extend beyond the general mall period. Do not use the mall’s general closing time as confirmation of the individual food-store schedule.

Smaller grocery, bakery, butcher and convenience outlets operate in central Mossel Bay and along Marsh Street. These outlets are within walking distance of the commercial centre but not of every harbour berth because access is through the port gate. There is no full-line supermarket inside the secure harbour. Arrange vehicle access for gas cylinders, bulk water, heavy food loads and engine consumables.

Markets. The Goods Shed Market operates from the former railway goods building on Bland Street, approximately 1 kilometre from the harbour gate. Outside school-holiday periods, published hours are generally Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00, with Monday closure. During school holidays, trading can extend to daily operation from 09:00 to 18:00. The site contains food stalls, baked goods, preserves, prepared foods and local products, but it is not a wholesale produce market.

The Point Farmers Market has operated on the second and fourth Saturday of the month from about 09:00 in the Point area near Cape St Blaize. Operation depends on the current organiser’s schedule and weather. Products have included seasonal vegetables, fruit, eggs, bread, preserves and farm products from the Mossel Bay district. Confirm the date before travelling because the market does not operate as a daily municipal produce market.

Fish Markets. Cachalot Fresh Fish Market operates in Voorbaai, about 5–7 kilometres by road from the harbour. Published trading hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00, with Sunday closure. Stock depends on commercial landings, fishing closures and processing schedules.

Local seafood includes Cape hake, known in Afrikaans as stokvis; snoek; kingklip; yellowtail, known as geelstert; kob or kabeljou; geelbek, also called Cape salmon; sole; pilchard or sardyn; squid or chokka; mussels; and rock lobster when legal seasonal supply is available. Hake and small pelagic fish form part of the commercial processing sector, while line fish availability changes with catches and legal controls.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Local Cuisine

Mossel Bay food is based on Southern Cape fishing, farming and Cape cooking. Seafood dishes use hake, snoek, kob, yellowtail, sole, squid and mussels according to landings. Hake and slap chips consists of fried hake served with thick-cut chips. Snoek braai is snoek cooked over coals, often with butter, lemon or an apricot-based glaze.

Pickled fish, or ingelegde vis, consists of cooked fish preserved in vinegar with onion, turmeric and spices. Fish potjie uses fish or mixed seafood cooked in a cast-iron pot with vegetables and stock. Mosselpot is a mussel pot prepared with stock, onion, herbs and cream or wine. Calamari uses locally landed or regionally supplied squid cut into tubes or strips and cooked by frying or grilling.

Regional meat dishes include waterblommetjiebredie, a stew made with lamb and waterblommetjies; bobotie, spiced minced meat baked under an egg topping; and boerewors, a seasoned sausage cooked over coals. Roosterkoek is bread cooked over a fire and served with meat, fish, cheese or preserves. Melktert is a milk tart with a pastry base and cinnamon topping. These dishes form part of Western Cape and Southern Cape food culture rather than a separate harbour cuisine.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Local Beverages

Cape Saint Blaize Artisanal Distillery operates in Mossel Bay and produces locally distilled gin. Its products use regional botanicals and are sold through licensed outlets. Product names and bottle ranges change with current production, so verify the current label before recording stock for customs purposes.

Common South African beers sold locally include Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Carling Black Label and Hansa Pilsener. Windhoek Lager is also distributed through local licensed outlets. Craft beers from Western Cape breweries can be available but are not produced as a fixed Mossel Bay harbour range. South African spirits include brandy, cane spirit, gin and Amarula cream liqueur. Regional wines come from the Western Cape wine districts rather than Mossel Bay itself.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Diesel Fuel Supplies

Marine diesel is available inside Mossel Bay harbour by prior arrangement. Bunkering facilities serve commercial vessels at designated jetty and quay positions. A visiting yacht does not have unrestricted access to a self-service fuel berth. Confirm supplier, grade, quantity, payment and delivery position before moving from the assigned berth.

Port Control must authorise every yacht movement to the fuel point. The dispenser is associated with the eastern harbour area, and commercial activity can prevent immediate access. A yacht can be required to wait alongside its allocated berth until a movement window is available. Do not leave the berth or shift across the basin on an informal instruction from a fuel supplier.

