Docking Facilities in Cochin

Created by sue. Last modified on 2009-06-09 20:56:44
Countries: India

In March 2009, I visited Cochin in our 53 ft Amel Super Maramu 2000 and like the good book says anchored off Bolgaty Island & Hotel.

Our cruising chute, which had ripped, needed repair. Upon spotting yacht masts in Fort Cochin Malabar Yacht Club, I entered a small boatyard to make enquiries about repairs. There I found John, from England & his wife Fumiyo, from Japan, very enthusiastic pioneers of the Indian yachting scene. My sail was repaired at another facility which is really a venue for parties and celebrations, however with Fumiyo and her sewing machine doubled very nicely as a make shift sail loft.

I could not help noticing the small jetty at the yard accommodating two smallish yachts. Envisaging the huge improvement in living standards, being tied up to a dock fenced in and secure, guarded at night, with shore power, AC, water and free reliable Wi-Fi, I urgently enquired about the possibility of using the facility. John advised that in a day or so he would have a space as one boat was leaving. I immediately booked this place, as we intended to spend time in Cochin.

John advised of the depth problems, namely a mud bar ending about 20 yards before reaching the jetty, where depth is limited to about 1.8 meters at high tide. However, he assured me that the mud is very soft. At the jetty, there would be enough water, to accommodate my 2.1-meter draft, at high tide but at low tide, I would sink my keel in the mud also guaranteed to be soft and perhaps partly sit on the keel. Considering the pros and cons, I decided to give it a go.

At high tide, we approached and ploughed the bottom of our keel through about 40 yards of soft mud. This required some extra revs from the motor but went very smoothly. At the dock, we were floating free again and tied up. At John's suggestion, we tied a halyard from the main mast to a wooden pile ashore on the jetty side to keep the boat from heeling to the free side when the tide would go out and we would sit on the keel. When the tide did go out, we found the water level receding to about 30 cm below our natural water line.

The jetty and location right in the heart of Fort Cochin were definitely up to expectations, and made our three week stay most enjoyable. The cost, also very reasonable.

After arriving at our next destination, the Maldives, I dived to inspect the keel for the effects of its muddy exposure. To my great relief no damage or wear to the anti-fouling, applied the previous December in Phuket, has been observed to date.

Many thanks to our newfound friends, Fumiyo and John, for significantly enhancing the quality of our stay in Cochin.

Ronnie Shapiro