Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

9°C

Swell today

Direction E, height 0.0 metres, period 7.6 seconds, significant wave height of 0.3 metres.

Haven position?

52° 8.500' N, 006° 35.290' W

Where is that position?

The anchorage situated 200 metres off the farm house to the northwest of the island.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is Kilmore Quay’s safe water marker, a red and white buoy with a long white flash (Iso 10s). The buoy is positioned between Kilmore Quay and Little Saltee Island and the anchorage is three quarters of a mile south of the marker.

What is the story here?

The Saltee Islands are two small islands that reside off the south coast of County Wexford, approximately half way between Hook Head and Carnsore Point. This is the recognised day anchorage and landing area for Little Saltee Island, the smaller and northernmost of the two islands.

This is an exposed anchorage located off the northwest shore of the island. It offers some protection from the southeast but it should be considered a fair weather anchorage. The Saltee Islands require careful navigation owing to the numerous outlying rocks and strong currents. They are however very workable in settled clear conditions and highly enjoyable.

Please note that currents can run up to 3.4 knots on springs. Those planning to explore these waters have very good large scale charts such as ‘British Admiralty 2740’.

Why visit here?

The Saltee Islands are thought to have derived their name from the ancient Norse ‘Salt-ey’ meaning ‘Salt Islands’. This is an accurate description as sea spray flies over the islands in winter storms depositing a saline solution end-to-end. The Vikings most likely had a trading route between their twin ports of Waterford and Wexford in the 12th century and would have charted the islands as thus. Further evidence can be found in a 14th century Italian chart, the oldest surviving record of the islands, where the islands are recorded as ‘Saltis’- the Italian for Salt Islands.

Little Saltee is the smaller and less frequented of the two islands that reside here. It is nonetheless a beautiful little island. Approximately one hundred acres, un-forested and low the island alters colour with the turn of the season. Blue in the spring, beneath a full flush of bluebells, bright green with the summer’s lush growth of green grass and bracken, then finally winter’s dark granite grey.

Early island inhabitation is thought to date back to 3500 to 2000 BC. In 1957 a rudimentary flint dating back to Neolithic times was unearthed on the Great Saltee. The flint indicated that an agriculturally based community of Stone Age Man availing of the island’s fertile soil and temperate climate with the added advantage of an abundance of fish plus sea bird's eggs immediately to hand. This heritage of inhabitation continued as Little Saltee came into Bellew family ownership in 1855. Three people tenant farmed the island up until the end of the Second World War.

During this extended period of inhabitation the island produced corn, vegetables, milk and meat alongside an abundance of fish. This provided for a wide diet and the inhabitants with complete self-sufficiency. Moreover the unique environment excelled in the growing early-season new potatoes that were traded as far north as the capital.

In the early twentieth century farming activity was at its busiest during harvest time when a thrashing machine would be disassembled and shipped out to the island in pieces via small ‘currachs’. Reassembled on the island and with the help of a dozen people, who would stay overnight in the islands farm dwelling, the harvest would be undertaken. This all came to an end in 1946 when the island was abandoned and the small farmstead plus the tilled fields returned to nature.

In the early 90s Sir Henry Grattan Bellew returned from Africa to retire to Little Saltee Island. With wife Shirley, they took on the mammoth task of reclaiming and restocking the island. This was no small undertaking, as they are both in their seventies, and Henry wrote an account of the experience in his book "A Pinch of Saltee". In 2007, after fifteen years on the island, Henry and Shirley passed over custodianship of the Little Saltee Island to his daughter Deirdre and son Patrick and their respective families. As such Little Saltee is privately owned and no landing should take place without the permission of the family. A flagpole above the main landing area situated below the house indicates when the family is in residence.

Landing yachtsmen should take care to avoid disturbing nesting birds as the Saltee Islands are Ireland's largest bird sanctuaries. Several million seabirds nest on the islands in springtime and a reputed 300 different species such as the gulls, gannets, puffins colonies of cormorants are to be found at various times during the year.

