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Today's local tide estimates
High water: 00:43,
Low water: 06:58
High water: 13:17,
Low water: 19:15
Local weather
ENE Force 5, Patchy light rain, 7°C
Swell today
Direction S, height 0.1 metres, period 9.1 seconds, significant wave height of 1.0 metres.
Summary
A good location with attentive navigation required for access.
LWS draught
2.5 metres (8.2 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, E, S, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: NE, SE
Nature (summary)
Marina, anchorage, moorings, jetty, sailing club, watched over, village, secluded, scenic.
Facilities (summary)
Water hose, diesel alongside, slipway, electricity, hot food, public houses, chandlery, haul-out, hard-standing, scrubbing posts or a place where a vessel can dry out for a scrub below the waterline, rigging services, sail repair, walks, handicapped access.
Haven position? See it »
54° 29.000' N, 005° 38.780' W
Where is that position? See it »
The position of the Strangford Lough Yacht Club pontoon.
What are the initial fixes? See it »
The following waypoints will set up a final approach:
(i) Dead Man’s Rock Initial Fix.
54° 28.980' N, 005° 36.200' W
This is set on the Lough’s main fairway, adjacent to Track H for those using Admiralty Chart 2156 ‘Strangford Lough’, and is quarter of a mile to the northeast of Dead Man’s Rock. It sets up an eastern approach to pass to the east then north of Dead Man's Rock, then north of Inisharoan and Trasnagh Islands until White Rock Bay opens between Sketrick and Trasnagh Islands.
Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.(ii) Parton Island Initial Fix.
54° 28.148' N, 005° 37.500' W
This is situated in the deep water channel between Darragh Island and Parton Island setting up a Ringhaddy Sound approach that passes between these islands. When past Darragh Island and Parton Island the line of bearing 345°(T) off the eastern side of Sketrick Island should be adopted. This leads north by north west, passing Conly Island on the way to the anchorage.
Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.
Why visit here?
Tucked in behind Trasnagh Island, White Rock Bay with its quiet village of Whiterock, offers another berthing destination on this beautiful lough.
In this area of outstanding beauty it is not a surprise that the bay plays host to the lough’s largest club; Strangford Lough Yacht Club. The extensive and modern club has a variety of competitive dinghy and keelboats racing events during the sailing season, typically on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. These include Rivers, Glens, Clippers, Flying Fifteens, Sonatas, Cruisers and a large dinghy fleet.
A few minutes stroll around the bay will bring a walker to the causeway that joins Sketrick Island to the mainland. Here stands the ancient ruins of Sketrick Castle. Recorded as captured in 1470, in the Annals of the Four Masters, the tower-house is estimated to date back to the 15th century. It remained largely intact until 1896 when a storm caused half its structure to collapse. As late as 1957 a stone subterranean passage was discovered beneath the walls containing a chamber with a fresh water spring. Access to the castle today is not allowed but it may be viewed anytime.
The renowned ‘Daft Eddy’s pub, restaurant, chandlery and sail loft, resides near the castle on Sketrick Island’s north shore. It has a landing pontoon close to the pub that supports 1.7 metres at low water. The award winning pub and restaurant, Balloo House is just a mile away and those wanting to go further afield will find Belfast just 25 minutes’ drive from Whiterock.
Other local attractions include walks, bird watching, along with other local activities such as golf, horse riding which can all be arranged in the area.
How to get in?
Portaferry, Audley’s Roads and Strangford Harbour provide Irish Sea approach guidance. Select any of these entries for details on the Strangford Narrows. This is a five mile lead-in, with fast-running tidal streams, that must be negotiated to access the inner Lough.
After passing through the Narrows proceed up the deep water fairway upon the Lough’s eastern side, Track E, F and H for those using Admiralty Chart 2156 ‘Strangford Lough’, to the Dead Man’s Rock Initial Fix. This is located quarter of a mile to the northeast of Dead Man’s Rock that is marked by a perch.
Keep the perch on Dead Man’s Rock to port and proceed to the initial fix then turning to the northwest to pass Inisharoan then Trasnagh Islands to port until White Rock Bay opens between Sketrick and Trasnagh Islands.
Those approaching from Ringhaddy Sound should use the Parton Island initial fix located between Darragh Island and Parton Islands. A spit extends 400 metres to the northwest of Parton Island with its extremity marked by a pole. The spit dries half way out from the island and a further 200 metres west of the pole there is as little as 1.2 metres of water. Deep draft vessels should favour the Darragh Island side of the channel and particularly so at low water. 2.7 metres can be found 60 metres off to Darragh Island’s northwest point.
