Last year we enquired about anchorages in Sulawesi. You did not have any but asked for our notes if we went there. Well, we did and had an amazing time. So please find below our notes on anchorages.

We have also submitted an article with photographs to the OCC’s Flying Fish.

We keep a blog in which we have put our comments at the time and added some pictures. http://blog.mailasail.com/seatopaz

We have been cruising for nearly eight years in Sea Topaz, a 43 ft Calisto (20-ton steel monohull) and have looked many times at Noonsite and used information as needed. It is a great source of information for cruisers and we are very happy to share our experiences.

Duncan and Maria Briggs

s/y SEA TOPAZ

For ease of viewing, go to a pdf of these notes here.

SEA TOPAZ – ANCHORAGE NOTES SULAWESI, INDONESIA (2012)

AREA

ANCHORAGE

POSITION

DEPTH/HOLDING

NOTES

BORNEO

Pulau Bungyu

Pulau Bungyu

03deg 35.067’N

117deg 47.264’E

Good holding, firm mud 8 metres, firm bite

Anchored on the north/east side of the island after sailing from Tawau. Some very long fishing platforms on the way. Coal mines ashore and many coal barges; either on the move or anchored.

Anchorage for Tarakan

Tarakan

03deg 17.758’N

117deg 34.436’E

Good holding, mud 9 metres

Dewi and Rory our local contacts arranged for check-in; this took two days. This area is very busy with small boats off Kampung Ajar; there is a strong current. Maxsea and Navionics not accurate. It is very hard to take dinghy ashore; we used a local longboat.

East coast of Borneo

KG Kurung Tigau

02 deg 27.151’N

117deg 58.500’E

Good holding, mud 7 metres

We sailed in deep water most of the way. A large bay with many big FAD’s (Fish Attraction Device). No sign of life.

East coast of Borneo

Pulau Derawan

02deg 17.555’N

118deg 14.745’E

Reasonable holding loose coral, 15 metres

We tried the south side of the island first, but it was on a lee shore. The anchor held during two electrical storms during the night 25 kts.

SULAWESI

North coast of Sulawesi

Teluk Belonligum

01deg19.095’N

120deg 55.428’E

Good holding soft mud, 11 metres

We tried to anchor off the village first, but that did not give much swinging room in between reefs. We explored the lagoon; found 28-50 m, ended up right into the top end. Both Maxsea and Navionics were out by 0.5 min NS and EW directions.

North coast of Sulawesi

Manado

01deg 29.259’N

124deg 49.992’E

Reasonable holding mud/sand 20 meters

Not an ideal anchorage with predominantly onshore winds. We went ashore in the small harbour “The Marina” and tied the dinghy up at the back of a large commercial catamaran. Lucky is the self-appointed yacht serviceman. He helped us to check in, arranged diesel, water, laundry, rubbish and a tour to Minahasa. Good supermarkets and restaurants ashore. The anchor held with 30 kts of wind one night.

North coast of Sulawesi

Kima Bajo

01deg 36.188’N

124deg 52.037’E

Soft mud, reasonable holding 20 meters

The large bay, we went in as far as we dared and anchored between the two resort jetties. We had a good meal at “Cocodame Resort”. Mosque very loud.

North coast of Sulawesi

Peti Mati Bay

01deg 40.902’N

125deg 09.374’E

Good holding sand, 15 metres

Big bay with a Resort onshore, nice beach and snorkelling. Offshore wind

East Sulawesi coast

Bentanan Bay

00deg 59.803’N

124deg 53.834’E

Good holding, probably sand, 15 metres

We arrived after dark. Big bay with fishing boats showing lights.

East Sulawesi coast

Jiko Buhe-Taya

00deg 37.586’N

124deg 32.955’E

Excellent holding, sand, 18 metres

The village of Molobog. Friendly, curious locals came to visit us.

East Sulawesi coast, Gulf of Tomini

Gorontalo

00deg 30.597’N

123deg 03.714’E

Poor holding, soft mud 17 meters

Very difficult anchorage; many small fishing boats, mud banks with very little water over them, not easy to go ashore and tie up a dinghy. Difficult to get a diesel. Not recommended; Wakai or Ampana better.

Togean Islands

Pulau Waleabahi, Kanari Bay

00deg 14.262’S

122deg 15.857’E

Excellent holding, sand mud, 13 metres

A large bay with many fringing reefs, but clear water. Few local huts ashore, very few friendly people. Good. snorkelling. Well protected. Lovely remote bay.

Togean Islands

Wakai

00deg 24.673’S

121deg 52.232’E

Good holding, mud, 14 meters.