The anchorage also has a final advantage for those departing northeast and west. Being immediately adjacent to St. Patrick’s Bridge it provides perfect location to observe the turn of the turn of the tide for the route ‘eight hours of a following tide from Kilmore Quay; east or westbound’.

How to get in?

Directions are provided for northeastern and southern coastal approaches, the final approach plus additional notes for cruising. If coastal guidance is not applicable, skip directly to the ‘for the final approach’.

FOR A NORTHEASTERN COASTAL APPROACH

Careful advance planning is required to round the southeast corner of Ireland. This seaway has to be treated with the utmost of respect as between Coningbeg Super Buoy, situated four miles south of the Saltee Islands, and Tuskar Rock there are many rocks, shoals and shallows. Through all of this the Atlantic Ocean and the St. George's Channel collide and with tidal flows that reach up to 2.5 knots.

To say the least it can be a very rough corner, both close in and well out to sea. In heavy weather conditions, with wind against tide, heavy overfalls will be found all along the coast and it should be entirely avoided. In fair conditions with careful tidal planning it is more than manageable.

Boats approaching from Saint George's Channel and rounding Carnsore Point, that is Ireland’s south-eastern most corner, have two options. The first is an inshore route; come close in around Carnsore Point and head almost directly west for St. Patrick’s Bridge. The latter is an offshore route; round the corner outside, or on the eastern side, of Tuskar Rock and head southwest to round the Saltee Islands to the south of Coningbeg Super Buoy.


The offshore route:
The offshore route to the east of Tuskar and south of Coningbeg Super Buoy is straightforward and the best approach to take at night, with poor visibility or in uncomfortable weather.

Pass outside Tuskar, giving it a wide berth, continue south past the South Rock light buoy, before altering course for the eighteen miles distant Coningbeg Super Buoy.

South Rock South Cardinal - Q (6) + LFl 15s position: 52° 2 10.810’N, 006° 12.848’W

This path will have a vessel pass half a mile southeast of the Barrels Buoy marker and it will appear on the vessels starboard side.

Barrels Buoy - Q (3) 10s position: 52° 08.363’N, 006° 22.108’W

Once the Barrels Buoy has been rounded the option is to turn in to cross St. Patrick’s Bridge – described below – or come through Saltee Sound between the islands – see notes below - or round the islands to the south of the Coningbeg Super Buoy and approach form the western side depending on the weather conditions or visibility.

Coningbeg Super Buoy - Q(6) + L fl 15s position: 52° 03.198’N, 006° 38.567’W


The inshore route:
The inshore route is the preferred route as it avoids the ‘Inshore Traffic Zone’, that resides to the East of Tuskar Rock, shortens the approach distance and secures smoother inshore waters. With the benefit of good visibility plus a good breeze and or reliable engine the inshore option is the better and more interesting. This path is inside the 3.5 miles wide pass between the coast and Tuskar Rock, to the north of the Barrels, Tercheen Rock and Black Rock then through the pass in St. Patrick’s Bridge. This route around requires more attentive navigation and a most useful set of waypoints are available in the following route.

For purposes of this lead in we will take up the description of this route from Greenore Point, a rocky point of 16.5 metres in elevation, that marks the south extreme of Wexford Bay. From Rosslare Harbour high clay cliffs line the approach to the point and a prominent water tower may be seen midway (exhibiting a red obstruction light at night). Greenore Point itself will be clearly identified by the ruins of a windmill at its summit.

This is a dangerous corner with unusual tidal currents and overfalls and a reef extends 800 metres east by northeast from Greenore Point. At the end of the reef is Carrick Rock that is marked by a perch that forms a red mast with a metal flag with letters "CR". To the southeast of this resides the Splaugh Rock, an extensive rocky shoal, with 0.6 of a metre on its shallowest part. Splaugh Rock is marked by the Splaugh Light buoy three quarters of a mile to the east-northeast.

