St Bees Island
Sailing Guide
St Bees Island Sailing Guide. St Bees Island sits south of Keswick Island and forms the southern anchor of the central Cumberland group. It is one of the most reliable islands in the region for shelter, with a large, protected western bay and deep, predictable approaches. The island is steep on its eastern and southern sides, with broad sand basins on the western side and a deep, sheltered channel (Egremont Passage) separating it from Keswick. St Bees is uninhabited, with no facilities, and all anchorages are used solely for overnight shelter, staging, and weather waiting.
The underwater profile around St Bees is consistent, with offshore depths of 24–40 m reducing evenly to 14–18 m near the shoreline. Inside the anchoring zones, depths settle into 8–12 m over firm sand. Fringing reef is confined to headlands and rises from 3–6 m into the reef flat. The western side offers the most reliable shelter in SE–E winds, while the eastern and southern sides are exposed and only workable in calm conditions.
St Bees Island
Sailing Guide - Approaches
St Bees Island lies south of Keswick Island and forms a dual‑island anchoring system with Egremont Passage. The island’s western bay is one of the most dependable anchorages in the Cumberland Islands, with clean sand bottoms, wide swing room, and predictable depth gradients. Offshore depths remain consistently 24–40 m, reducing to 14–18 m near the shoreline. Inside the anchoring areas, depths sit in 8–12 m over firm sand. The eastern side is exposed to Coral Sea swell and unsuitable except in light conditions.
St Bees West
(Primary Anchorage)
St Bees West is the main anchorage and one of the most reliable in the entire Cumberland region. Approaches are simple, with offshore depths of 24–34 m reducing to 14–18 m as you close the bay. 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 beach, and the anchorage remains free of coral except near the northern and southern headlands.
St Bees West provides excellent protection in SE–E winds, with minimal swell intrusion. It becomes exposed in N winds and develops a light roll in SW winds depending on swell direction. Swing room is generous, and the bay is suitable for multiple vessels. Dinghy access is straightforward at all but the lowest tides, with 1–1.5 m at the shoreline.
Egremont Passage
(Shared Anchorage with Keswick)
Egremont Passage lies between St Bees and Keswick Islands and provides deep, protected anchoring in SE–E winds. Offshore depths of 26–36 m reduce to 14–18 m as you enter the passage. Inside, anchoring depths sit in 8–12 m over sand. The seabed slopes gently toward both islands, and the anchorage remains free of coral except near the headlands.
Egremont Passage is widely used as a weather‑waiting anchorage due to its depth, protection, and predictable holding. Tidal streams are moderate but consistent, with a noticeable set during springs. Dinghy access to St Bees is straightforward at mid‑to‑high tide.
St Bees Island - North‑West Pocket
A small pocket on the north‑western side provides a secondary anchorage in settled conditions. Offshore depths of 24–30 m reduce to 14–16 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 in SE–S winds but becomes exposed in W–N winds. Dinghy landing is possible at mid‑tide, though reef shelves restrict access at lower water.
St Bees Island Eastern Side (Fair‑Weather Only)
The eastern side of St Bees Island is exposed to the Coral Sea and only suitable in calm conditions. Offshore depths of 30–40 m reduce to 16–20 m near the shoreline. The seabed drops steeply, and anchoring bands are narrow, typically 10–14 m over sand with scattered coral. Fringing reef rises from 3–6 m, and coral heads lifting into 2–3 m are common along the eastern margin. This side is untenable in SE–E winds and only workable in light W–SW winds. Swell intrusion is immediate when wind shifts east of south.
St Bees Island Southern Side (Transit Only)
The southern side of St Bees Island is steep, exposed, and not suitable for anchoring. Offshore depths of 26–34 m drop quickly into deeper water, and the fringing reef rises abruptly from 3–6 m. This area is used only for transit between St Bees and the offshore approaches to Mackay. Swell wraps around the headlands in SE–E winds, and the shoreline offers no protection.
St Bees Island Sailing Guide - Navigation Notes
Navigation around St Bees Island is straightforward, with predictable depth transitions and clear reef definition.
- Depth transitions are even, from 24–40 m offshore to 14–18 m near the shoreline.
- Fringing reef is confined to headlands and rises from 3–6 m into the reef flat.
- Coral heads lifting into 2–3 m are common near the eastern and southern points.
- Tidal streams are moderate in Egremont Passage, with a noticeable set during springs.
- 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 lines are central approaches into St Bees West and Egremont Passage, avoiding the reef shelves on the eastern and southern sides.
St Bees Island
Sailing Guide - Weather
St Bees Island’s western and northern anchorages are reliable in SE–E trade winds, with winds commonly 15–25 knots during the season. St Bees West remains comfortable in these conditions, with minimal swell intrusion. N winds render all anchorages exposed and uncomfortable, and NE winds can introduce a light roll. S–SW winds remain workable but may produce a gentle swell depending on direction. Tidal range is moderate, and streams set predictably through Egremont Passage.
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St Bees Island
Sailing Guide - Summary
St Bees Island provides some of the most dependable anchorages in the Cumberland Islands, with clean sand bottoms, predictable depth profiles, and strong protection in SE–E winds. St Bees West is the primary anchorage and one of the best in the region, while Egremont Passage offers deep, sheltered holding for weather waiting. The eastern and southern sides are exposed and only suitable in calm weather. St Bees functions as a practical overnight stop for yachts transiting between Keswick Island, the Mackay region, and the offshore GBR islands. St Bees Island Sailing Guide for all you need to know.