Blanche Point
The Point is a rocky limestone outcrop which is an extension of the cliffs providing a backdrop to a gorgeous beach. Gull Rock sits just off the Point. Approximately a 5 ½ hour sail from Outer Harbour, Blanche Point provides good protection close to the cliffs and beach for South – South-Easterly winds. Not recommended in a South-Westerly swell as it will be quite rolly.
For our first trip here we joined a group of boats heading there for an overnighter, arrived around 2.30pm on Day 1. We checked in with our mate in the monohull about where we were all going to anchor. Imagine our surprise when he said ‘Look for the green sign on the beach that tells you whether you need to wear clothes. We’re all going to anchor just before that’. Peter and I looked at one another and said at the same time …. ‘It’s Maslin’s Beach’. Maslin’s is famous throughout Australia, and we had known about it since we were teenagers. Maslin’s is the one and only sanctioned nudist beach in South Australia. The section nearest the car park is clothed, the section nearest to Blanche Point clothing is optional.
The outcrop has a large flat area on top which is a mecca for wedding photography. We were fortunate on our second trip here to sit in the cockpit with a wine and watch a wedding party make the most of the changing colours of sunset. Whether you’re a naturalist or not, this is a great spot for an overnighter or a stop-over on your way further south.
Anchoring & Mooring
Mooring is not available here, but there is good anchoring in sand.
Port Willunga
NB Port Willunga is literally around the corner from Blanche Point.
Our first trip to Port Willunga was part of a longer planned sail to Kangaroo Island. It was New Years Eve 2021, and we had both taken 2 weeks leave from work so we were looking forward to a great sail and night. The wind was fickle so we motor-sailed for the most part arriving around 7-ish. The horseshoe bay is beautiful ….. surrounded by limestone cliff face broken mid way by a wide walk way. The southern end of the cliff is dotted with hollows close to sea level, and the sea itself was crystal clear down to a sandy bottom. The beach was humming with tents, eskys and people were making the most of the water, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding. A few came up and said Hello! Later that night NYE celebrations began with music and a fabulous firework display. A perfect way to end another great year and welcome in 2022.
We returned here for a second visit the following year, this time by dinghy from Blanche Point. Joined a number of others for a morning stroll along the beach to the cliff face checking out the rock pools along the way. Port Willunga adjoins with Aldinga where you’ll find a supermarket, take away food outlets, cafes and the like. If you love the sea and sea activities, Blanche Point and Willunga will not disappoint.
Anchoring & Mooring
Mooring is not available here, but there is good anchoring in sand.
Kangaroo Island (KI)
NB We both have many fond memories of KI, as we honeymooned here many moons ago, though we were in Kingscote at that time.
We upped anchor from Port Willunga on New Year’s Day, and due to calm conditions and winds around 3 – 9 knots we motor sailed. Joining us at various points along the way were pods of dolphins, we counted 57 in total, a record for us in our travels thus far. The dolphins were a different species from those we have seen previously at North Haven, the Port River and St Vincent’s Gulf. The dolphins along the southern coast were smaller, slimmer with creamy yellow underbellies and a different shaped snout. Our niece who works in marine environments says there are a host of different dolphin species in South Australia.
After nine hours we arrived at Nepean Bay, Brown’s beach a popular anchoring spot for yachties was full so we headed further west to Island Beach off of Rocky Point. Next day an early morning beach walk was just the ticket checking out all the plush holiday houses, before strong southerly winds kicked in by afternoon. Our anchor dragged and we moved a bit further west and reset with no further issues.
We moved on the following day (03/01/2022), winds 20kn+ across to Marsden Point; North Point before taking shelter in Boxing Bay. Caught up with a couple from our marina for sundowners. It was a roly poly night with swell and wind gusts persisting at 20kn+, and with more bad weather predicted we headed out to find better shelter. Our first option was Emu Bay then Smith Bay. We anchored in Emu Bay a little off shore in perfect sea conditions (wind gusts 16kn+ close to shore). We took the tender onto the beach for a walk, and got ‘showered’ by the swell when trying to get back on. We were glad no one was watching as it was absolutely hilarious, we were laughing so much it made it that much harder!!
We stayed another night and day at Emu Bay before heading further west along the northern coast of KI to Western River. Wind gusts of 28kn+ made for very uncomfortable sea conditions, put first reef in and changed course a number of times to try and reduce the impact with not much effect. Five hours after leaving Emu Bay we reached Western River. The bay was much smaller than anticipated and a boat was already relatively close to shore. There wasn’t enough room for us to go closer to the beach and still have enough swing room, so we anchored at the entrance to the bay between two hillocks, not great as the swell made things very rocky. A couple of hours later a fishing boat came roaring in with a flurry and significant wake (Grrrr!). Just to add to the mix the guys left their spot light on all night, so between the roly poly swell and being lit up like a Christmas tree it was a long night with not much sleep. Oh, and the boat’s name ‘Shooting Star’, how apt.
No surprise that we moved further on to Snug Cove, though in choppy sea conditions. Love the name, reminded Sandra of the Barbara Cartland romance novels based in the Cornish coast of England. 
It was just beautiful, and the name couldn’t be more fitting. Shaped like a wine glass, the entrance is quite narrow, which then opens up to a bay. There are a couple of moorings here, and we made use of the one in the middle and in the deeper part of the bay. Headed to shore, to check out the large fallen rock structures which were scattered throughout the beach. NB Snug Cove should be avoided in northerly winds, according to a local source boats have been beached here in the past.
We left Snug Cove on the 8th January bound for Edithburgh with overcast conditions and intermittent misty rain. There was either no wind or inconsistent wind direction with swell, so we motor sailed. Closer to Edithburgh the chop picked up as did the wind, 15+ knots. This was our first time navigating Sultana Passage, at low tide, and we didn’t have any issues doing so. The area is heavily weeded, so we borrowed a mooring ball. A walk into town capped off a less than optimal sailing holiday before heading back to Adelaide. Please follow this link for a review of Edithburgh https://seagoddessadventures.com/sailing-st-vincent-gulf-south-australia/