1. Vansittart (Fancy Tart) Bay  In 2003 there were four separate pearl farms on the western side of Vansittart Bay (see map left) operated by Paspaley Pearls from the mother ship ROSLYNNE (right). These farms were located in Wagul Wagul Bay, Freshwater Bay, Seaflower Bay and  in the bay west of Jar Island. The lease areas are well marked with yellow buoys, some of which have radar reflectors and quick flashing yellow lights. Wagul Wagul and Seaflower Bays have many longlines. However, there are passages through and around the lines to access the inner parts of these bays if necessary. There is a shallow cyclone anchorage (left) at the head of Wagul Wagul Bay which almost dries at low spring tides. There is a shellgrit beach for picnics and a number of moorings in this bay for pearl farm workboats.
The longlines in Freshwater Bay are located along the northern edge of the bay and do not impede access for cruisers to the anchorage near the creek on the southern side of the bay. In 2005, longlines had been established in a marked area on the western side of Jar Island. Caution is needed in this area to avoid both the underwater rocks and the longlines. Contact the farm manager or mother ship skipper on CH72 when approaching the leases. Water may be available from the mothership late in the season if the creek water from Freshwater Bay is unfit for drinking. 2. Osborne Islands Paspaley Pearls also operate the pearl farm located in the Osborne Islands. This farm is serviced by the mothership VIVIENNE which may be moored on the southern or eastern sides of Middle Osborne Island. The longlines are well marked with yellow buoys and there is no impediment to the passage of cruising yachts around the islands during daylight hours. The contact channel is CH72. Suggested anchorages in the Osborne Islands are shown in the FSC Cruising guide. However, if the south easterly is above 15 knots, a comfortable anchorage can be taken up in the circular cove on the mainland to the east of Middle Osborne Island. Later in the season when the NW - SW winds have become established, there is comfortable anchorage off the fringing reef along the beach on the eastern side of South West Osborne Island. Alternatively, there is a neap tide anchorage off the beach immediately north of the SS SUNBEAM.  There are a number of art sites on the mainland southeast of Middle Osborne Island. The most extensive and spectacular is the "Castle" Rock site (right) with its shell middens, Bradshaw paintings and Kaiara figures. There are other galleries upstream of the castle site and still more paintings behind the beaches near the "Greek Isles" and under the overhanging rocks in the areas southeast of the circular cove on the mainland.
3. Swifts Bay & Mudge Bay The pearl farms in Swifts Bay and Mudge Bay have been established by Broome Pearls as a result of moving the  major part of their Kimberley operation from Yampi Sound. When entering Swifts Bay from the north, the longlines with yellow buoys marking the corners of the lease, will be encountered about half way down the eastern side of Katers Island. The lease areas extend south into Swifts Bay and east into a rocky inlet on the mainland coast. Broome Pearls' mother ship is usually the JENNY WRIGHT which can be contacted on CH71 and one of their harvesting ships is the NORTHERN COMMANDER pictured entering Swifts Bay towing a barge. There are calm and well protected anchorages in coves on the eastern and western sides of Swifts Bay.  Both coves are guarded by  huge eagles nests, the nest at the entrance to the western cove having two chicks in September 2002 (left). There are also a number of art sites around Swifts Bay. The most extensive site being amongst the huge sandstone rocks and shell middens in the western arm of the inner bay. Fresh water may be available from a PVC pipe tapping a spring (right) in the north eastern corner of the cyclone mooring cove. 4. Kuri Bay KURI BAY AIR PHOTO The name Kuri Bay is synonymous with the cultured pearl industry in North-western Australia. Since being established by Mr. Kuribayashi in the 1950's the farm lease areas have subsequently been developed around Augustus Island, in Brecknock Harbour, Camden Sound and Port George IV, by well known companies such as Pearls Pty Ltd (PPL) and Paspaley Pearls.  In 1982, the land-based accommodation occupied by PPL consisted of over 30 substantial tropical style accommodation units and operations buildings (left). In those early days, the pearl culture operations were carried out by about 30 Japanese technicians, and the farm workforce consisted of up to 70 Thursday Islanders.
 By 2002, the view out over the pontoon jetty across Kuri Bay and Brecknock Harbour was still magnificent (right). The land-based accommodation consisted of substantially the same buildings fastidiously maintained down to the recreation building and dining room.
The farm areas currently referred to as Kuri Bay consist of nine farms almost encircling Augustus Island and operated by Paspaley Pearls. The farms use CH78 for local radio communications and booster stations have been established to provide radio coverage in and around the bays and islands. Most cruisers traverse the Brecknock Harbour/Rogers Strait area in daylight hours and use the strong tidal currents to ensure a swift passage. The pearl leases are well marked with yellow spar buoys, some of which are equipped with flashing lights and some with radar reflectors. If in doubt about navigation through the leases, a call to Kuri Bay on CH78 would be a wise move. It is also wise to stay clear of the busy commercial craft moving around Kuri Bay as there are nearby protected scenic anchorages at Sampson Inlet to the south, Camden Harbour to the east and Tenggara Bay to the north. 5. Talbot Bay Talbot Bay can be entered from the east (Kingfisher Islands), the north (Scaddan Is) or the west (The Canal) then on a southerly course through the unnamed islands in the outer part of the bay. Talbot Bay is another "ship based" pearl farm operated by Paspaley Pearls. The "ship" is rather like a huge houseboat and is comprised of demountable buildings secured to floats. The longlines at Talbot Bay are located in a clearly marked area to the south of Slug Island. A combination of yellow spar buoys and black spherical buoys mark the navigable channel which leads between the pearl farm and Slug Island across Talbot Bay to the Horizontal Waterfalls. When approaching the pearl farm, a call to the farm manager on CH72 is advisable before passing through the channel. 6. Yampi Sound The pearl farms most likely to be encountered by cruisers in Yampi Sound are the Broome Pearls' operations in Coppermine Creek and in Boonook Bay. Longlines in the creek are mainly unmarked. However, the black buoys are clearly visible and some lines have white buoys at their ends. Care is required to navigate between the lines when heading into the upper reaches of the creek. "Around the corner" there are more longlines established on both sides of Arbedej Island and off the entrance to Boonook Bay. These leases are marked with yellow spar buoys. | 
