Jervis Bay to Batemans Bay

Thinking of doing a small voyage south from our mooring at Callala Bay when it starts to warm up a bit. Was thinking of a stop off midway at Ulladulla. Does anyone know how far you can get up the Clyde River (Batemans Bay) Draft 1.2 metres
We have done Sydney to Jervis Bay with a stop off at Wollongong and that was good.

Also is it true there are some challenges with anchoring wherever in Jervis bay>? is it not a sensitive seabed or something.?

Jervis Bay is basically a big O shape with no real peninsulas sticking out into it anywhere, so nowhere to hide when big weather comes in. If there is a big southerly move towards the southern shore, anchor, and expect to be blown northwards. If there is a big northerly head up north to Callala Bay, anchor, and expect to maybe get blown to the south depending on how well your anchor holds. Same for big weather coming from East and West. Nowhere to hide! except Currumbine Creek near Huskisson if you have a draft around 1.2m. Catamaran Heaven in bad weather.
Why go there? Just the cleanest/clearest water on the coast (outside of Eden/Twofold Bay) wide open sailing, surrounded by mostly National Park (no industry/major development), v v few boats, you'll feel like you've got it to yourselves. No I don't work for the Tourist Office. Keep it quiet sailors lest those noisy boaters flood the place.
Keen, with 1.2m you will get quite a way up the Clyde, the road bridge opens up to allow sailboats through, others may give more specific info, have a top trip, lots of good flatties to be caught on soft plastics, plenty of bream also. Make a little parcel with alfoil, white wine, herbs, thinly sliced veges, fish and cook however you like!

Year ago we tried to buy land up the river at Batemans. Took our cat under the bridge and up to Nelligen, about 8 miles upstream. Nice trip, nice spot.

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keensailor said..
Thinking of doing a small voyage south from our mooring at Callala Bay when it starts to warm up a bit. Was thinking of a stop off midway at Ulladulla. Does anyone know how far you can get up the Clyde River (Batemans Bay) Draft 1.2 metres
We have done Sydney to Jervis Bay with a stop off at Wollongong and that was good.

At 1.2m you can go way past Nelligen..... the only problem is dealing with the wreckage of your mast after you wipe it out at the Nelligen Bridge. I think it's only about 3m above water level.

There's pretty deep water all the way to Nelligen; 34 footers get up there pretty easily I believe. We've been within about 3km of Nelligen with 2.1m draft and had heaps of water. The bridge at Batemans Bay opens twice daily. I think it's 11:15 and 2 pm but they often only lift it high enough for the ferry so you should give them a call.

BB does suffer from the JB problem in that there are few ideal spots that are sheltered from all directions. The best cruising is when the wind is from the northerly quadrant when you can go into all the bays along the northern shore and also into the day anchorages between BB and Durras, which offers a good NE anchorage.

While you're in the Bay don't forget to check out Rainbow Beach (that's our name for it - it doesn't have an official one) which is the bay just east of Chain Bay, which is where everyone else normally goes. There's a chain of half-tide rocks running off the eastern headland to look for. Anchor in about 4m of water with excellent holding in sand. Very well protected from NE to WSW and a lovely beach.

The Islands can also be a surprisingly good anchorage in the right conditions. If you go just NW of the gap between them you'll find some clear spots in the seagrass in about 4m of water. Being the South Coast it's easy to just look over the side and check that your anchor and chain will lie on the sand and not the seagrass. There are some interesting dinghy trips to be had, like going through the sea arch on the SW corner of the southern island, or running around to the shark gutter on the NE side of the north island.

The Bay is pretty open in a southerly, though. If it comes in hard from the south and you want to stay in the Bay itself, head to Corrigans near Snapper Island. You can go in behind Observation Head and get out of the swell. Alternatively, go into the river (which can still be bouncy in big swells when the tide is wrong unless you go under the bridge and find perfect shelter) or head south to Broulee.

If it's a big westerly check out Rainbow beach and the two further to the NE tip of the Bay, as they are sheltered from NE to WSW.

We regularly use a stern anchor because you do get a ground swell and it's nice to be end-on to it. There are problems, though as with any south coast cruising location. There's almost never anyone to share an anchorage with unless they're friends of yours. It can get a bit crowded with all the dolphins, whales, penguins and roos hanging around. The water is normally so clear that you just have to dive in and go for a snorkel. There's no big powerboats around to shake your drink up for you. Sad really.

Oi!!! That's my wife you're talking about!

I was ordained as a local when I lived down there and was on the BBSC team for the series against Sydney yachts. They went the whole hog for the ancient naturalisation ceremony; they used the holy VB can 'n efferytink.

Have done a fair bit of power boating on the Clyde river. Would of thought if you organise access under the Bateman's Bay bridge and then stay in the channel you should be able to get up as far as the Nelligan Bridge. That's as far as you could get in yacht as it doesn,t open.