Galle
Home Up Route Us and Yacht Cruising Life Horror Stories Destinations Resources

Journal

Contact Us
Poems
Site Map

 Search

 Personal Experience

    Pick a Topic of interest from those below and explore this Destination!

NOTE!  Galle was damaged in the 2004 Tsunami, but we hear they are back in operation and welcoming cruisers.

Anchorages

The only authorized anchorage is the outer Galle Harbor.  There usually is a swell, which may be uncomfortable at times depending on the winds.  If you put out a stern anchor so that you face into the swell, you should be fine.  Long Passages anchored here briefly before we checked in.

[Back to Top]

Marinas

Inner Galle Harbour

Facilities:  The inner harbor is located at a Naval Facility and is also home to large fishing fleets from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and China.  The facilities are rather crude but adequate and very secure as it is guarded 24 hours a day by Navy personnel.  The biggest problem with this "marina" is the depth charges dropped by the Navy throughout the night to keep the harbour free from Tamil Tiger terrorists.  It is nearly impossible to sleep through this, but if you are lucky enough to be able to tie up alongside the ship's dock, you will be the furthest away from where the charges go off and the noise will not be so bad.  There is a small dinghy tie-up area along the seawall at he NE end of the harbor near a series of steps built into the wall.

Floating Pontoons/Buoys (Med-moor) Ship Dock Yacht Maintenance Yard
Toilets Internet Access Travel Lift
Showers Receive & Hold Mail Chandlery on premises
Power and Water at berth Fuel Dock Pump Out Facility

Toilet and shower facilities for cruisers are located in a white concrete building at the N end of the harbor.  The doors are only open certain hours of the day and close for the night at 1830 hours.  There is no roof and there is a manned guard tower near it, so the ladies usually hug the far wall out of sight of the guard.  It is a bit rough, but clean and the water is good.

Mail Drop Address:
Don Windsor & Company Ltd.
6/1 , Closenberg Road
Magalle,
Galle,
Sri Lanka
Tel 074-384 944

Advantages
  • Very secure - guarded 24 hrs a day
  • Protected harbor in which to leave boat while touring.
  • Agents located close by as well as all 'facilitators" or "Cruiser's Friends.'
  • Mike's Yacht Services within easy walking distance.

Disadvantages:

  • Facilities somewhat crude

  • Approx. 2 kilometers from town so you usually need a tuk tuk

  • Tuk Tuks are NOT allowed into the Naval facility, so if you have a lot of groceries or several jerry cans of diesel, you must "slep" them to the dingy dock from the main gate.

  • You need a pass to go in/out of the gate and you are not allowed to invite outside guests or 'local' people in to visit you on your boat.

[Back to Top]

Cruiser Amenities

Grocery Stores/Provisioning Shop - 
  •  Mike's Yacht Service Centre - Mike has many grocery items that are needed by cruisers at good prices.  He and his brother also run tours to the highlands and elsewhere in Sri Lanka.  We found him to be honest and very helpful.  Speaks very good English.  No. 252 J.E. Perera Mawatha, Magalle, Galle  Ph:  09 34054  Fax:  09 34054, Email:  mike1@sltnet.lk
  • Many corner shops, small grocery stores and markets available in town.

Facilitators/Tour Agents:

  • Don Windsor & Company, Office:  6/1 Closenberg Rd., Magalle, Galle  Ph:  (074) 384944/380737  Fax:  (9474) 074-389737
  • Dee Dee Yacht Services, DD Nalin Kuruneru, No 385, Matara Rd., Magelle, Galle  Ph 0777-659897
  • Marlin Yacht Service, No. 9/1 Gilbets Lane, Magalle, Galle  Ph. 09 41597, Mobile:  0777 902178
  • Mike's Yacht Service Centre - No. 252 J.E. Perera Mawatha, Magalle, Galle  Ph:  09 34054  Fax:  09 34054, Email:  mike1@sltnet.1k

Propane Refills - Don Windsor & Co.

Drinking Water
  • Drinking water is available for delivery to your boat from the Don Windsor & Co.  
  • Also, there is drinking water available from a tap in both the men's and women's shower room.

Laundry -   

  • Don Windsor & Company, Office:  6/1 Closenberg Rd., Magalle, Galle  Ph:  (074) 384944/380737  Fax:  (9474) 074-389737
  • Dee Dee Yacht Services, DD Nalin Kuruneru, No 385, Matara Rd., Magelle, Galle  Ph 0777-659897
  • Marlin Yacht Service, No. 9/1 Gilbets Lane, Magalle, Galle  Ph. 09 41597, Mobile:  0777 902178
  • Mike's Yacht Service Centre

Internet  Access-

  • Mike's Yacht Service Centre
  • Cyber Cafe - downtown Galle

[Back to Top]

Transport

Bus - Public buses are available.  They careen at great speed down the crowded roads running down anything in their way. Taxis - Taxis are available.  You must negotiate the price before getting in.

[Back to Top]

Yacht Services

Shipping & Yacht Agents -
  • Don Windsor & Co.  Office:  6/1 Closenberg Rd.  Magalle, Galle, PH:  (074) 384944/380737  Fax:  (9474) 074-389737
  • GAC
 

[Back to Top]

Miscellaneous

The following are services or places visited and recommended by Bob and Judi.  We can only say that our experience was a good one and we hope that you will also have a favorable experience.
Restaurants - "Hard Rock"  The Galle version of the original; quaint spot on the beach - 100 rupee ride from the harbor.  More Information
  • Lonely Planet Guide to Sri Lanka
  • Insight Guide to Sri Lanka

[Back to Top]

If you want to send us updated information on this page   Click here

This Page Last Updated: 02 May 2006

 

 

�The contents of this site are the copyright property of the authors.  Visitors may read, copy, or  print any material for their own use, free of charge.  No material printed or copied from this site, electronically or in any other form, may be sold or included in any work to be sold without explicit permission from the authors. Most maps have been extracted from Microsoft Encarta, Encyclopedia Britannica, or Google Earth and we thank them for their use