It had a bit of controversy in the ten years that plans were brewing but those predominantly environmental issues were sorted out prior to the commencement of construction.
One of the only real drawbacks of the area is that the surrounding waters are shallow for deep keeled boats, but by following the channel markers from the seven mile buoy, it’s relatively easy to keep clear of the shallow areas.
And
there’s no shortage of wind, evidence of which can be found further down the
peninsula at Wattle Point, the location of the largest wind farm in Australia.
Construction of the marina began in 2001 and was opened in March 2003, although the final stage is yet to be fully finished. As there are only a dozen or so registered boats in Port Vincent, the marina relies on the regular influx of craft from other ports, mostly Adelaide, during the peak periods of January, Easter, Anzac Day and the October long weekend.
Manager Rob Marner says that the marina takes the pressure off the local pier.
“In previous years it was not uncommon to see dozens of boats rafted up and all the moorings in the bay in use,” Marner said.
The highlight of the sailing calendar is the end of
season races organised by the CYC and known as the ‘Anzac Weekend at Port
Vincent’, where an array of activities takes place, and not only out on the
water. It begins with the Port Vincent Dash, boats leaving from North Haven and racing to the finish line in the vicinity of the marina, but the weekend also includes a rubber duckie race and an all stars cricket match between the Purists (yachties) and the Polluters (stink boats). It’s a fun weekend and there are food stalls and marquees set up to cater for the enormous influx of people.
Also popular is the Trailer Sailer Classic held on The Australia Day long weekend in January and the Wooden and Classic Boat Regatta held biannually on the first weekend in April. This event is also known as ‘South Australia’s Little Saltwater Classic.’ It begins at Port Vincent and heads to Stansbury where a spectacular foreshore display of boats and boatbuilding, vintage cars and motorbikes, historic photographs and seaside markets are all on show.
Initially the town of Port Vincent was called Surveyor’s Point and was, like most of the towns on the Yorke Peninsula, an old port.
Built in 1877, the pier catered for ketches going up and down the peninsula. These vessels used to call here to pick up wheat and other produce from the farming community before the roads to Adelaide were constructed.
The pier remained in operation as a commercial venture until 1970 when a grain silo opened at Port Giles and bagged grain was phased out as bulk handling of grain took over.
Today Port Vincent is known as the water sport capital of the Yorke Peninsula, being an ideal location for sailing and kayaking. The town boasts a safe swimming area for toddlers and the local primary school is a marine study centre, one of only a handful in the state.
Their marine centre has won annual awards for years. The well known Port Vincent Aquatic Centre has classes with qualified instructors catering for school groups with swimming, surfing, kayaking, small boat handling, sailing, sailboarding and snorkelling. School groups from all over the state are catered for.
The town’s permanent population of around 500 swells at the height of summer to more than two thousand, but with two caravan parks and an abundance of holiday rental accommodation, the town caters well with the increase.
Winner of the KESAB tidy town award in 2004, and regular national tidy town awards including yet another in 2006, locals are extremely proud of their achievement and there’s no shortage of volunteers at the ready to make further improvements such as the construction of their coastal nature trails. One such trail meanders along the coast past the marina and boulder sized rocks that were deposited here from Victor Harbour by a glacier millions of years ago.
Port Vincent is known for the sport of fishing too and is another of the popular pastimes here. The species are prolific and the choice on the Yorke Peninsula includes the delicious blue swimmer crab, tommy ruffs, garfish, squid, King George Whiting and mullet. Further along the peninsula the choice is more varied and includes salmon, flathead, snook, mulloway and shark. Offshore oyster leases provide the peninsula and beyond with this delicacy too.
Port Vincent in the off-season appears to be a quiet place popular with retirees, but the face of the town changes when the influx of visitors arrive from Boxing Day onwards.
The marina with its newest extension caters for a total of 109 boats with some outer berths able to take vessels up to 35m in length, and each berth has all the facilities you’d expect in a modern marina with water, electricity and fire fighting facilities. Prices range from $27,500 to over $200,000 to purchase a berth and overnight rentals range from $20 for a ten metre boat up to $50 for a 30 metre vessel. 50% discounts are available for longer term and off season periods.
For information on the marina go to http://www.cycsa.com.au/portvincentmarina/index.html and for further details about the Yorke Peninsula visit http://www.portvincent.org.au/