South Molle Island Sailing Guide
South Molle Island Sailing Guide. South Molle Island is the largest and most versatile island in the Molle Group, with multiple western anchorages, predictable depth gradients, and reliable shelter in the trade‑wind pattern. The island’s eastern side is steep, reef‑edged, and fully exposed to the Coral Sea, but the western side offers several workable pockets with sand, room, and consistent behaviour. South Molle is the only island in the group that supports genuine overnighting in a range of conditions, and it acts as the central staging point for movements between the mainland and the Whitsunday Passage.
The island’s western anchorages share the same structural pattern: sand, a clean shelf, a wide swing area, and good protection from SE–E winds. The northern and southern points rise abruptly and carry coral tongues that extend farther than expected. The island is straightforward to navigate, but the reef edges require good light and conservative angles.
South Molle Island
Sailing Guide - Approaches
Approaches from the west are simple and depth‑predictable. Offshore water sits in 16–22 m, easing into 10–14 m as you close the island, then flattening into 5–8 m over sand inside the anchoring basins. The depth gradient is clean and readable in most conditions. The fringing reef sits tight to the shoreline and rises abruptly into 2–3 m, with no detached bommies outside the reef edge.
The northern point carries a coral tongue that rises sharply from 8–10 m into 2–3 m and extends farther west than the chart suggests. The southern point behaves similarly but is easier to read. The channel between South and Mid Molle is wide, with 12–18 m in the centre and a predictable shelf on the South Molle side. Tidal flow is mild but accelerates slightly on the ebb. Approaches should be made in good light; late‑afternoon glare from the west can flatten the reef contrast.
South Molle Island Sailing Guide - Main Western Anchorage
The primary anchorage sits in 5–8 m over sand and performs reliably in SE–E trade‑wind conditions. The basin is wide, the holding is firm, and the island’s height provides effective wind shadow. Gusting off the slopes is common but manageable. This is the most consistent overnight option in the Molle Group.
South Molle Island Sailing Guide - Northwestern Pocket
A smaller basin in 4–6 m over sand, offering good shelter in SE–E winds but less room than the main anchorage. The coral tongue on the northern point must be avoided; it rises abruptly and extends farther west than expected.
South Molle Island Sailing Guide - Southwestern Pocket
A shallow basin in 4–6 m over sand, workable in moderate trades but more exposed to southerly wrap. The southern point’s reef edge is tight and requires careful positioning. All western anchorages become exposed in W–NW winds and develop movement in N–NE winds. The island has no workable anchorages on the eastern side.
South Molle Island
Sailing Guide - Navigation
Navigation around South Molle is straightforward. The western side has a clean depth gradient, wide shelves, and minimal coral inside the anchoring areas. The eastern side is steep and fully reef‑edged, with no anchoring potential. The northern and southern points rise abruptly and must be given wide clearance.
The channel between South and Mid Molle is wide and simple, with 12–18 m in the centre and a predictable shelf on the South Molle side. The channel between South Molle and Long Island is similarly straightforward, with 14–20 m in the centre and no detached hazards. Tidal flow is mild but can create small eddies near the points. The island offers no hidden shoals or uncharted bommies; all hazards are visible in good light.
South Molle Island
Sailing Guide - Weather
South Molle performs best in the SE–E trade‑wind regime. The western anchorages remain settled in moderate trades, with only minor gusting off the slopes. In 15–20 knots SE, the main anchorage stays comfortable, though the gusts become more noticeable. In E–NE winds, the anchorages remain usable but begin to open slightly.
Northerlies introduce movement, especially in the northwestern pocket. Westerlies expose all western anchorages and make them unsuitable for overnighting. Southerlies wrap into the southwestern pocket depending on angle and strength; S–SE is workable, S–SW is not. Calm conditions produce a quiet, predictable anchorage with excellent visibility and easy access to the surrounding islands.
South Molle Island
Sailing Guide - Fishing
Fishing around South Molle is shaped by reef edges, rubble patches, and the influence of the channels to the north and south. The northern point holds cod, sweetlip, and small trout, especially on the first of the flood when bait pushes around the corner. The southern point behaves similarly but with more rubble and fewer trout.
The sandy margins inside the anchoring areas produce flathead and grunter, particularly on the last of the ebb when bait concentrates along the sand‑reef interface. The deeper water off the western shelf holds trevally, queenfish, and small mackerel when the water is clear and the tide is moving. The shallow reef shelves offer tuskfish and smaller trout in calm conditions, though the reef edge is tight and requires careful dinghy positioning. Ciguatera risk is low this close inshore. Most skippers fish from the dinghy, drifting the sand or working the points on the making tide.
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South Molle Island
Sailing Guide - Summary
South Molle Island is the most versatile anchorage in the Molle Group, with multiple western pockets that perform reliably in the trade‑wind pattern. Approaches are simple, the seabed is clean, and the anchorages offer room, depth, and predictable behaviour. The island is the natural overnighting point for the group and a dependable staging location for movements between the mainland and the Whitsunday Passage. Fishing is modest but consistent, shaped by reef edges, sand flats, and channel flow. The South Molle Island Sailing Guide is here to help.