Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide. Sawmill Bay sits tucked into the western side of Whitsunday Island, a quiet, tree‑lined inlet that feels far more sheltered and intimate than the open passages outside. The surrounding hills block much of the trade‑wind breeze, and the bay settles into a calm, predictable anchorage even when the wind is up elsewhere. It has a distinctly enclosed, wooded character, a place where the shoreline feels close, the water stays flat, and the anchorage behaves more like a natural harbour than a typical Whitsunday bay.
The bay is used as a reliable overnight stop for skippers moving between Cid Harbour, Dugong Beach, and the northern Whitsunday passages. Its protection from the prevailing trades makes it a dependable choice in fresh conditions, and the approach is simple in good light. Sawmill Bay is best treated as a sheltered, easygoing anchorage, a place to rest, reset, or wait out a breezy afternoon before continuing north or south.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Approaches
Approaches to Sawmill Bay are straightforward, with offshore depths easing from 12–18 m into 8–12 m as you close the shoreline. The seabed transitions cleanly into 5–8 m over sand inside the anchoring area. The fringing reef is minimal and sits tight to the shoreline, rising into 2–3 m in the corners of the bay. The approach channel is wide, with no hazards other than the shallow margins near the beach.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Main Anchorage (Central Bay)
The central section of Sawmill Bay provides the most reliable anchoring, with sand in 5–8 m and excellent shelter in SE–E trade‑wind conditions. The holding is firm, the swing room generous, and the sea state remains flat even when the breeze freshens outside. The shoreline is close but predictable, and the bay remains comfortable across most of the tidal cycle.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Northern Corner Anchorage
The northern end of the bay shoals into 3–5 m and offers additional shelter in lighter conditions. The seabed is mostly sand with patches of weed, and the area is best used when the bay is busy or when skippers prefer a slightly more enclosed feel.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Southern Corner Anchorage
The southern end is similar in character, with 3–5 m over sand and weed. The shoreline is closer here, and the area is best used in settled weather.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Navigation
Navigation inside Sawmill Bay is simple, with a clean depth gradient and minimal reef. The shoreline shelves predictably, and the only shallow areas are the margins near the beach. The bay is wide enough for comfortable manoeuvring, and the anchoring area is free of coral. Tidal streams are mild and do not affect anchoring.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Weather
Sawmill Bay is one of the more sheltered anchorages on Whitsunday Island, with the surrounding hills blocking much of the SE–E trade‑wind flow. The sea state remains flat even in fresh conditions, and gusting is minimal compared to the more open bays nearby. The anchorage performs well across most of the tidal cycle and remains comfortable in all but strong westerlies, which can push directly into the bay. Swell intrusion is negligible.
Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Fishing
Fishing in Sawmill Bay has a quiet, inshore‑estuary feel compared to the reef‑edge islands nearby. The sheltered water and sandy bottom hold flathead and grunter along the margins, with small sweetlip and bream working the scattered rubble patches near the shoreline. The tide is gentle here, and the best bites often come on the first of the flood when bait moves into the bay from the deeper water outside. The rocky points at the bay’s entrance produce cod and the occasional trout in calm conditions, while the deeper pockets in the centre of the bay hold small trevally when the water is clean. Most skippers fish from the dinghy, drifting the sandy edges or working the rocky points in settled weather. Ciguatera risk is negligible this close inshore. Sawmill Bay’s fishery is modest but reliable, a sheltered, low‑energy environment that rewards working the edges and timing the tide.
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Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide - Summary
Sawmill Bay is a calm, dependable anchorage on the western side of Whitsunday Island, offering excellent shelter from the prevailing trades and simple approaches in good light. The bay’s clean sand bottom, predictable depth gradient, and flat sea state make it a favourite overnight stop for skippers moving through the central Whitsundays. Fishing is modest but consistent, shaped by sandy margins, gentle tides, and the influence of the rocky entrance points. Sawmill Bay is best enjoyed as a peaceful, sheltered pause in an otherwise busy cruising area. The Sawmill Bay Sailing Guide is here to help.