The position was passed the ferry terminal. Wakai offers some provisioning. Anwar and Ellie, our local contacts arranged diesel and water. No ATM or restaurants. Unreliable mobile phone signal; the only one in the Togean Islands. Plenty of curious children in dugout canoes. Friendly town.

Togean Islands

Pulau Pangembang

00deg 19.283’S

121deg 56.891’E

Excellent holding on the sand in 7-10 meters

Anchored in the channel between  Pulau Pangembang and the village of Katupat. Beautiful clear water with good snorkelling. Small locally run resort who welcomed us. Hired a local boat to visit no 1 reef (amazing snorkelling), Karina Beach and Jellyfish Lake, Bajo village on Pulau Taolek.

Togean Islands

Atoll reef

00deg 25.275’S

121deg 41.063’E

Small sand patches amongst coral heads, poor holding in 11-20 meters

We had been told that it was possible to anchor there. We tried several times, but could not get a bite and time was running out to find an alternative anchorage.

Togean Islands

Siatu

00deg 28.921’S

121deg 41.044’E

Sand, excellent holding, 10 metres

Large shallow bay, Bajo village nearby; a fisherman came to sell us very small lobsters

Togean Islands

Bomba

00deg 32.171’S

121deg 39.373’E

Sand with coral patches, good holding, 5-9 metres

Anchored between Island Retreat Resort (American run) and Poyalisa Resort (locally run). Diving on the reef of Pualu Taupau with the dive master of IRR (amazing), supper at both; PR was more fun. With great care, it is possible to anchor off Bomba village and in lagoon opposite Poyalisa.

Banggai Islands, East Sulawesi

Banggai Town

01deg 35.951’S

123deg 29.638’E

Sand good holding dropped in 26 metres sat back towards shore in 11 meters

We anchored away from the town, near fishing boats. Dirty busy town, very difficult to find a place to go ashore and tie dinghy up. Many small boats. Jemi and Alex our contacts arranged diesel and water. ATM’s and local market. We visited a local high school.

Banggai Islands, East Sulawesi

Pulau Sidoela

01deg 53.630’S

123deg 10.925 E

Sand and coral reasonable holding in18 meters

Beautiful clear water, good snorkelling and lovely beach with tiger cowries.

Suhardin, a local guesthouse owner, who we had met in Banggai Town came to visit us. He claimed we were the first yacht in these waters

Banggai Islands, East Sulawesi

Pulau Bundu

01deg 55.376’S

123deg 08.930’E

Coral and sand, good holding in 15 meters

Large, well-protected bay with the fringing reefs well marked. Snorkelling not great, on the island many dead palm trees and wasteland. Tiger cowries on the beach. Fishermen blasting the reef late afternoon.

Banggai Islands, East Sulawesi

Pulau Togong Bojoko

02deg 07.090’S

123deg 37.813’E

Sand with dark patches of coral/weed 5 meters

Anchored about 1 mile offshore. Islands mainly mangroves. Small beach, no reefs for snorkelling. Lovely swimming in clear water.

East Sulawesi, Buton Channel

Pulau Labuan Blanda

04deg 26.267’S

122deg 56.297’E

Sand with good holding in 20 metres

We anchored behind the reef near two fishing boats

East Sulawesi, Buton Channel

Labuan Lebutan

04deg 56.072’S

122deg 47.686’E

Sand good holding  in 14 metres

A small island with a large reef. A local man who collects sand from the island came to ask for 10.000 rupiahs (US$ 1) for anchoring.

South Sulawesi

Baubau

05deg 27.147’S

122deg 36.352’E

Sand, good holding, 14 metres

Anchored off KFC in town amongst big local boats; they don’t leave much swinging room! Hard to go ashore and tie up dinghy with many small outrigger boats. Mukmum, from the local tourist office, was our contact, we got water, but no diesel. The good local market, but not much else.

South Sulawesi

Tanah Biru

05deg 32.098’S

120deg 21.504’E

Sand, excellent holding in 12 meters

A large bay with a sloping sand bottom. Traditional wooden boat building on the beach

South Sulawesi

Teluk Laikang

05deg 36.570’S

119deg 32.728’E

Sand, very good holding in 8 metres

Large new power station and large areas of floating lines with small plastic bottles for seaweed farming. We were visited late at night by armed police; they were friendly. We were in a restricted area.

South Sulawesi

Makassa, behind Pulau Lae-Lae Besar

05deg 08.129’S

119deg 23.667’E

Good holding, sand in 8 metres

Arief, our contact arranged for checking in and visa extension as well as diesel, water, laundry rubbish and Sempo, who looked after our boat while we went by bus to Tana Toraja for four days. He was also our water taxi. Makassar is a big city and offers everything you might need.