Splaugh Red Can Buoy – Fl R 6s position: 52° 14.432’N, 006° 16.774’W

Leisure vessels should entirely avoid Greenore Point and the surrounding area. It is recommended that the passage around Greenore Point should be taken outside ‘The South Long’ and the ‘Splaugh’ port hand marker.

South Long South Cardinal - VQ (6) + LFl 10s position: 52° 14.835’N, 006° 15.647’W

From there a vessel should make a direct path to pass immediately east of the Fundale port hand marker Buoy, just over 4 miles 208°(T) along the coast.

Fundale Red Can Buoy - Fl (2) R 10s position: 51° 10.655’N, 006° 20.299’W

The buoy marks Fundale Rock that is uncovered at half-tide and resides 600 metres west-northwest of Carnsore Point.

This route between the Splaugh and Fundale markers take a vessel just inside, to the west of, the ‘The Bailies’ and close outside, to the east, of Whilkeen and Collough rocks.

‘The Bailies’ is an irregular bank of rocks and coarse ground that extends from Greenore Point in a south-southwest direction for four miles, approximately midway between the Tuskar and the shore. At its shallowest the bank has just over 9 metres of cover and heavy overfalls are to be found here on its rocky pinnacles. The direct path between the Splaugh and Fundale markers takes a vessel along the inshore edge of ‘The Bailies’ where deeper waters are to be found between the shoal and the Wexford shoreline. It may be advisable for smaller vessels to avoid ‘The Bailies’ entirely in the full strength of the tidal streams when the overfalls occur.

The two rock groups that exist outside Carne Harbour; are Whilkeen Rocks to the north and Collough to the south. Although unmarked they are prominently noted on charts and can be found in the following positions.

Whilkeen Rocks – position: 52° 12.234’N, 006° 20.051’W

Collough Rock – position: 52° 11.450’N, 006° 19.803’W

Whilkeen Rock resides 800 metres out from the shore and is awash at high-water springs. It forms the extremity of a reef that partially uncovers at low water with foul ground extending ashore for a distance of 400 metres to the northeast and east of it. Collough Rock resides half a mile to the south of Whilkeen and is just under a mile north-by-east of the Fundal Buoy. The outside danger resides half a mile off Crossfintan Point immediately to the west on the shore.

Carnsore Point is a low 16 metre high clay cliff with rocky shelves beneath. There are several rocks to the northeast but it is largely clear on the southern side with plenty of depth 500 metres offshore. Keep close to the southern shore to align a path to St. Patrick’s Bridge to the north of Tercheen Rock. Beware of the strong tidal sweep when passing the Fundale Rock Buoy and Carnsore Point. It is essential that a vessel stays on track here and avoids being swept too far south or ashore depending on the tide at hand. Once the corner is rounded align the vessel on a direct path for St. Patrick’s Bridge. If at this point there is any uncertainty, i.e. visibility is poor or a big sea is running, there is the opportunity to go south and take the latter half of the offshore route by making for the Barrels Light buoy (2 miles south of Carnsore Point) and then for the Coningbeg Super Buoy).

The inshore route continues to St. Patrick’s Bridge by passing north of ‘Nether Rock’, a rocky patch 1.5 miles to the southwest and the Barrels Rock. The key rocks to locate are the Black and Tercheen rocks. Black Rock is a conspicuous 500 metre long and 2 metre high rock that resides 2 miles southwest-by-south of Carnsore Point.

Black Rock – position: 52° 09.209’N, 006° 24.893’W

Tercheen Rock resides 400 metres to the north of Back Rock and is the key rock to identify on this leg.

Tercheen Rock – position: 52° 09.409’N, 006° 24.911’W

Tercheen Rock is clearly visible as it is always awash and dries at low water. Once past these rocks the bay is clear to St. Patricks Bridge seven miles west by southwest.

