Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

7°C

Swell today

Direction NE, height 1.2 metres, period 7.5 seconds, significant wave height of 1.6 metres.

Haven position?

52° 23.481' N, 006° 57.117' W

Where is that position?

On the end of the south western most pontoon in the marina.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 600 metres south by southwest of the Waterford Channel Number 1. starboard-hand marker (Fl.G.2s on a bearing of 009°T). It is directly east of Creadan Head, upon the eastern side of the Waterford Channel where at night you will see the Dunmore East leading lights alternate white/green.

What is the story here?

New Ross is a thriving market town and harbour situated on the east side of the River Barrow. It is nine miles up river the confluence of the Suir and Barrow and eighteen nautical miles from Hook Head.

A marina to the south of the town offers complete protection from all conditions. Access is straightforward as the commercial harbour channel is marked by fully lit buoys and transits all the way. Craft with high air-draft (over 6 metres mast HWS or 10 metres LWN) will need to request the Barrow bridge be opened at least an hour before arrival.

Please note with such an upriver trek to the town and currents, in the order of 3 Knots on springs at the estuary and 4 Knots and above in the narrows, you will need to factor tide into the transit. Conversely with a favourable tide the passage can be quick. A potential race can develop at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. Prepare for a turbulent time on the entry if there is a strong south easterly blowing into an ebb tide. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force eight on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided until the tide turns. Also please factor currents, in the order of 3 knots on springs at the estuary and 4 knots in the narrows, into the approach.

Why visit here?

New Ross has many attractions apart from an excellent marina and provisions.

From a tourist perspective you may visit the nearby Kennedy Homestead, birthplace of the great grand father of President John. F. Kennedy. This park celebrates the story of five generations of the Kennedy dynasty. The Kennedy homestead is 6km from the marina so you will need transport to get there. Likewise J F Kennedy Arboretum is on the hill Slieve Coilte overlooking the homestead and the river Barrow and this is 12 km from the marina.

New Ross is also home to the pictured Dunbrody Famine Ship which has its berth just a few minutes stroll from marina with the visitor centre alongside. Boarding the Dunbrody is like stepping back in time. The vessel is an accurate, full size, ocean-going recreation of the actual timber-built ship, which played a leading part in the 19th century emigration to the USA. Narrated tours bring alive the history and conditions endured during the turbulent famine period.

Saint Mary's Church, a Gothic building which is located in Church Lane, is also a recommended visit. The church dates 13th century but time has taken its toll and all that now remains is a ruin. Contained inside the ruin is a great collection of early medieval tombstones.

From New Ross one can go upriver to enter the Inland waterways, cruise the network of canals and rivers which will bring you to Dublin in the east, Limerick in the west or Enniskillen up north, by the Barrow Navigation, Grand Canal, River Shannon and the Erne navigation or explore the reopening Royal Canal in 2008.

More information is available on Waterford Harbours’ three sisters upper reaches the Barrow, Suir and Nore.

How to get in?

Once Hook Head Light House has been identified check the chart for the location of the race.

Hook Head Lighthouse - Fl 3s 46m 24M position: 52° 07.300’N, 006° 55.700’W

The race is at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. At deck level the strong race will be clearly visible, a very short chop with the water dark green to seaward and light green / pale blue inside and this colouration is particularly visible in sheltered waters. When the tide is on the ebb the chop is much shorter, in the flood the wave length is longer and much easier. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force eight on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided. Once past the race, and inside the harbour, the seaway quickly calms and Waterford Harbour offers good depths for the pleasure sailor.

From there it is simply a matter of following the channel up to New Ross. Be careful not to cut the octahedral lighthouse, locally know as the spider – see picture – across from Arthurstown. As can be seen this area is shallow and dries out so it is important that you keep to the east of this marker.

Access to the Barrow river, that takes you the last stretch of the passage to New Ross, requires a passage underneath the Barrow Bridge – see photographs. This is a relatively high steel railway bridge, with a minimum of 10ft headroom. Craft with high air-draft (over 6 metres mast HWS or 10 metres LWN) will need to request the Barrow bridge be opened. The bridge is manned and the number you should call, at least an hour before arrival, is +353 86 816 7826.

The bridge swivels from control section towards west bank, large ships come upstream and passage is clearly marked. There is a separate arch for upstream and downstream traffic. As the currents are strong here, line up early for the correct arch.

Again there is plenty of depth in Barrow mid river in the buoyed shipping channel all the way up to New Ross.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0112
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 05:16, 17:38, Low water: 11:48
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:14, 23:30, Low waters: 06:06, 18:22 (From Tide Times)
Dover -0535, mean level 2.4 metres.
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.4m

Outside the entrance of Waterford Harbour
West going stream begins -0100 Dover or (+0450 Cobh)
East going stream begins at +0515 Dover (-0120 Cobh).
The external spring rate not exceeding 1 kn

Inside the Waterford Harbour estuary:
The flood begins at +0210 Dover (-0425 Cobh).
The ebb tide at -0505 Dover (+0045 Cobh).
Strong tides of up to 3 knots inside the estuary following the channels

New Ross
The flood begins at +0235 Dover (-0400 Cobh) 4.75 hours
The ebb tide at -0505 Dover (+0045 Cobh) 7.66 hours.
Strong tides of up to 2 knots

The latest monthly Dover Tides and Cobh 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 Leinster 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. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, 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?

New Ross has a modern 66 berth Three Sisters Marina – named after the three sister rivers the Nore, Suir and Barrow. The marina has electrical shore power, mains water toilets and shower facilities. With a population of approx 7,000 inhabitants that is actively embracing tourists New Ross has banks, post offices, super markets, taxi and bus services plus all the bars, restaurants, and tourist information resources you require.

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Other useful contacts in this area:
Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office: VHF Ch 16 when manned
Tel +353 51 383166
Port of Waterford Harbour Master: VHF ch.16 and 14
Three Sisters Marina
Manager John Diamond: +353 86 388 9652 mailto:marian@newrosstc.ie
Phone: +353 51 74499, Mobile +353 87 7931705
Railway bridge: +353 86 816 7826 –call at least an hour before arrival.

Any security concerns?

New Ross Three Sisters Marian is secured facility.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Chart 2049 ‘Old Head of Kinsale to Tuskar Rock’ scale of 1:150,000 covers this sailing area. The key chart for Waterford Harbour area is Admiralty Charts 2046. This covers Waterford Harbour at a scale of 1:25,000, with details of Waterford Port - scale of 1:7,500, continuation of the River Barrow to New Ross - scale of 1:25,000, New Ross - scale of 1:10,000 and Dunmore East Harbour - scale of 1:5,000.

Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey maps 67, 68 and 76 cover the land area. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ describes sailing this area in great detail.

With thanks to:

John Diamond the Three Sisters Marina manager.

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