CRUISING KAte
Cruising Kate
A day out in Shelter Cove starting from HHYC
Pillow Island, Pak Sha Chau
Latitude 22 22.4N Longitude 114 17.7E: * the inner bay
Local Charts for Hong Kong Waters—page 98
No. 5 in a series of places to take your boat (or
canoe, or anything that floats) for the day.
This little treasure is very close to Sai Kung and, as well as
sailing or motoring out from HHYC, it is easy to hire a sampan
to take you to and from Sai Kung Town for a very reasonable
fee. It is of course possible to pop in and out to town to
collect takeaways or other supplies as well. The southern end
of the island is easily seen to the south of Kite Island (Yeung
Chau) directly out from Sai Kung Town. Looking from the
Sai Kung Pier, it is directly behind the south cardinal beacon
which sits on a small area of very shallow water.
To get there from HHYC, at the end of the peninsular at
Pak Ma Tsui turn left to about 200°T and Pillow Island is
about 1.5nm ahead. You will have to leave the reef at Kiu
Tsui Pai to starboard. This is clearly marked by a light (FL(2)
10S 5M) on a tall, white base.
From Sai Kung Town, the sheltered south-east side is less
than 1nm away (direction approx. 120°T) and the nearer
west side is about 0.7nm, direction 105°T. Most approach
the east as there is a lovely small landing jetty there.
The Island, which looks from both the west and the east
like a Chinese pillow, sports a beautiful sandy beach along
its middle with two headlands providing shelter and shade
at either end. This island is really part of an extended
shallow reef or area with a small raised piece in the centre
(at 22 22.6N 114 17.3 E) and three wooded prongs of
land. The southernmost island in the group is shaped like a
pillow—hence the name ‘Pillow Island’.
The first prong out to the north is Cham Tau Chau at 22 22.8N
114 17.3E with a height of 18m. The second to the ESE at
22 22.53N 114 17.4E is Tai Tsan Chau, 15m high. These
ar