Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts. Sabang, located on Weh Island at the far northern tip of Sumatra, is one of Indonesia’s most strategically positioned ports for cruising yachts. It sits directly at the entrance to the Malacca Strait and is often the first Indonesian landfall for vessels arriving from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, or the Andaman Sea. Sabang is a designated international entry port, and straightforward access to CIQP formalities and its sheltered anchorages, predictable approach, and manageable clearance procedures make it a practical stop for yachts transitioning between the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.
Most yachts visiting Sabang continue south along Sumatra’s west coast, cross to Penang or Langkawi, or head east toward the northern entrance of the Malacca Strait. Others use Sabang as a rest and resupply point before longer passages across the Indian Ocean. While Weh Island is not a major provisioning centre, it offers enough services to support onward travel, and its anchorages provide reliable shelter for crews recovering from long offshore passages.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Approach
Approaching from the west or northwest, yachts find deep water almost to the shoreline, with no offshore reefs on the standard approach lines. The coastline is steep‑to, and depths remain above one hundred metres until close to Pulau Weh. From the north, rounding Tanjung Ujong Seuke opens Sabang Bay clearly, while from the west the bay becomes visible once abeam of Pulau Rubiah. Currents are generally weak but can reach one or two knots near headlands during spring tides.
A daylight arrival is strongly recommended because local fishing boats often operate unlit and are difficult to detect against the town’s background lighting. Currents around Pulau Weh are generally weak but can reach 1–2 knots near headlands, especially during spring tides. The strongest flow is felt off the northwest corner of the island and near the entrance to Sabang Bay. Daylight arrival is strongly recommended. Local fishing boats operate unlit at night, and background lighting from the town makes them difficult to detect.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Sabang Bay
The entrance to Sabang Bay is wide, deep, and free of hazards. Depths of 40m – 60m persist well inside the bay before shoaling gradually to20m-30m near the anchorage. The shoreline is steep and heavily vegetated, offering few visual transits, but the bay is easy to navigate with updated chart or chartplotter support and clear daylight. The only areas requiring caution are the shallow shelf near the ferry terminal and the mooring fields used by local boats
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Anchorage
The primary anchorage lies in the central part of the bay, west of the ferry terminal and east of the small headland. Depths range from 15m to 25m over sand and mud, providing excellent holding and generous swinging room. The bay is well protected from swell, and although the afternoon sea breeze can create a light chop, conditions remain comfortable. Closer to shore the bottom shoals to 10m-12m, but yachts should avoid the inner margin where local moorings and small fishing boats are concentrated. A quieter alternative exists at Gapang and Iboih on the island’s western side, but coral shelves require careful daylight navigation and the area is not suitable for CIQP.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Hazards
Sabang is generally safe and predictable, though skippers should remain aware of unlit fishing boats at night, floating debris after heavy rain, and coral shelves near Gapang and Iboih. Local moorings near the ferry terminal should be avoided, and occasional squalls can produce brief gusts, though the anchorage holds well in all typical conditions. VHF works reliably within the bay, mobile coverage is strong, and satellite systems function normally. Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts Hazards
- Unlit fishing boats at night
- Floating debris after heavy rain
- Coral shelves near Gapang and Iboih
- Local moorings near the ferry terminal
- Occasional strong gusts during squalls
Overall, Sabang is one of Indonesia’s safest and simplest anchorages.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts CIQP Procedures
Clearance in Sabang is straightforward. Sabang is an official international clearance port, and procedures are well established for foreign yachts. The standard Indonesian entry sequence applies: Quarantine, Customs, Immigration, and Harbormaster (Syahbandar) and the Harbourmaster located near the ferry terminal. Officials are familiar with yacht procedures, and although the process involves several forms and stamps, it is generally efficient. Most yachts complete formalities within a few hours.
Key requirements include the usual Yacht Declaration or equivalent pre‑arrival documentation arranged online before entering Indonesia. Multiple copies of the crew list, ship’s papers, passports, and previous port clearance. Officials may visit the yacht at anchor or request that the skipper come ashore to complete paperwork. Quarantine may inspect the vessel for food items, plants, and animals. They may ask for a garbage declaration. Customs will record the vessel’s equipment list and may seal alcohol stores. Immigration will stamp passports according to the visa type arranged in advance. The Harbormaster issues the domestic cruising permit required for movement between Indonesian ports.
All communication equipment should be declared. Satellite systems such as Iridium and Inmarsat are accepted without issue, and while Starlink is widely used by visiting yachts, it technically requires registration under Indonesian telecommunications rules.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Local Weather
Weh Island experiences a tropical climate with consistent temperatures and two main seasons influenced by the monsoon cycle.
Northeast Monsoon (November–March)
- Light to moderate northeasterly winds.
- Occasional rain showers and squalls.
- Seas generally calm on the western side of the island.
- Increased rainfall in December and January.
Southwest Monsoon (May–September)
- Winds shift to the southwest, often 10–20 knots.
- Seas can be rougher on the western approaches.
- Drier conditions with less frequent rain.
The transitional months of April and October bring variable winds and calm seas. Sabang Bay remains well protected in most conditions, making it a reliable anchorage year‑round.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Fuel and Water
Fuel is obtained via jerry cans from local fuel stations, and although quality is generally good, filtering is recommended. There is no yacht‑friendly dockside fuel pump, so all transfers must be managed by dinghy, sometimes with assistance from local operators.
Water is also obtained by jerry can from local vendors, with variable quality that most yachts treat with onboard filtration or UV sterilisation. Supplies are adequate for topping up but not for full tank fills.
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Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts - Provisioning
Supermarkets. Market City, Kota Sabang in central Sabang, Market City is one of the island’s better-stocked supermarkets. Sabang has only small general stores, concentrated around the ferry terminal and town centre. Indomaret and Alfamart. Small convenience‑style stores offering packaged goods, snacks, drinks, and basic household items. Local minimarkets are scattered around Sabang town; useful for dry goods and simple staples. Stock levels vary and the range is limited. Iboih Jaya near the popular diving village of Iboih.
Market. Pasar Pagi Sabang. This is the island’s primary wet market. It opens early and is the main source of fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, tofu, and tempeh. Supply depends on local farming and arriving boats, but this is the central, reliable fresh‑produce market for the whole island. Sabang Central Market is the secondary market area, smaller and less consistent than Pasar Pagi. It offers some fresh produce and household items but does not match Pasar Pagi for volume or reliability. It functions more as a neighbourhood market rather than the island’s main wet market. Iboih Village Market is small but useful for daily produce if anchored near Gapang or Iboih.
Seafood. Local fishermen sell fresh fish directly at the waterfront. Availability depends on the day’s catch but is generally consistent, with tuna, mackerel, and smaller reef fish common. There is no dedicated seafood market, and supply varies, but most yachts can source fresh fish during their stay.
Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts Summary
Sabang is a calm, deep, and secure arrival port with simple navigation, excellent holding, and efficient clearance procedures. It is ideal for yachts entering Indonesia from the Indian Ocean, offering a quiet place to rest, complete formalities, and top up essentials before continuing south toward Simeulue, Nias, or the Sunda Strait. Sabang Cruising Guide for Yachts has a lot of useful information