St. Patrick’s Bridge resides in the 1.75 mile gap between the shore and North Saltee Island. It is a ridge of rock and shingle curving back from the northern most point of the Little Saltee to the mainland east of Kilmore Quay. The attached ends dry off a considerable distance from each side and at about midway between the island and the shore, if a little closer to Little Saltee, there is a passage over the ridge. The passage has 2.4 metres at LWS and is well marked from April to September by two seasonal port and starboard light buoys.

Starboard Marker Buoy – Fl. G6s 2M position: 52°09.300’N, 006° 34.700’W

Port Marker Buoy – Fl. R6s 2M position: 52°09.135’N, 006° 34.700’W

On approach the 35 metre high Little Saltee Island, on the southern side, plus the constant use by leisure and fishing boats should make the bridge and passage plain to see. The aforementioned route provides the following St. Patrick’s excellent alignment and crossing waypoints.

St. Patrick's Bridge East – alignment waypoint: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 33.000’W

St. Patrick's Bridge – waypoint: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 34.700’W

St. Patrick's Bridge West – alignment waypoint: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 35.650’W

The St. Patrick's Bridge passage offers the shortest and simplest route to the inshore area between the Kilmore Quay and the Saltee Islands. It is also the quickest route from Carnsore Point to Hook Head. In uncertain weather, or when a heavy swell is running, Saltee Sound however would be the preferred option.

The bridge crossing aligns a vessel to track down on the Kilmore Initial Fix situated at the location of Kilmore Quay’s safe water marker. This is a red and white buoy that has a white long flash and situated a third of a mile west of the St. Patricks Bridge crossing point. The buoy may not be marked on older charts as it was only established in April 2007.


FOR A WESTERN COASTAL APPROACH

Boats arriving from more than twenty miles to the west will pass in order Tramore Bay and Waterford Harbour and Ballyteige Bay.

Tramore bay’s east and west shores are high and bold. The 44 metres high headland of Great Newtown Head is the western boundary of Tramore bay and distinguished by three white towers. One of the towers features a colossal figure of a man, known as Metal Man, with his left arm extended in the direction of Waterford harbour. Two and a half miles across the bay, upon its eastern limit, is Brownstown Head with two similar black towers.

The purpose of Tramore Bay’s extensive eighteenth century markings was to readily distinguish it from the entrance to Waterford harbour. The low sandy beach at the head of Tramore Bay, lying in front of the submerged lands of the Back Strand, gives it the appearance of an estuary. In hazy weather, many an eighteenth century sailing vessel made that mistake. For a great many, it proved fatal. Prevailing south-westerly’s makes Tramore shallow bay a lee shore that, along with poor ground holding, left little to halt the inevitable.

The coastal area east of Tramore Bay, between Brownstown Head and the entrance of Waterford Harbour, is bold and clear of danger. There are just a couple of noteworthy points. The Swede Patch, with 2.7 metres of cover, is of little issue to leisure craft but the Falskirt half-tide rock, 400 metres off Swines Head, at the entrance to Waterford Harbour, requires particular attention. Half a mile or more offshore here clears all dangers.

Waterford Harbour resides between Swines Head and Hook Head four miles east-southeast. Passing over the mouth of the harbour the western shore of the entrance is high and bold, and dotted with numerous houses. The steeples and harbour wall of
Dunmore East, a busy and picturesque fishing port, can be seen at the western entrance to Waterford Harbour. The high shores of the county Waterford will be seen terminating to the eastward at Credan Head 2.5 miles to the northeast.

The eastern shore, Hook Point, is a long and narrow low lying promontory that terminates in a shelving point where Hook Head lighthouse stands.

