Profile of a Marina- Carnarvon Yacht Club
by Fiona Harper on 1 Dec 2008
The picturesque Fascine Channel Fiona Harper
Entering the Fascine Channel at Carnarvon on the mid West Australian coast, vessels are spoilt for anchorage choices. Deep draft vessels will choose either to anchor in Teggs Channel, which can become swell prone at high tide, or try and book a berth with the Department of Transport in the Fishing Boat Harbour.
Shallow draft vessels, or those prepared to work the tide have the preferred option of heading north into the Fascine Channel, navigating around mud banks that dry at low tide. The channel is well marked, however silting does occur and it’s best to radio VMR Carnarvon before your approach. Don’t be discouraged though, because the reward of berthing at the Carnarvon Yacht Club marina is well worth any navigational anxiety.
If you’re lucky enough to secure one of the 34 pens, you will find a pleasant, secure palm tree lined basin, that was constructed to withstand the odd cyclone that ventures down to 25 degrees South. But don’t despair if the CYC can’t offer you a berth. Just anchor in the Fascine right outside the club. During the busy cruising season from April to October, this stretch of water has a carnival-like atmosphere.
Boaties row their dinghies the short distance ashore, dragging them up onto the beach, stepping off the lawn and straight into the welcoming clubhouse. Friday night is the most lively when the BBQ fires up, the kitchen staff pump out the meals and members jam on stage with whatever instrument they’ve brought along. Members and visitors gather on the lawn beneath the coconut palms, enjoying a cold one as the sun disappears behind the mangroves.
The CYC genuinely welcomes visitors: they’re proud of their club with its adjacent marina and want visitors to enjoy it as much as they do. On my last visit, I was overwhelmed with the generosity of the hospitality of members. Before I’d had the opportunity to do a food stock take, we had bags of mangos and crates of bananas left on the deck: it had been a bumper season and plantation owners were happy just to offload the produce.
The CYC members run the bar, manage the galley kitchen, clean the ablutions, provide the entertainment and maintain the gardens. In fact they even pitched in to help to build the marina, along with some grateful funding and engineering assistance from the DPI.
The original marina consisted of 22 pens with CYC members providing construction materials and volunteer labour to undertake the massive job of creating a harbour basin. The work took about five years to complete, with members vessels moving in to their berths in 2003. Stage Two, which included an additional 12 pens, was completed in 2006. These were constructed again using members’ voluntary labour, but with the added bonus of a Federal Govt Grant covering all the dredging and materials required to create serviced berths. Happily for the CYC, the DPI chipped in with considerable engineering and design advice, which was all provided free of charge for the benefit of members. It is this type of community spirit that pervades the club today. All are welcome to come and share their facilities.
The biggest event on the CYC calendar is the bi-annual Fremantle to Carnarvon Bluewater Classic, with the next race scheduled for 2010. Entrants are given the full Carnarvon welcome treatment with festivities carrying on for a week or more. The annual State Windrush Titles are also hosted by the CYC and run off the beach in the Fascine Channel.
Carnarvon is deservedly a high priority on West Coast cruising vessels’ itineraries. Whether you’re heading north or south, it’s well worth scheduling a week or more to linger. Reprovisioning is easy with a big supermarket within walking distance, plus there’s a growers market during the dry season, enthusiastically supported by the nearby Gascoyne River plantations. Hardstand and haul out facilities are currently under construction, making Carnarvon a great alternative for your annual haul out.
Carnarvon Yacht Club
LAT 24d 54S LONG 113d 39E
2 West St
Carnarvon WA 6701
Phone 08 9941 2565 Fax: 08 9941 2565
Website: http://www.marinasguide.com.au/premium/carnarvon.htm
For the best information about marinas in Australia consult the online resource Australian Marinas Guide www.marinasguide.com.au
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