Nacala
14º 47' S, 40º 68' E
Nacala is possibly the finest natural deepwater port in Africa
although facilities are minimal. Extremely well protected inside the
port. Anchor off a small beach 200m before the wharf. Fuel and water
is available as well as customs and immigration facilities. Basic
provisions in the small town but not advisable to leave your boat
unattended as youngsters paddle out in dugouts selling fruit, etc.
Mozambique Island
15º 01' S, 40º 44' E Admiralty chart 653
A "World Heritage" site. Plan to arrive in good daylight as
the channel marker buoys are not always in place so it is advisable to
also visually follow the channel as marked on the chart. Good holding
in sand and good protection will be found behind (northwest) the
island off a small beach near the pier. There are interesting ruins of
an old fort and the old Portuguese governor's house has been turned
into a very interesting museum. Basic supplies are available on the
island.
Bazaruto
The Bazaruto Archipelago is another safe hide-away on the Mozambique
coast. Follow the channel as per the chart and anchorage on sand is on
the South of 
Santa
Carolina Island (in the middle of the bay). In a South-westerly move
further into the bay to the lee of Benguera Island - be careful to
follow the channels (the author had a crew member up on the spreader
to see the channel). It is always safer to move on a 3/4 incoming tide
in this bay. There are a number of small holiday resorts in the area.
Wonderful diving and fishing. Supplies are available in the village of
Vilancoulos in the S/W corner of the bay.
Inhambane
23º 52' S, 35º 23' E. BA 2931, 647
The bar is dangerous in rough seas! You should only enter on a roughly
3/4 incoming tide as currents can be very strong. The buoys are not
always in place but the author approached from east to the position
where the fairway buoy should be and then the following waypoints can
be used as a rough guide:
Fairway buoy - Approach from the
east to where it should be per the chart.
No.1 Black buoy - 23º39'.29 S, 35º29'.65 E
No.2 Red buoy - 23º39'.72 S, 35º28'.70 E
No.4 Red buoy - 23º40'.42 S, 35º27'.81 E
Once
across the bar the channel is very visible - follow the chart,
watching your passage in the channel. Use binoculars as the buoys (if
in place) are far apart. The author, on numerous occasions, anchored
with good holding in sand near the old wreck behind Linga Linga Point.
Ensure your anchor is well set as a strong tidal current runs in the
lagoon. There is a holiday lodge ashore and supplies are available
from the town of Maxixe nearby. This is a good place to hide from any
oncoming weather fronts.
Ponta da Barra
This is the southern headland of Inhambane bay. The author 'rode out'
a SW gale here in absolute calm for three days. Good holding in sand
off the small palm-fringed beach in the southern headland corner near
the point. Move immediately at the first sign of the wind turning to
NE.
and so on..........(go to 'Sail
Africa' - link at bottom of page below)