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

Fort Mountain, the only high point in southeast Wexford, will be seen inland and South Saltee Island will appear in the eastern horizon as the journey continues eastward to the south of Hook Head. Please note, under conditions of strong west winds, and particularly between about 2 hours before to 2 hours after High Water Dover, it is advisable to keep more than a mile south of Hook Head in order to avoid the Tower Race.

After passing Hook Head the journey takes a vessel across Ballytiege Bay that resides between Hook Head and Crossfarnoge Point adjacent to Kilmore Quay. The open bay is free of offshore obstructions until arriving close in to Kilmore and the Saltee Islands.

Those who decide to cruise the shoreline of Ballytiege Bay should make note and identify a key rocks and shoals in its northwest end. Brecaun Bridge resides on the eastern coast of the Hook peninsula approximately two miles east by north of the lighthouse, between Baginbun Head and the Hook. Baginbun Head, made conspicuous by its Martello Tower, has rocks extending 600 metres to the northeast. A useful local boatman’s waypoint for passing east of Baginbun Head is as follows.

Baginbun Head clear water waypoint - position: 52° 10.450’N, 006° 49.244’W

This waypoint, or further east of it, will keep a vessel clear of the extending rocks from the headland.

Approaching Fethard ‘Shoal Rock’ is an uncharted rock with one metre of water above it on a low Spring tide and lies one half a nautical mile north-northeast of ‘Innyard point’ outside of Fethard Harbour. The area off ‘Innyard Point’, requires a wide berth as it dries up to 200 metres to the northeast of the point.

Selskar Shoal is in the centre of the entrance to Bannow Bay with 0.3 metres of cover while Selskar Rock, on the east side of the bay, dries to 2 metres.

The Keeragh Island reside 2 miles east of Selskar Rock and a mile offshore. They are made up of two low Islets no more than 6 metres in height. A reef extends to the mainland from the Islets and George Rock, with 1.2 metres of cover, resides half a mile to the northeast. The Keeragh islands should be given a wide berth owing to these obstructions and complicated surrounding currents.


The final approach to the Kilmore Quay Initial Fix, that is Kilmore Quay’s red and white safe water marker buoy, should be made directly from the west. Unlike the eastern approach, where St Patrick’s bridge has to be crossed, the western approach is completely clear for a direct western approach. However there is limited room to deviate to the north or south on the approach line as outlying dangers exist on island’s western side and should be noted. Deviation to the south will take a vessel close to the Murroch’s and Jackeen Rock situated southwest of the marker – detailed in the additional notes below. Likewise any deviation to the north will take a vessel too close to the Forlorn Rock, with 1.2 metres of water, west southwest and nearly half a mile offshore of Crossfarnoge (or Forlorn) Point.


FOR THE FINAL APPROACH

From the Initial Fix, located at Kilmore Quay’s safe water marker head directly for the Little Saltee Island on a course of 175°(T) for a distance of three quarters of a mile. Anchor in a depth to your preference about 200 metres off the northwest of the island where the farmhouse can be seen ashore.

The holding here is amongst boulders with some sand and shale and a lot of kelp on an uneven surface. Holding is not as secure as the other anchorages listed on Little Saltee and it is recommended that a tripping line should be used in case the anchor should get lodged behind a boulder.

Those who have landing permission should come ashore amongst the boulders below the house. There is no pier or jetty but the area is normally reasonably sheltered by offshore rocks from the boulder beach.



ADDITIONAL NAVIGATIONAL NOTES

Below are additional navigational notes for vessels approaching Kilmore Quay and the Saltee Islands from other directions or for those who plan to cruise the islands and inshore area.

Sea conditions around and particularly to the south of the islands are formidable in strong winds or with wind-against-tide. However in fair conditions circumnavigating the islands offer excellent cliff scenery and interesting sailing in the areas tidal races and eddies. For those planning to cruise around islands a detailed chart, such as Admiralty 2740, is recommended to navigate through this sailing area’s complex rocks and shoals. Here are some notes, working from south to north, to assist in locating the position of key rocks and shoals surrounding the Saltee Islands.

