{"id":80410,"date":"2018-08-24T16:26:14","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T23:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=80410"},"modified":"2018-08-24T16:26:14","modified_gmt":"2018-08-24T23:26:14","slug":"galle-marina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2018\/08\/24\/galle-marina\/","title":{"rendered":"GALLE MARINA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr Sarath Obeysekera<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Will such comments below open the eyes of Government ?<\/p>\n

Galle: Updates from Cruisers<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.noonsite.com\/Countries\/SriLanka\/galle-what-we-wish-we-d-known-before-arrival<\/p>\n

By\u00a0Sue Richards<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0last modified\u00a0May 30, 2018 01:20 PM<\/p>\n

This report began with the experiences of two cruisers who visited Galle in spring 2013. We have since had subsequent comments from cruisers visiting Galle (see bottom of page) and more recent submissions that appear at the top of the report.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published: 2018-05-02 00:00:00
\nCountries:\u00a0Sri Lanka<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Galle Harbour \u00a9priu.gov.lk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Posted 2 May, 2018 – from Daryl of SY Vimy<\/strong><\/p>\n

I moored as required by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Navy Port. The water was extremely foul with plastic rubbish. That said, the area assigned for yachts is very protected from adverse winds. As it\u2019s a naval port, security is tight. We had enough peace of mind to leave Vimy for a nine day tour of this most beautiful country. The old walled city of Galle is just a fifteen minute Tuc-Tuc ride. Galle is wonderful. Don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n

An agent is required when entering Port Galle Sri Lanka. I used Windsor Reef (February 2018).\u00a0 Windsor Reef was excellent. In addition to dealing with the formalities quickly, they delivered Fuel and Water. I also had engine issues and they got a mechanic on board quickly.\u00a0 I would most definitely recommend their services.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posted 15 May, 2017
\nGalle and Mirissa<\/strong><\/p>\n

ARRIVING<\/p>\n

If arriving at night, anchor under Watering Point.\u00a0Easy \u2013 the Peace Pagoda is lit up at night.\u00a0\u00a0Go past it and anchor in 10 metres in hard sand.\u00a0\u00a0Please note that when talking to the Port Captain he will refer to this anchorage as Jungle Beach.<\/p>\n

Anchor off the harbour entrance making contact with the Port Captain on CH16.\u00a0There is a prominent rock towards the main town \u2013 about one third of the way from this towards the harbour entrance is a good place to anchor.<\/p>\n

You are now waiting for the navy to come aboard (10 minutes to two hours).\u00a0Use this time to readjust your mindset.\u00a0Of 60 countries I have visited, this is by far the most bureaucratic.\u00a0Have fenders ready.\u00a0The navy will arrive in a large fibreglass launch.\u00a0Two crew (will stay) on the launch, three navy people will come onto your boat.\u00a0They will all wear black shoes with heavy black rubber soles.\u00a0They will write details of vessel and passports in a ledger.<\/p>\n

Please remember that the harbour is a secure area patrolled by armed navy personal and myriads of security guards in brown uniforms.<\/p>\n

DOCKING<\/p>\n

Entering the harbour there is a rusty port hand buoy beside some disused lego pontoons.\u00a0Inside you have four choices. (Do not expect the navy to help).<\/p>\n

The wall on your port hand (N) has a\u00a0*scend\u00a0(*the push or surge created by a wave)<\/em>\u00a0which can become untenable.<\/p>\n

The wall directly ahead (E) is better, but you want to be in the corner off your starboard bow if there is space.<\/p>\n

The wall immediately to starboard (W – facing the main harbour) has a scend and because it is higher your lines will chafe.<\/p>\n

The remaining wall (S) with a Med moor is the best choice, however much you may dislike setting up a Med moor. You will be across the wind so make sure that you (and your neighbours) have plenty of chain out.<\/p>\n

You agents representatives should be waiting for you to help with lines (notified of your arrival by the Port Captain). Hopefully the navy will now leave.\u00a0Customs, health and immigration will take it in turns to come aboard.\u00a0All four authorities will ask for considerations\u201d.<\/p>\n

AGENTS<\/p>\n

Everybody complained about their agent, except (about) Upali\u00a0at Isle Shipping.<\/p>\n

Isle Shipping – Upali
\nUpali’s ‘phone number:\u00a0+94 77 373 0461
\nE-mail:\u00a0ops@isleship.com<\/p>\n

He replied to e-mails quickly, seven days a week, and sourced all sorts of difficult to find help.\u00a0One boat arrived to be told that their agent had been struck off.\u00a0Upali has been recommended by many boats.<\/p>\n

