Madhwad Bay

Chart 2054

General information:

1	Position: Madhwad Bay is entered between Nagwa Point (20º 42' N, 70º 54' E) (8.78) and a cairn, 8 m high, standing on the rocky E point of Diu Head (8.79),3½ miles W.

2	General information. Madhwad Bay affords shelter from NW winds in good holding ground, however, a swell frequently sets in and with S or E winds the bay should not be used for anchorage.

3	Topography: Low sandhills fronting marshy land, partly submerged at high water springs, extend W from Kotranes (20º 42' N, 70º 52' E), a low rocky point with foul ground extending 3 cables E, to the entrance of Madhwad Creek, 2¼ miles WSW; this entrance dries and is blocked by sandbanks close inside the creek. The SW end of Diu Island forms the NE side of the bay, it is fringed with sand dunes which extend inland to a thick belt of palm trees.
	
4	Off-lying dangers: Rocky Shoal (20º41'.5N, 70º52'.0 E) (8.78) lies near the centre of the bay with MadhwadBainsla (8.78) 1½ miles W and Kachbi Reef, which dries, 1¼ miles NE.

5	Storm signals: are displayed by using the brief system. See 1.48.
	Landmarks: for details of marks in the vicinity of the bay see 8.76.

6	Supplies: fish at Brancawara (8.95).

Directions 

1	Caution: While approaching the anchorage located NW of Rocky Shoal; vessels should note the in-going stream sets strongly towards Rocky Shoal and the out-going stream towards Madhwad Bainsla.

2	West anchorage - W approach: While approaching from W and intending to anchor NW of Rocky Shoal, vessels should pass well clear of Diu Head and then alter course N for the anchorage; passing between Madhwad Bainsla and Rocky Shoal and anchor with the cliffs at the S entrance point of Madhwad Creek bearing about 270º distant 1.4 miles, taking care to avoid a 4.9 m shoal lying 1 mile SW of KotranesPoint.

3	West anchorage-E approach: While approaching from E, intending to anchor NW of Rocky Shoal, vessels should steer to pass S of Rocky Shoal; thence, when about 1½miles from Diu Head Lighthouse (20º 41'.5 N,70º 49'.7 E) (8.76) 
	alter course N and proceed as for the W approach, see above.

4	Clearing bearing: The line of bearing 283º of MadhwadBainsla or the E point of Diu Head, open well N of Diu Head Lighthouse, passes S of Rocky Shoal.

5	East anchorage: Vessels intending to anchor E of Rocky Shoal, as shown on the chart; approach from SE with the conspicuous temple (20º 42'.5 N, 70º 52'.5 E), standing at the NE entrance point of  Brancawara  Creek, bearing 322º and anchor when theS endof Nagwa Point bears 077º, distant 8½ cables.

Anchorages and landing

1	Caution: Vessels should not anchor midway between MadhwadBainsla (8.78) and Rocky Shoal (8.78) because of the exposed position and strong tidal streams.

2	General anchorage: Moderate sized vessels may obtain anchorage NW and ENE of Rocky shoal, in positions shown on the chart, as follows.

3	While anchoring on the W side of Rocky Shoal; vessels should anchor about 1 mile ENE of the cairn standing on the E point of Diu Head (20º 41' N,71º 50' E) (8.79), in a depth of 8 m, sand and mud.

4	While anchoring on the E side of Rocky Shoal; vessels should anchor about 7½ cables WSW of Nagwa Point, in depths of 10 to 13 m, sand and mud; vessels in this anchorage usually lie across wind and tide when the out-going stream sets out of Brancawara Creek (8.95).

5	Inshore anchorage: Between Nagwa Point and Kachbi Reef, small vessels with shallow draught may obtain anchorage in a depth of about 7 m, well sheltered from E winds and not affected by the tidal streams. This is a favourite anchorage for sailing craft awaiting the in-going stream to proceed to the Gulf of Khambhat; dhows, usually without lights, may be found here at night.

6	Landing: may be carried out effectively in calm weather through a gap in the coastal reef close N of Nagwa Point.