Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

6°C

Swell today

Direction E, height 0.0 metres, period 7.7 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.

Haven position?

54° 5.770' N, 006° 15.220' W

Where is that position?

At the south end Warrenpoint Breakwater where a light Fl. G 3s stands.

What is the initial fix?

500 metres due south of Hellyhunter a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.

What is the story here?

Warrenpoint is a small commercial port located at the head of Carlingford Lough inlet, at the north side of the entrance to the Newry River. A floating pontoon is set in place alongside the town breakwater where visiting yachts may berth plus you can anchor immediately off the end. Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge or lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way.

The port offers complete protection. Pilotage up to Warrenpoint is facilitated by a deep water shipping channel that runs the entire length of the Lough making the port accessible at all states of the tide. Although the channel is well marked, access and pilotage requires careful navigation, a good chart and lots of light owing to exceptional currents in the Lough and at the entrance. Tides reach up to four and a half knots alongside Haulbowline Lighthouse at the entrance and buoys take on the appearance of boats here with heavy bow waves. Consequently a first entrance should be timed to be around slack water and you need a reliable engine should the tide take control.

Please note that an approach to Carlingford Lough is best avoided in any strong onshore winds as it causes a dangerous seaway at the entrance. With a flood tide it makes the entrance highly challenging, but with the southeast ebb tide running out into a strong southeasterly, the entrance is completely impassable. The immediate Warrenpoint area is subject to silting and full of mud and sandbanks. Hence great care should be taken moving outside the marked channel.

Why visit here?

Warrenpoint (commonly transcribed into Irish as ‘An Phointe’) is a scenic location with a very safe and convenient harbour. It is a key location upon Carlingford Lough, that has long enjoyed sailing popularity, and the town has been a popular venue for holidaymakers and sailors alike for more than 100 years.

Though founded as a port at the end of the 18th century it has developed most in recent decades. This is as a result of replacing the former port at Newry, 5 miles inland, that closed in the 1970s and its strategic location set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The port has taken advantage of its favourable geographical position to develop trade to and from both the north and south of Ireland.

The town itself is compact and attractive with neat Victorian terraces and wide streets. It has an animated waterfront, long promenade, and a spacious square used mostly as a car park but also for fetes, occasional markets and festivals; most notably the Maiden of the Mournes festival and the ‘Blues on the Bay’ music festival.

A short stroll beyond the port area stands ‘Narrow Water Castle’, built in the 1560s as a garrison. This is a three-storey tower house built in 1560 to protect the entrance to the Newry river estuary. Across the road is the new Narrow Water Castle built in 1840.

Two small inland lakes, the "Mill Dam" and the "Waterworks" offer a variety of fishing opportunities. A permit is needed to fish these lakes, which are located about 1km from the town centre.

How to get in?

Small vessels cannot enter or leave Carlingford Lough against the tide and for a first time visit it is advisable to approach on slack water. As slack water only happens twice a day, and most likely once in daylight, here are some cruising distances in nautical miles that may assist in planning your arrival:

Ardglass: 23 nm
Portaferry: 28 nm
Malahide: 38 nm
Dublin: 44 nm
Peel: 50 nm
Holyhead: 64 nm

Carlingford Lough is highly conspicuous as you approach the initial fix to set up for entry. The inlet is eight miles long, with its northeast reach residing between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains. In addition there is a 34 metre high grey granite tower, Haulbowline Lighthouse, standing in the entrance.

The Carlingford Lough Initial Fix is approximately 1 mile from the mouth of the Lough and marks the entrance to deep water shipping channel.

From the initial fix you may come straight in on the leading lights, in line 310° following the outer channel markers until the Haulbowline Lighthouse is past abeam.

Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W

Please be aware the entrance channel is only eighty metres wide in this area and yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic.

When the lighthouse is abreast the course alters slightly to port towards Greenore Point on the south shore - conspicuous for a pine plantation with some buildings.

Then it is a matter of following the well marked mooring buoys up to the Warrenpoint entry channel - odd numbered buoys to starboard and even numbered red buoys to port. Once inside you will find the waters completely absent of swell making marker identification easy.

After passing Killowen Point you will approach the No. 25 Light buoy marking the entrance to the buoyed Warrenpoint approach channel.

No. 25 Green Light buoy – Fl. G 3s position: 54° 04.200’N, 006° 12.100’W

From No. 25 Light buoy it is a distance of 2.5 miles to the town via the 60 metres wide channel that is dredged to a depth of 5.4 metres. The Newry River Leading Lights leads through the centre of the channel: in-line 310°.


When in the channel it is recommended that you make berthing arrangements with Warrenpoint Harbour Authority by contacting ‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ on VHF channel 12 (24 hrs) or Tel: +44 28 417 73381. (Mailing Address: Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, The Docks, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, N. Ireland, BT34 3JR)

Yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic in the Warrenpoint channel. At 60 metres wide it is a highly restricted waterway for commercial traffic. Transiting vessels will be channel bound, have right of way, and have no capability to manoeuvre.

Berthing possibilities include coming alongside the pontoon that is placed against the inner side of the breakwater that has recently been made available all year round. The area immediately alongside the pontoon is dredged to a depth of 1.4 metres LWS. The remainder of the harbour area adjacent to the pontoon dries so come straight in and out alongside the pontoon. Visiting boats should use the inner half of the pontoon, leaving the outer part for the ferries to Omeath - in the Irish Republic. You may also anchor directly off the end of the pontoon. You will find complete protection here although you may experience scend from the occasional passing commercial vessel.

The older part of the harbour has a ‘Town Dock’, at the northwest end of the basin, with four to five visitor berths that support 2 metres LWS. This is available to pleasure craft during the summer season and reserved for fishing vessels at other times.

Warrenpoint is ideal for bilge and lifting keel vessels that can take to the ground out of the way of the pontoon and commercial traffic. Please do be aware that it is very muddy at low water and you should have a trip on your ground tackle – there is sixty years worth of moorings in the area that you will be potentially sitting upon.

You may seek permission to temporarily use a general cargo berth from the harbour master. However these are not suitable for leisure vessels because of the distance between the wide spaced vertical timber fenders.

Please note the upper Lough area is subject to sudden gusts off the mountains when there are strong west-northwest winds.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0019
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High water: 11:43, Low waters: 05:07, 17:25
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:14, 23:30, Low waters: 06:06, 18:22 (From Tide Times)
Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0500, Ebb +0020 Dover.
Mean spring range about 3.9 m; mean neap range about 2.5 m
Harbour tidal streams are negligible but the Newry River runs strong

Max tidal rates:
One mile outside the entrance streams are imperceptible.
Buoyed approach channel 3.5 kn,
East of the lighthouse 4.5 kn
Between Greenore and the entrance 1.5 kn
Off Carlingford 1.5 kn
Tides ease off after Killowen Point

The latest monthly Dover and Dublin (North Wall) tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.

The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Ulster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.

A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.

What facilities are available?

Fuel by road tanker; fresh water at the quays; with a population of approximately 7,000 provisions are plentiful. The port has excellent road links to the major population centres of Ireland. International air services are available from Belfast airport 96 km. Minor repairs can be undertaken.

Useful transport contacts in this area:
Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521
Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075
Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531
Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271

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

Other useful contacts in this area:
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority : ‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ VHF 12 (24 hrs)
Tel: +44 28 417 73381
Email: info@warrenpointharbour.co.uk

Any security concerns?

Never an issue know to have occurred at Warrenpoint.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ Scale of 20,000, including the ‘Entrance of Carlingford Lough’ scale of 12,500; and ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000, plus Kilkeel Harbour scale of 5,000.

Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.

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