TRADEABOAT.COM.AU | 71TRAVEL | SOUTH WEST CAPES, WESTERN AUSTRALIAOPPOSITE The Cape Leeuwin Light is one of the tallest on mainland Australia
ABOVE An excellent vantage point to experience the surge of raw Indian Ocean power Canal Rocks
dedicated it to all the mariners of the world.
Atop the tower 56 metres above sea level (one
of the highest on the mainland), the 1000W
halogen lamp casts its beam 25 nautical miles
(46 kilometres) across the two oceans.
CAPE NATURALISTE
At least 12 ships have come to grief in gales that
lash the reefs around Cape Naturaliste, among
them three American whalers – the Samuel Wright,
the North America and the Governor Endicott (all
on July 9 1840) – the Halcyon (1844) and the 684-
ton Danish ship Phoenix (1895).
The Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, was
constructed in 1903 on a 100-metre high bluff
overlooking Geographe Bay, its conical tower
rising 19 metres to a light that was originally
an incandescent vaporised kerosene lamp
before being converted to electricity and then
automated in 1978.
Three lightkeepers’ cottages also form part of
the eight hectare historic precinct open to the
public, and daily tours take visitors to the top
balcony of the lighthouse for panoramic views
of the Indian Ocean, the national park and
Geographe Bay.BOATING
More than 4,000 vessels (mostly runabouts,
open boats and half cabin cruisers) and more
than 100 PWCs (jet skis) are registered to
owners in the South West Capes area, and the
number of boats using local waters increases
dramatically during the summer months when
visitor numbers are highest.
The preferred time for cruising the coast
between the capes is late summer when the
winds are generally at their lightest.
There are few secure all-weather anchorages,
and these can be troublesome because of
seagrass, kelp or hard-packed sand, making it
more difficult for the anchor to fully set.
The anchorages are also greatly affected by
swell, which is mainly from the southwest and
occasionally to heights of five metres or more,
but more commonly two to three metres.The predominant wind pattern along this part
of the coast is southeast to south in the summer
and southwest to west in the winter.
Hamelin Bay, and possibly Canal Rocks, are
the only anchorages worth considering.
They are not great, but offer an alternative
to beating to windward if conditions become
unpleasant or the crew needs a rest.
The anchorage at Canal Rocks provides
shelter from east through south to southwest
winds, and is a useful refuge in a strong
sea breeze.
The seabed is a patchwork of sand and
seagrass in seven to 10 metres of water and reefs
in the area are usually clearly visible.
The approach to several anchorages in
Hamelin Bay may be made from just north of
Edith Rock.
One of them is in good holding over sand
just north of the red brick toilet and shower
building, and provides shelter in weather from
the east to the southwest, but is untenable in
westerly to northerly winds.