Dzaoudzi : Profile

Clearance

The north pass into the Mayotte lagoon is well buoyed and lit for night arrivals. The outermost marks are now lit (although the sector light is gone) and additional lateral marks guide one through the inner shoals. The east pass is buoyed though not lit; leading beacons are lit.

Yachts should anchor or tie to a mooring in Bay de Pamanzi, and contact the Port Captain on VHF Ch 16. All formalities are handled ashore - Port Captain, Immigration (Police aux Frontiers), and Customs (Douanes) - in that order. There are no fees.

Dzaoudzi port control
Tel:02 69 60 10 33, Fax:02 69 60 13 81, VHF Channel 09

Docking

With the winds and currents playing with the boats especially at night time, you will want to make sure not to anchor too close to the local boats on their moorings. Night time often has the SE trades swinging into local NW winds and the current can cause boats to lay in a fairly confused order.

Another special feature of this well-sheltered bay are the huge, unlit mooring buoys. A surprisingly large number of ferries and barges operate between the islands and when the day is done, they get moored with most substantial lines to their respective mooring. Not only is this a rather noisy experience, but it may well give you a new neighbor at midnight, swinging some 60 meters around its mooring. Staying well away from these moorings is therefore a good idea.

Yacht Clubs

The Yacht club in the bottom of the Pamanzi Bay is a very local affair with a great Friday evening BBQ, a well-stocked bar, 2 washing machines and well informed people who happily assist you in finding all the local help there is.

Visiting yachts can have 15 days free membership; drinks can be bought here but no food. There are also showers, washing machines, water and e-mail facilities, also internet access. You have to buy a "card" in values of 10 or 20 Euros and these have spaces which will be crossed off in accordance with what service you use e.g. washing is 4 crosses, shower 1 etc.

The club also has a drying wall and haulout facilities.

Related Reports

French for Cruisers Book Review (06 Dec 2007)

Note On Mayotte Security (04 Oct 2007)

Email Address Dzaoudzi Yacht Club  (26 May 2005)

Website for Cape of Good Hope cruising route (31 Dec 2001)

Sights to see in Mayotte (18 Sep 2001)

Formalities arriving and leaving Mayotte (18 Sep 2001)

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EU extends VAT grace period for non-EU boats to 18 months (12 Aug 2001)