Sweetwater
45°51’.13N 006°09’.21W Southern Peninsula CHART RYA 3.
Standard Port HAMILTON ( ) Times
High Water
0200 1400
0800 2000
5.8 Height (metres)
Low Water MHWS MHWN MLWN MLWS 0200 0700 1400 1900
4.7
Differences SWEETWATER -0020 -0020
-0010 -0005 +0.2 +0.1 1.5 +0.1 0.6 +0.1
DESCRIPTION. A small fishing village with limited facilities for pleasure craft apart from a number of shoreside inns that provide good fare and beer. Shelter is good at Sweetwater Quay but a westerly swell can make the anchorage in NE Sound untenable. Pleasure craft are only allowed alongside at Sweetwater Village Quay to take on FW due to FV unloading. FV have priority for berthing.
APPROACH WAYPOINT. 45°51’.62N 006°12’.75W.
PILOTAGE NOTES. The approach to Sweetwater Bay is straightforward. From the N there are no off-lying dangers but note the magnetic anomaly (thought to be an iron-ore deposit) some 3M off the coast. From the S there are 6ca of navigable water through the inshore passage between the mainland and Dymond Reef; this passage is frequently used by small coasters sailing to and from Hamilton. In strong W or SW’lies this is a far
less lively passage compared to the seaward route due to the (temporary) shelter provided by the reef. Rocks extend 4ca off Cape S. Vincent. The bar which virtually straddles the entrance is dangerous at LW when a westerly swell is running. Near LW a 2m swell offshore will generate a dangerous breaking swell on the bar; do not attempt an entry in these conditions. The conspicuous Ayton Hotel acts as a useful daymark both on the approach and once inside the harbour.
TIDAL STREAMS AND HEIGHTS. Outside Sweetwater the tidal stream follows the coastline and rarely exceeds 2.5kn at springs. There is little tidal flow in Sweetwater Bay itself. The shallow entrance carries a minimum depth of 1.5m.
LIGHTS AND MARKS. Cape S. Vincent Lt Ho [Oc.6s56m12M] (W&R vert striped twr) is situated on the southern headland. Offshore, the northern section of Dymond Reef, Token Rks, is marked by a light twr [Fl.5s25m7M] (W&B chequered twr). The conspic Ayton Hotel (W) assists pilotage on the approach. There are no lit marks in the harbour and local knowledge is required for a night-time approach or departure. The approach to Sweetwater village is marked by two SHM and two PHM.
VHF RADIO. None. FACILITIES. FW on quayside.
Turnpike Point 0 31 82 16 13 Ayton Hotel 1M 1
28 17 62 72 64 11 31 15
Sweetwater Bay 2
18 29 84 Oc.6s56m12M 123 42 Sweetwater
Draper Hill . 254
112 61 27 32 23 41 R 14 G R
R.Glanfield 63 11
77
020°
2
060°
080°
280°
100°
260°
120°
140°
160°
180°
200°
220°
240°
10
300°
320°
340°
040°
2
N E Sound
Cape
S.Vincent
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