BECKMANN FJORD (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o03'S 37^o11'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

This fjord lies at the E end of the Bay of Islands and provides two anchorages. There is a long line of kelp extending from the E shore across the entrance; pass to the W of this. Various other patches of kelp have to be avoided once in the fjord. A drying rock lies about 200m off the small headland separating the SW and the SE extremities of the fjord.

The first anchorage is found in the W corner of the SE part of the bay, behind the small headland mentioned above. There are quite a few rocks close to the headland. Anchor clear of the kelp, near the beach, in 12m. This gives shelter from NW through W to S.

Off the beach, at the E side of the SE corner of Beckmann Fjord, we found 10.5m, clear of kelp. This anchorage would give shelter from N through E to S.

When visited, there was little swell, but this was probably the exception.

Beckmann Fjord may well give the best shelter from the E in the Bay of Islands.

BECKMANN FJORD, LOOKING S

PRION ISLAND (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o01'S 37^o15'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

A very small cove is situated at the SE corner of this island. Approach from the SE and work your way in through the kelp between the two rocks, as shown on the sketch chart. Once inside the kelp, there is a small basin, about 90m across, close to the beach.

Anchor in the centre in 2.4m, sand and a little weed. There is shelter from the NW.

This tiny anchorage is fine for a short stay in fair weather. Several Wandering albatross nest on the island.

It is possible to anchor outside the cove in 12m in a clear patch in the kelp. This is also sheltered from the NW.

PRION ISLAND, LOOKING S

ALBATROSS ISLAND (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o01'S 37^o20'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

At the S end of this island, there is an anchorage off a shingle beach. This is the Miracle Cove mentioned in Gerry Clark's The TOTORORE Voyage. A reef extends SW from the S tip of the island, marked by thick kelp beds. Enter the cove from the SW, heading NE towards the beach, between the line of kelp and the kelp along the shoreline.

Anchor near the beach in 7m, clear of kelp. It is sheltered from the N through E to SE.

There are many Wandering albatross nesting on the higher ground and also some Giant petrels.

ALBATROSS ISLAND, LOOKING SW

SALISBURY PLAIN (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o03'S 37^o20'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

The most outstanding feature of this area is the enormous King penguin colony that lies a little W of the Lucas Glacier. 

The best place from which to visit this rookery seems to be off the long beach, SSE of Tern Island. 

There are a couple of drying rocks close to the beach here and large beds of kelp. We found a small patch clear of kelp near the E end and anchored in 13.5m. It was found that there was shallower water further offshore in 10 to 11m, again in small areas, clear of kelp. There is shelter from the W and S.

The penguin colony can clearly be identified from the anchorage and it is an easy walk with relatively few fur seals about. Landing on the shingle beach may well be difficult if there is any swell.

SALISBURY PLAIN, LOOKING NW, BADGER ANCHORED IN THE CENTRE

JOCK COVE (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o02'S 37^o26'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

On the N shore of Sunset Fjord, the headland of Jock Point forms a small Cove.

Anchorage can be obtained in 7m off the shingle beach clear of kelp and sheltered from SW through N to NE. Small quantities of ice from the Brunonia Glacier were in the Fjord, but there was no ice in Jock Cove, when visited. The Glacier is receding and now has only a small calving front.

JOCK COVE, LOOKING E

CAMP BAY (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o02'S 37^o27'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

We anchored at the SW corner of this bay, in 7m, clear of kelp, off the small waterfall running down the moss-covered rock. We were sheltered from N through W to SE.

According to the Admiralty Pilot, the wind does not appear to blow very hard in the bay.

CAMP BAY, LOOKING W

ROSITA HARBOUR (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o00'S 37^o26'W

Chart 3585, Rosita Harbour

This is generally regarded as the best anchorage in the Bay of Islands. There are two possibilities:

(i) The N cove is the preferred anchorage. The cove is guarded by a lot of kelp, but there are clear leads through which you can weave your way in.

Anchor in the large, clear patch, close to the shore in about 5m. Good shelter can be found from SW through W to NE. Although the cove is open to the S and E, with a 4 mile fetch, the extensive kelp beds may reduce the seas to make the anchorage tenable.

N COVE, ROSITA HARBOUR, LOOKING SW

(ii) A kelp-marked reef divides the head of the bay in two. S of this reef and off the beach, is an anchorage in 4.5m, clear of kelp. Approximately one third of the way along this bay there is an underwater rock, near to the beach. When anchoring, ensure that you have sufficient swinging room to clear this. The S shore of the bay has extensive kelp beds off it. This anchorage is sheltered from the SE through W to N.

HEAD OF BAY, ROSITA HARBOUR, LOOKING SW

KOPPERVIK (BAY OF ISLANDS)

 

54^o00'S 37^o24'W

Chart 3585, Cape Buller to Cape Constance

Koppervik is a bay about 1 mile SW of Cape Buller. The W end is protected by Breakwater Point and forms a small cove. A kelp reef extends E from Breakwater Point. When entering, pass to the E of this reef and then follow the clear lead through the kelp to the head of the cove.

Anchor in 6m, clear of kelp. There is shelter from SW through NW to NE.

On the N side of the bay, a low col leads over to Sitka Bay, but it is very steep on the Sitka Bay side.

KOPPERVIK, LOOKING SW