we plan to sail from Port Fairy to King island on wednesday and wondering if anyone could suggest any good anchorages on the NE of the island. Would be nice to break trip up a bit shorter than heading straight to Grassy harbour?
Looking at Google earth seems like a fair bit of reef on the NE end but it looks sheltered down the East side prepared to the Western side!
Haven't done it myself, but I believe you can shelter from moderate W-SW behind Christmas and New Year Islands off the NW tip. Beware snake infestation on these islands. Avoid Currie as it is very rolly and constricted, and there is no anchorage space or public moorings, so you will have to raft up to a fishing boat.
If you 're cruising Bass Strait you really must have a copy of the CYAV's superb "Cruising Victoria" guide, as it also covers all the Bass Strait islands and northern Tassie coast. A great pleasure to read when you are armchair cruising, not to mention an important safety aid to know about where you are sailing.
www.cyav.com.au/cruising_victoria.html
The book also mentions anchoring off Narracoopa in W-SW, but you are open to swell from any other direction.
Cheers, Graeme
We ended up at Currie tied to the jetty as advised by local fisherman. Fine for two days when small tides and low swell but got beat up and damage to hand rail when hi tides and swell over 2.5 mtrs
now at grassy for an over nighter before heading to 3 Hummocks island tomorrow.
sryongly advise seeking advice and gulp from fishermen before coming to King Island. They have been a great help and very friendly.
you can not go past local knowledge.
cheers Tide Traveller