Coningbeg Rock:
Coningbeg Rock is steep-to and dries to 2.8 metres and is typically awash with breakers when covered. It lies two and a half miles south by southwest Great Saltee and one and a quarter miles to the southwest of Coningmore.

Coningbeg Rock – position: 52° 04.144’N, 006° 38.478’W

The rock is marked by the Coningbeg Super Buoy that is situated one mile due south from the rock itself. This is a red tower and hull with ‘CONINGBEG’ written in white letters on each side.

Coningbeg Super Buoy - Q(6) + L fl 15s position: 52° 03.198’N, 006° 38.567’W

Cruising vessels may pass north of Coningbeg Light float between it and Coningbeg Rock but stay well clear of the rock.

Coningmore Rocks:
This rock group consist of a cluster of three rocks lying within 300 metres of each other with the largest being an easily identifiable four metres high. The steep-to cluster is a mile and a third to the south of Great Saltee’s southernmost point.

Coningmore Rocks – position: 52° 05.191’N, 006° 37.283’W

Red Bank:
This is a quarter of a mile long rocky shoal with 7.9 metres of cover where overfalls and rip tides occur. It is situated two miles southwest of Great Saltee, one and a quarter miles northwest of Coningbeg Rock, and a mile and a half west of Coningmore.

Red Bank West Cardinal - VQ(9) 10s position: 52° 04.499’N, 006° 41.652’W

The Brandies:
The Brandies are two dangerous rocks 500 metres apart. ‘West Brandie’ being the higher of the two, drying to 2.5 metres, whilst East Brandie dries 0.9 metres. They are situated one and a half miles to the southeast of Great Saltee and a mile and three quarters west by southwest of the Bore Rocks East Cardinal.

Brandies – position: 52° 05.852’N, 006° 34.692’W

The Bohurs:
The Bohurs are three separate rocks with the north most, Long Bore, residing to the east of the islands in a direct line of approach to Saltee Sound from Carnsore point. Although they have plenty of cover for sailing craft, the shallowest being Long Bohur with 4 metres of water over it, they should be avoided as tidal races and breaking seas surround them and particularly so in wind over tide conditions.

From north to south, ‘Long Bohur’ with 4 metres of cover resides one and a quarter miles to the east of the southern end of Little Saltee Island. Half a mile south by southeast of Long Bohur is ‘Short Bohur’ with 7.3 metres of cover. Finally ‘The Bore’, with 5.5 metres of cover, resides just under a mile to the south of Short Bohur and three quarters of a mile northwest of the Bore Rocks East Cardinal.

Bore Rocks East Cardinal – Q(3) 10S position: 52° 52 06.074’N, 006° 31.871’W

Shoal Rock:
Shoal Rock has 0.9 metres of cover and resides a quarter of a mile southeast of Great Saltee Island’s south-western point. It is made visible by a triple ripple.

Shoal rock – position: 52° 06.119’N, 006° 37.805’W

The entire southwest corner of Great Saltee Island should be given a wide berth. As along with Shoal Rock, Moly Hoy (shows), Panstown Rock (shows above high water) and off-lying rocks from the east side of the southern tip of the island, called the Seven Heads Reef, complicate the inshore area.

Sunken Rock of Makeston:
Close in to the shore on the east side of the island, off the bays to the southeast of Great Saltee Island immediately east of Gilert Bay, Makeston Rock shows.

Sunken Rock of Makeston – position: 52° 06.853’N, 006° 36 419’W

Ring Rock:
Ring Rock resides immediately offshore of the northwest point of the Great Saltee Island outside the Ring Rock.

Ring Rock – position: 52° 07.223’N, 006° 36.634’W

Whitty Rock:
Whitty Rock, awash at low water, resides outside the Ring Rock, 500 metres off the northwest point of the Great Saltee Island.

