Who's been to Refuge Cove? What's the anchoring like? I'm reading horror stories of Refuge cove, but also that it's popular.
What alternatives are there to R.C.
Has anyone been there in adverse conditions? What ground tackle did you use?
Been there about 5 times, as it's half-way from Lakes Entrance to W'port, and once on the way to Deal. We sat out thunder and hail there once and always held. It is very sheltered from the W & Sth. From the north, you have a fetch of about a km. It is a bit exposed to NE swells, but then you'd go to the other side of the Prom.
I've anchored toward the western side of the main beach, however the eastern corner by the creek will offer more protection from NE swells although it shallows out. Depths of 5 to 10+m and then a kedge toward the beach. There is a tidal range of 2 to 2 1/2 metres, as you see from the granite rocks. First photo shows sand and weed bottom.
My main ground tackle was a SARCA No 5, and the present SARCA of 22kg, and a Danforth clone of about 10kg as a kedge. Both have about 15m of 8mm chain, then 12mm nylon. Back to the beach; bow to the incoming waves. There is mobile phone/internet signal out at sea (on the Corner Inlet delta and along the coast), as well as a 10 minute hike up the hill overlooking the east.
I've heard other people anchoring in other spots at the Prom, but I've only gone to RC as it's the most protected, and if it was OK weather to sail the 90-mile beach, it was OK weather for RC. I've anchored at Port Welshpool for a month or so, but it's shallow (3m) and exposed to the W if you don't stay on the jetty.
2nd photo is from the northern beach, via the friendly crew of another yacht and their inflatable. We walked to Sealers' Cove. You can see it's exposed to the east/NE.
Phil thanks very much - this has elucidated what I have read elsewhere particularly with regard to kedge.
There's also a little cove at the south end of Waterloo Bay that gives good shelter from SW.
