Sydney Harbour

by Cruising Editor on 18 Nov 2005 Sydney Harbour is one of the few harbours in the world where commercial shipping, public ferries and leisure craft share the same water. Around the Harbour, there are many and varied anchorages for the cruising yacht to take shelter.

The Pilot Book for the whole NSW region is ‘Cruising the New South Wales Coast’, by Alan Lucas, published by Horwitz, and it has lots of good information about Sydney Harbour. See your local bookstore, or contact Boatbooks
Click HERE for an Australia-wide List of Cruising Guides.

Sailing Clubs:

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia,(CYCA) located in Rushcutters Bay, is the home of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, and one of Australia’s premier racing clubs. The club welcomes visitors from afar and from affiliated clubs.
Established in 1945 and located in one of the most picturesque locations in Rushcutters Bay, the CYCA has excellent facilities, informal as well as formal eating areas. There is a floating marina which is can be used at a fee by visiting yachts when berths are available.

While the club traditionally has had a prime focus on racing, there is a growing cruising division led by John Keelty.

Visitors who live outside the 5km radius of the Club are welcome to sign in as Temporary Members for the day (some race days may preclude this). Reciprocal arrangements exist with a number of overseas yacht clubs.
Telephone: 612 9363 9731

Middle Harbour Yacht Club, located on the northern side of Middle Head, in Hunters Bay at The Spit, has been a home of sailing since 1939.

The club boasts a comprehensive calendar of events that sees action on and off the water taking place virtually every day and evening of the year

Visitors, if you live 5km from the club you can sign yourself in as a temporary member. If you live within 5km of the club you must be signed in by a member.
There is both formal and informal dining, with spectacular views of the Middle Harbour area of Sydney Harbour
Club Phone: 9969 The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, located at Kirribilli, is Sydney’s oldest sailing club, is open to members and their invited guests, and is not open to the general public.


Australian 18 Footers, Double Bay
Visitors, if you live 5km from the club you can sign yourself in as a temporary member. If you live within 5km of the club you must be signed in by a member.
The simple but exquisite restaurant here is in a unique location and very popular with locals - you may have to wait for a table. It's open for lunch and dinner every day of the week.
Phone: 02 9363 2995

Drummoyne Sailing Club
Visitors, if you live 5km from the club you can sign yourself in as a temporary member. If you live within 5km of the club you must be signed in by a member.
There is both a bistro and the Echo Italian Restaurant, which is very popular and it is often hard to get a table. It's reasonably expensive, but good value for money.
Ph: 9719 9394.
Club Phone: 9181 1421