Hubs and builders
Sources: Superyacht Cape Town, Southern Wind, Blue Cape, Noonsite, False Bay Yacht Club (all secondary). Builds on: L2.1.
The east coast: Richards Bay and Durban
Yachts crossing the Indian Ocean from Mauritius, Réunion or Madagascar usually make landfall at Richards Bay or Durban. Both are ports of entry. Richards Bay has long been the traditional arrival port for cruising yachts and is one of the two ports Noonsite describes as most experienced with foreign yachts, with Cape Town. Durban is South Africa's largest commercial port.
From either, a yacht works south-west along the coast to Cape Town, port by port, waiting for weather windows (Module 3). Intermediate harbours include East London, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Mossel Bay, which Noonsite reports was authorised as a port of entry for yachts in August 2024.
CAUTION - Superyacht facilities on the east coast Research for this course did not confirm dedicated superyacht berthing or refit facilities in Durban or Richards Bay. Treat them as arrival and transit ports and confirm berthing through the agent.
The west coast: Saldanha Bay
Saldanha Bay, on the west coast north of Cape Town, is a deep natural harbour and a port of entry. Yachtport Saldanha, in the small craft harbour, is described as specialising in superyacht tenders and equipment repair:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Travellift | 100 tons |
| Maximum length | 26 m |
| Maximum beam | 9 m |
Noonsite reports Saldanha became a departure option for yachts in July 2024, useful for yachts heading north into the Atlantic.
False Bay: Simon's Town
The naval dockyard at Simon's Town has large facilities: berths up to 150 m, a dry dock to 200 m length and 22 m beam, and a shiplift for vessels to 50 m. It is not a port of entry. Civilian use depends on arrangements with the dockyard operator, so ask the agent.
The builders
South Africa's boatbuilding industry is concentrated in the Western Cape, and it matters to superyachts in two ways: as a source of skilled labour for refits, and as a builder of yachts delivered around the world.
| Builder or sector | Facts (secondary sources) |
|---|---|
| Southern Wind Shipyard | Founded in Cape Town in 1991; custom sailing yachts of 25 to 40 m |
| Robertson and Caine | Builds more than 220 boats a year with 1,700 staff (Blue Cape) |
| Catamaran sector | South Africa ranks second after France in catamaran production |
| Sector value | About R2.2bn a year (Blue Cape) |
The sector also includes sail lofts, mast and rigging makers and specialists in carbon, aluminium, stainless steel and upholstery. Those trades supply refits too.
Deliveries
New yachts built in Cape Town leave on delivery voyages, often across the South Atlantic. Delivery skippers and crew are frequently South African, holding SAMSA tickets for local work and international certificates for the voyage. Delivery crew planning is covered in From South Africa to Superyachts.
TIP - Use the local supply chain A Cape Town sail loft or rigging firm that works on new builds every week is often quicker and cheaper for a refit than flying in a European contractor.
WARNING - Weather dictates the schedule A new-build delivery or a coastal move to Saldanha or Mossel Bay is governed by frontal systems (Module 3). Do not promise owners or yards a fixed date.