Cape Town (Table Bay) - Docking
Anchoring in and around Cape Town:
Anchoring is forbidden within “any channel of the harbor.” Any vessel arriving into Cape Town must have a berth at either the Royal Cape Yacht Club or the V&A Marina.
Cape Town is not a place for yachts that wish to anchor. Granger Bay can be used for day stops, but it is open to any weather from the N/NW and can get swell and surge. It can also be very windy and is not recommended to leave your boat unattended.
If you really want to anchor, either Saldanha Bay, 50NM to the north or Hout Bay to the south are possibilities. You will have to return (with boat) to Cape Town to check out.
Marinas in Cape Town:
In Cape Town, you currently have the choice between the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) in the south-eastern part of the commercial harbor and the marina in the “Waterfront”, also called the V&A, Cape Town’s favorite tourist centre on the eastern end of the port.
The RCYC has 386 block and chain moorings for members and visitors. Bookings are required in advance of any visit. A professionally managed, large marina with almost all facilities, but 5 minutes away from the city and the V&A by car. It also is squeezed in between the industrial parts of the commercial harbor. Visitors’ berths are the first two berths inside the first pontoon.
For marina bookings email: marina@rcyc.co.za
For quotations/invoices/payment: email: diane@rcyc.co.za
The V&A can also be noisy with the motorway nearby but is very close to a large number of shops, bars, cinemas, the aquarium and much more. It is necessary to call the bridge control (VHF channel 71) to arrange access into the marina. Berthing is alongside and stern-to the dock. Note: The V & A Marina has advised that they are already fully booked for the period from the end of November 2024 until the end of January 2025.
Email: yachtoffice@waterfront.co.za
Hout Bay Yacht Club welcomes visiting yachts. Hout Bay Harbor is located some 20 miles south of Cape Town.
OSASA representative and OCC Port Officer: Robert Ravensburg – Ph: 082 555 0876
Last updated: April 2024
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Related to following destinations: Cape Town (Table Bay), South Africa
Port Navigation
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If you are heading to Cape Town or are already there, don’t miss the OCC 70th Anniversary lunch and wine tasting, organised by OSASA on December 12th, 2024. All ocean cruisers welcome! Contact Robert Ravensberg, OSASA Cape Town representative and OCC Port Officer for Cape Town at robertravensberg@gmail.com for details and to register your interest.
We had a very pleasant stay at the Waterfront Marina. Harbourmaster Joshio is very helpful and the facilities are very good. Clearing out was fairly easy: pay Joshio, go over to RCYC to pick up a letter (a long walk or short uber ride), and then to immigration (fairly close). Finally, e-mail customs.
There is a new email address to contact Port Health, portctn@health.gov.za. The old gmail address just has a bounce back message.
Thanks so much for this update – we’ve updated the contact e-mail!
We’ve just left Capetown after nearly three months in SA. Haven’t had time to write any proper reports but I’d like to mention this shoe repairers I discovered in Cape Town. They completely re-built my Dubarry sea boot soles and did a very impressive job for a third of the price Dubarry was asking. Probably the best shoe repairers in the world, I’d say.
Rocksole
65 Wale St, Bo-Kaap, Capetown 8001
Tel: 021 424 3858
info@rocksole.co.za
Agree with Tom’s comments above. A couple of other ‘pluses’ are a very large and secure car park, should you rent a car (difficult over the Christmas period but easy after January 6th). Also, in our opinion, the RCYC has the best showers of any marina so far in the world.
Posted on behalf of Tom Schaefer who posted this comment elsewhere on the site:
We have been at RCYC for over a month and have found it very welcoming, pleasant and convenient. It is safe to walk into the city or to the V&A waterfront. It is a 15-minute walk to the city and 25 minutes to V&A or you can take the myCITI bus with a stop a five-minute walk from the club.
Children seem to be very welcome with many member’s children and guests children around the club. Yes, it is in the port but the facilities are very pleasant. The main warning is to be wary of entering in the late afternoon when the breeze can really pick up and make docking a real challenge!