Remember that your agent organises everything.\u00a0Water, fuel, permits for contractors to enter the harbour, electricity connection (the electrical boxes are locked – but expect to wait for two days for four people to arrive to put in your plug \u2013 one to put the plug in, one to photograph the meter, two to supervise). My radar people arrived with their permits and were kept waiting at the harbour gates for two hours.<\/p>\n

But the good news is that once you get out of the harbour gates and away from the officials, you are going to meet some of the most friendly people in the world.<\/p>\n

Whilst people have great difficulty getting in and out of Galle harbour, dogs do not.\u00a0 There are lots of feral dogs.\u00a0 Watch where you step and get used to barking and\u00a0fighting through the night.<\/p>\n

MIRISSA AND BEYOND<\/p>\n

Upali had got me permission to go to Mirissa, which I did as soon as I had cleared in.\u00a0Another boat arrived, also with permission to go to Mirissa.\u00a0Customs said that the permission had been rescinded.\u00a0No explanation given.<\/p>\n

There are a few rickety pontoons in the outer harbour in Mirissa owned by a catamaran charter company called Sail Lanka.\u00a0And they are rickety, but the catamaran crews are great people and very helpful.\u00a0And they will look after your boat.\u00a0But when I went on a land tour I put the boat into a cat\u2019s cradle so it was facing into the wakes of the many passing boats.\u00a0The fishing fleet (hundreds of them) goes out in the early evening returning around 0600.\u00a0The whale watching boats start going out about 0800 (making the biggest wakes) returning in the late morning.\u00a0Being beam onto these wakes is uncomfortable and requires good fendering.<\/p>\n

There are very few anchorages around the coast apart from Watering point, which most people go back to when leaving to clean the bottom of their boat.\u00a0(You cannot clean it in the harbour and diving anywhere in the harbour area is forbidden).<\/p>\n

Not that the lack of anchorages is important as you are unlikely to get permission to go to any.\u00a0If you do manage to get permission you cannot go ashore.\u00a0If any officials see you with a dinghy over the side you will be arrested.<\/p>\n

JOSEPH<\/p>\n

Joseph is a very personable local operator\u201d.\u00a0He has managed to get a pass to come into the harbour to canvas for trade \u2013 tuk tuk fares, land travel, long distance taxi fares, laundry.\u00a0Only use him for laundry (he lives around the corner and his wife does it).\u00a0When your laundry comes back you have to meet him outside the harbour gate as he is not allowed to bring it to your boat.\u00a0Everything else he provided was either expensive or poorly organised.<\/p>\n

DUST AND DIRTY WATER<\/p>\n

Most of the ships in Galle harbour are bringing in raw material for the cement factory which is close by.\u00a0So whatever direction the wind is blowing you will be covered in dust.<\/p>\n

The amount of rubbish floating in the harbour depends on wind direction.\u00a0It can be none or filthy.<\/p>\n

SHOPPING AND IN AND OUT OF THE HARBOUR<\/p>\n

Out of the harbour entrance, turn left at the main road and ten minutes walk on your right is Aprico.Otherwise go to town in a tuk tuk for 200 SLRupees.<\/p>\n

Expect your shopping to be inspected on your return.\u00a0If you are bringing in too much, expect both security and customs to be unhelpful\u201d. So shop in small doses.<\/p>\n

Your own pass (all four pages of it) will be examined minutely every time you go out or come in.\u00a0Sometimes by several guards.<\/p>\n

SUMMARY<\/p>\n

The most important thing is to get the right agent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only your agent can deal with the multiple layers of officials, any one of whom can bring life to a standstill.Everyone was delighted with Upali at Isle Shipping.<\/p>\n

Given that you cannot cruise in this country, is it not better to leave your boat somewhere civilised?<\/p>\n

Anthony
\nsv Wild Fox
\n<\/em>www.blog.mailasail.com\/wildfox<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr Sarath Obeysekera<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Will such comments below open the eyes of Government ? Galle: Updates from Cruisers https:\/\/www.noonsite.com\/Countries\/SriLanka\/galle-what-we-wish-we-d-known-before-arrival By\u00a0Sue Richards\u00a0\u2014\u00a0last modified\u00a0May 30, 2018 01:20 PM This report began with the experiences of two cruisers who visited Galle in spring 2013. We have since had subsequent comments from cruisers visiting Galle (see bottom of page) and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-sarath-obeysekera"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80410\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}