Once Darragh and Parton Islands are astern align a course for the eastern side of Sketrick Island, 345° (T) and a mile north by northwest, and pass Conly Island to port and then Braddock Rock situated close offshore off the south entrance of White Rock Bay. This is marked by three pole-like floats carrying cardinal markings. When the north end of Trasnagh Island is abeam prepare to turn to port to enter White Rock Bay.
The area to south of Sketrick Island contains many local vessels on moorings, but there is plenty of room to anchor seaward of these. Holding is not the best on a light sandy bottom. Land at the slipway alongside the clubhouse.
There are usually visitor mooring, yellow buoys and marked visitors on the outside of the mooring area. Seek advice from the Club Boatman with regard to using these moorings and ferrying details. Likewise it may be possible to come alongside for a short stay at the pontoon jetty. 2 metres can be found here 3 hours either side of HW.
Caution: Billy Smith’s Bay, to the southwest of White Rock Bay, has a wreck and should be avoided.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0202
Today's Belfast tides — High water: 11:15, 23:31, Low water: 04:56, 17:13
Today's Dover tides — High water: 11:14, 23:30, Low water: 06:06, 18:22 (From Tide Times)
MHWS 3.6m MHWN 3.1m MLWN 0.9m MLWS 0.4m
Local high water is approximately Dover +0220 or Belfast + 0215. Inside the Lough tides decrease significantly: 6 kn between Strangford & Portaferry, 4 kn at Ballyhenry Island, 1.5 kn at Don O’Neill Island, up to 4 kn of tide through the channel Rainey and Sketrick Islands.
What facilities are available?
Moorings requests plus permission to come alongside the club pontoon should be directed to the club boatman. A water hose is available at the pontoon jetty. The Clubhouse has a bar and restaurant that typically opens after races on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Daft Eddie's pub and restaurant has a chandlery and sail loft. In Conly Bay, immediately south of White Rock Bay, there is a privately owned boatyard with a slip that can accommodate vessels up to 25 tonnes. Some boat repairs can be catered for here.
Whiterock village, with a population of 350 people, has little to offer in terms of provisions. Fresh provisions including vegetables, fruit, butchery, dry goods, gas and petrol are available in Balloo Village 3.5 KM away. Newtownards somewhat further away has a wider selection, including laundry facilities.
What emergency contacts are there?
Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.
Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933. An inshore lifeboat is maintained at Portaferry.
Other useful contacts in this area:
Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Whiterock Bay, Killinchy, Co. Down BT23 6PY
Tel:+44 28 9754 1883
Down Cruising Club
Clubship Petrel, 52 Ballydorn Road, BT23 6QB.
Tel: (Club ship ‘Petrel’) +4428 97541663
VHF: Ch 16 ‘Lightship Petrel’
Ringhaddy Cruising Club
Ringhaddy Road, Killinchy
Tel:+4428 97 541158
Police: +44 4461 5011, Medical Clinic +44 4461 3016
Any security concerns?
The Strangford Lough Yacht Club grounds are a secured area within a fenced compound. If you intend to leave your dinghy within the compound it is recommended that you first ascertain as to when the access gates are likely to be locked.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
The key detail charts are British Admiralty 2156 ‘Strangford Lough’, scale of 37,500:1 and 2159 Strangford Narrows (incl. plans of Strangford at 1:5000) scale of 1:12,500. Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’ plus Northern Ireland Ordinance Survey No. 21 at a scale of 1:50,000 also cover the area.
Other useful Admiralty charts for this area and its approaches are: 1411 ‘Irish Sea Western Part’ scale of 1:200,000, 2198 ‘North Channel - Southern Part’ scale of1:75,000, 1753 ‘Belfast Lough’ scale of 1:37,500, 2093 ‘Southern Approach to North Channel’ scale of 1:100,000 , 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ (incl. plans of Warren Point and Kilkeel Harbour) scale of 1:20,000, 44 ‘Howth to Ardglass’ scale of 1:100,000, 1431 ‘Drogheda and Dundalk’ scale of 1:20,000, 633 ‘Plans on the East Coast of Ireland’ scale of 1:15,000.
With thanks to:
Brian Crawford, local Strangford Lough boatman of many decades.
Please note inyourfootsteps.com makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.