Wikivoyage:Cruising Expedition/Structure for cruising articles/Arbitrary Island

(Lead section to identify the destination) Arbitrary Island is an imaginary island in the Fictional archipelago off the east coast of Nowhere

Understand

The island is an extinct volcano near the edge of the continental shelf. The waters to the east are generally oceanic, deep and clean. Arbitrary passage between the island and the mainland is fairly shallow, and often murky due to the river on the mainland. There is one town and a few scattered villages on the island.

Position

(range and bearing from nearby destinations)

Tides

Maximum tidal range about 4.5m at springs, 2m at neaps. Tides are about 13 minutes after Big Harbour on the mainland.

Currents

Strong tidal currents up to 4 knots in Arbitrary Passage and around North Point. The Eastern Fictional current may reach 2.5 knots in late summer off the east coast, but is much weaker in winter. Direction is south easterly parallel to the continental shelf and is strongest about 5 km offshore.

Moorings

There are a few moorings near the public jetty at Town, Contact the harbourmaster on channel 71 to arrange use if one is available. Nothing suitable for vessels over 20 tonnes.

Anchorage

• East Bay has good holding on sand at 5 to 15m. Exposed in north easterly winds. Enough space for two or three boats.
• West Bay has rock bottom with weed at 20m depth. Not recommended in strong winds, but OK for lunch or diving.

Landing

• Public jetty at Town, but no suitable place to tie up a tender. Small dinghys may be pulled up the beach in East Bay above high water, but at low tide the mudflats are about 150m wide.

See

• North point cliffs and the volcanic crater.

Do

• Scuba dive at Hidden Reef in the marine reserve.
• Fishing at Snapper Rocks at (lat/long)
• Hike the Precipitous Trail from East Bay to North Point

Buy

• Food and drink: Joe's Dockside Supermarket.
• General hardware: Builders' Warehouse, 32 Back Street.
• Chandlery: Fred's Fishing Emporium, 2 Dock Road.