Lion Island Series 2013
Hosted By Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Provisional Subject to Audit
Updated: 9/05/2013 3:48:56 PM
NAVIGATING LION ISLAND
Navigating Lion Island with Notes on Potential Hazards including
Uncharted Rocks
With the Lion Island Series about to commence the following outline has
been prepared to remind sailors of some of the navigation hazards when
rounding Lion Island.
This document has been prepared with the assistance of Ron Hayden
(Who has had an encounter with "Pinnacle Rock") and Angus Gordon
who has been involved with some extensive surveys of the waterway
and has provided some informative charts. "Pinnacle Rock" has not
been added to any official chart and Angus has suggested that it may
be a raised portion of the rock shelf on the western side. The chart used
is AUS 133 which is dated 1952 and has soundings in fathoms. Later
charts do not show as much detail e.g AUS 204. AUS 133 shows more
extensive rock shelves than those from other surveys and this may be a
result of caution on the part of the RAN Hydrographic Service.
Possible location of "Pinnacle Rock" SEE SAILING HANDBOOK P87 -
1952 Chart of Broken Bay, AUS 133 cropped to show Lion Island and
modified by Brian Gray to show location of some navigation hazards
Yachtsmen should navigate with caution especially when passing the
NE corner of Lion Island and again when passing the western side of
the Island. The recommended safe course is shown as a dashed line.
Passing the Eastern Side of the Island
As a rule yachts should stand off the Island by a distance which is
equivalent almost to the length of the island and then sail past the Island
for a distance which is at least the width of the Island before turning to
run down the northern side.
Passing the Western Side of the Island
When turning to round the Western side yachts should leave at least
50% of the distance between the northwest corner of the island and
Middle Head as clearance and then tun to sail to Pittwater only when
they have sailed well past the line between the headland south of
Middle Head and the southern side of the island.
Tides are very important as the low water clearance at the rock shelves
on both sides of the Island is about 2m less the height of any rocks or
outcrops on the rock shelves. Also waves and swell can increase the
risk of hitting the rock shelves.
Tides and swell conditions should be checked before attempting a
rounding of the Island.
Prepared by Brian Gray
May 2009
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