Road-tanker delivery can be arranged for commercial quantities where the berth and port safety controls permit it. Portable-container transfer is subject to TNPA security and fire-safety controls. Loose containers cannot be left on the quay. Keep spill equipment at the deck fill and stop transfer before fuel reaches the vent line.

South African diesel is supplied under national fuel specifications, but water and sediment can enter through storage and transfer systems. Take a clear sample before accepting a bulk load. Record the delivery grade and quantity from the supplier’s documentation. Run transferred fuel through the yacht’s primary water-separating filter before it reaches the engine system.

Road-service-station diesel is available in Mossel Bay and Voorbaai. Transport into the secure port requires approved containers and port permission. This method is suited to limited quantities and does not replace arranged harbour bunkering for a large fill.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Water Supplies

Fresh water is available at Mossel Bay harbour and at parts of Vintcent Jetty. Access depends on berth allocation, hose reach and commercial operations. Confirm the connection point with Port Control or port staff before opening a tap. Some fittings can require an adaptor not normally carried on a yacht.

The supply originates from the municipal system, but potability at the yacht depends on the shore fitting, hose condition and onboard tank. Flush the outlet before connection and use a hose reserved for drinking water. Do not immerse the hose end in harbour water or leave it on a working quay. Keep the hose clear of fish waste, fuel-transfer areas and vehicle routes.

Municipal restrictions, maintenance and local demand can reduce pressure or limit large fills. Obtain approval before taking a large volume from a commercial berth. Bottled water is available from supermarkets in central Mossel Bay and Voorbaai. There is no water barge serving yachts anchored in Munro Bay.

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Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Marine Services

Mossel Bay supports fishing vessels, harbour craft, offshore supply vessels and commercial shipping. Available work includes general diesel repair, welding, steel and aluminium fabrication, hydraulic work, refrigeration, diving and hull inspection. Service access is controlled because workshops and commercial quays lie inside secure port areas. Arrange contractor entry with the port before equipment is removed from the yacht.

The harbour has a repair slipway with capacity reported at up to about 200 tonnes. Haul-out access, dimensions, cradle arrangement and booking depend on commercial workload. Do not assume that a yacht can use the slipway without engineering approval.

Marine Tech Services operates from Voorbaai. Seas Marine in central Mossel Bay supplies charts and marine equipment and has acted as a South African Navy Hydrographic Office chart agent. Radio Holland can provide navigation and communication support to commercial vessels in Mossel Bay through its regional service network. Ship chandlers serving Mossel Bay include regional suppliers operating from Cape Town and Gqeberha. No verified manufacturer-authorised Volvo Penta, Yanmar, Nanni Diesel, Vetus or Beta Marine. No verified locally based authorised Raymarine, B&G or Simrad dealer operates inside the port.

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).

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Local Etiquette

Mossel Bay is a controlled commercial port. Port Control instructions take priority over recreational vessel arrangements. Fishing vessels, offshore support craft, pilot movements, fuel operations and cargo work retain access to the working quays. Move the yacht when directed and keep the entrance, turning basin and commercial berth faces clear.

Do not enter fishing-processing areas, offshore supply bases, restricted quays or vessel work zones without permission. High-visibility clothing, closed footwear and other personal protective equipment can be mandatory in operational areas. Do not place bicycles, tenders, sails, hoses, power leads or rubbish in marked vehicle routes. Port security can remove access where a crew member enters a restricted area.

Afrikaans and English are widely used, with isiXhosa also spoken in the district. Begin an interaction with a greeting before stating the request. Goeie môre means good morning in Afrikaans, and Molo is a greeting to one person in isiXhosa. Use direct vessel information when speaking to Port Control and avoid informal descriptions of draught, clearance status or berth requirements.

Mossel Bay Sailing Guide - Summary

Mossel Bay is a controlled commercial harbour with recreational positions allocated by Port Control rather than an independent yacht club. The port provides shelter from west and southwest conditions, while the external anchorages become untenable in east or northeast weather. Harbour entry requires VHF clearance, current chart corrections and confirmation of berth depth, fuel access and border status. These operational requirements define the Mossel Bay Sailing Guide for all you need to know.