Pine Islet Sailing
Guide
Pine Islet Sailing Guide. Pine Islet sits south‑east of Keswick and St Bees Islands and north‑west of Scawfell Island, forming a small but strategically located waypoint on the offshore edge of the Cumberland group. The island is steep, compact, and heavily reef‑fringed, with a single workable anchorage on its western side and fair‑weather pockets elsewhere. Pine Islet is uninhabited, with no facilities, and is used primarily as a short‑stay anchorage or a staging point for vessels moving between the Cumberland Islands and offshore GBR islands.
The underwater profile around Pine Islet is abrupt, with offshore depths of 28–46 m reducing quickly to 14–20 m near the shoreline. Inside the anchoring zones, depths settle into 8–12 m over firm sand with isolated coral. Fringing reef is extensive and rises from 3–6 m into the reef flat, restricting swing room and narrowing anchoring bands. The western side provides the only reliable shelter in SE–E winds, while the eastern and southern sides are exposed and only workable in calm conditions.
Pine Islet Sailing
Guide - Approaches
Pine Islet lies offshore from the main Cumberland chain and is used as a minor anchorage for vessels transiting between Scawfell Island, Keswick Island, and the offshore GBR islands. The island’s western side provides the only consistently workable anchorage, with predictable depth gradients and a narrow sand basin. Offshore depths remain consistently 28–46 m, reducing to 14–20 m near the shoreline. Inside the anchoring areas, depths sit in 8–12 m over sand with isolated coral. The eastern and southern sides are steep, reef‑bound, and unsuitable except in light conditions.
Pine West (Primary
Anchorage)
Pine West is the only reliable anchorage on Pine Islet and is used primarily for short‑stay shelter in SE–E winds. Approaches are straightforward, with offshore depths of 28–40 m reducing to 14–18 m as you close the shoreline. Inside, anchoring depths sit in 8–12 m over firm sand, with the central basin offering the cleanest holding. The seabed slopes gently toward the island, but swing room is limited by fringing reef rising from 3–6 m on both the northern and southern points.
Pine West provides workable shelter in SE–E winds, with the island offering partial lee. It becomes exposed in N winds and develops a light roll in W–SW winds depending on swell direction. Dinghy access is possible at mid‑to‑high tide, with 1–1.5 m at the shoreline, though reef shelves restrict access at lower water.
North‑West Pocket
(Fair‑Weather Only)
A small pocket on the north‑western side provides a secondary anchorage in calm conditions. Offshore depths of 30–42 m reduce to 16–20 m near the shoreline. Inside, anchoring depths sit in 8–10 m over sand with isolated coral. The fringing reef rises from 3–6 m, and coral heads lifting into 2–3 m are scattered across the northern margin. This pocket is workable only in light SE–S winds and becomes untenable in W–N winds. Dinghy landing is limited by reef shelves.
Pine Islet - Eastern Side (No
Anchorage)
The eastern side of Pine Islet is fully exposed to Coral Sea swell and unsuitable for anchoring. Offshore depths of 34–46 m reduce to 18–24 m near the shoreline, but the seabed drops steeply and anchoring bands are extremely narrow. Fringing reef rises from 3–6 m, and coral heads lifting into 2–3 m are common along the eastern margin. This side is used only for transit.
Pine Islet - Southern Side
(Transit Only)
The southern side is steep, exposed, and not suitable for anchoring. Offshore depths of 32–44 m drop quickly into deeper water, and the fringing reef rises abruptly from 3–6 m. Swell wraps around the headlands in SE–E winds, and the shoreline offers no protection. This area is used only for transit between Pine Islet and Scawfell Island.
Pine Islet Sailing
Guide - Navigation Notes
Navigation around Pine Islet is straightforward but requires attention to steep depth transitions and extensive reef shelves.
- Depth transitions are abrupt, from 28–46 m offshore to 14–20 m near the shoreline.
- Fringing reef is extensive and rises from 3–6 m, restricting swing room.
- Coral heads lifting into 2–3 m are common near the northern and southern points.
- Tidal streams are moderate, with mild cross‑set near the northern approaches.
- Visibility is generally good, and reef edges are easy to identify in settled conditions.
- Low sun angles can obscure coral heads; late‑day arrivals require caution.
The safest entry line is a central approach into Pine West, avoiding the reef shelves on the eastern and southern sides.
Pine Islet Sailing
Guide - Weather
Pine Islet’s western anchorage is workable in SE–E trade winds, with winds commonly 15–22 knots during the season. Pine West remains usable in these conditions, though it is less protected than the anchorages at Scawfell or St Bees. N winds render all anchorages exposed and uncomfortable, and NE winds can introduce a light roll. W–SW winds remain workable but may produce a gentle swell depending on direction. Tidal range is moderate, and streams set predictably around the island.
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Resource
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Pine Islet Sailing
Guide - Summary
Pine Islet provides a small but workable anchorage on its western side, with clean sand bottoms, predictable depth profiles, and partial protection in SE–E winds. Pine West is the primary anchorage and the only consistently usable option, while the north‑west pocket is strictly fair‑weather. The eastern and southern sides are exposed and unsuitable for anchoring. Pine Islet functions as a minor waypoint for yachts transiting between Scawfell Island, the Cumberland Islands, and offshore GBR routes. Pine Islet Sailing Guide for anchoring advice here