Whitty Rock – position: 52° 07.239’N, 006° 37.577’W

Power’s Rock:
Powers Rock, with 0.3 metres of cover, resides 600 metres to the northwest of the centre of Great Saltee Island.

Power’s Rock – position: 52° 07.344’N, 006° 37.084’W

Galgee Rock:
Galgee Rocks, awash at low water, reside 250 metres to the southwest of Little Saltee Island southernmost point.

Galgee Rock – position: 52° 07.869’N, 006° 35.228’W

Goose Rock:
Goose Rock, dries to 2.6 metres, resides 300 metres off the southwest corner of Little Saltee Island. Please note a covered off lying portion resides 15 metres to the southwest.

Goose Rock – position: 52° 08.042’N, 006° 35.546’W

Privateer Rock:
Although unnamed Privateer Rock, with 3 metres of cover, is clearly marked on the charts half a mile west of the centre of Little Saltee Island.

Privateer Rock – position: 52° 08.349’N, 006° 35.635’W

Jackeen Rock:
Jackeen Rock, with 1.5 metres of cover, lies just over a mile west by southwest of the north tip of Little Saltee Island.

Jackeen Rock – position: 52° 08.438’N, 006° 36.722’W

Murrock’s Rock:
Murroch's Rock, awash at low water, resides just under three quarters of a mile to the northwest of the Little Saltee Island.

Murrock’s Rock – position: 52° 08.753’N, 006°. 35.919’W

Forlorn Rock:
Forlorn Rock, with 1.2 metres of water, is west by southwest and nearly half a mile offshore of Crossfarnoge (or Forlorn) Point.

Forlorn Rock – position: 52° 09.889’N, 006° 36.172’W

Lings:
These are a series of rocks extending 600 metres south from the shore between
Crossfarnoge Point and Kilmore Quay, plus to the east of the entrance path.

Cautions:

Note the position of Jackeen and Murrock’s rocks if striking off a course for Hook Head after crossing St Patrick Bridge.
Note the position of Galgee and Goose rock if rounding the southwest corner of Little Saltee Island.
Note the position of Forlorn Rock if you are trying to cut from Hook Head into the harbour.
Note the position Shoal Rock when rounding Great Saltee Island’s southwest corner ‘Seven Heads’. You need to plan an outside or inside path round this covered rock.
Those electing to enter the inshore area via Saltee Sound should pay particular attention to Galgee, Goose Rock and Privateer off the southwest corner of Little Saltee Island. Likewise there is a ledge extending northward from Great Saltee called the Sebber Bridge plus Jackeen and Murrock’s rocks between Great Saltee and the shore.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0013
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, Cobh +0019sp, +0009np Get Dover Tide
Tidal Range:
MHWS 3.8m MHWN 2.8m MLWN 1.5m MLWS 0.6m

Direction of stream outside the harbour:
Dover HW to +0500 west-southwest
Dover HW +0600 to -0100 east-northeast

Between Carnsore Point and the Saltees:
East by northeast stream commences +0525 Dover (-0110 Cobh) spring rate 2.4kn.
West by southwest stream commences-0040 Dover (+0510 Cobh) spring rate 2.6kn.

South of the Saltees the streams rotate clockwise:
East going flood stream commences North +0535 Dover (-0120 Cobh), spring rate 1.7 kn, turning east northeast approximately three hours later and ends in a south-easterly direction.
West going ebb stream commences south at -0020 Dover (+0530 Cobh) spring rate 1.9kn turning west by south approximately three hours later and ends in a north-westerly direction.
Particularly strong tides are to be found in Saltee Sound where spring rate tides can reach 3.5kn and do not set fairly through the sound with many eddies.
Expect a slack water of approximately 1 hour between the tides.


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?

There are no facilities on the Little Saltee Island.

Immediately ashore Kilmore Quay has a 60 berth finger pontoon marina with water, electricity and diesel available on the quay. There are 15 visitor berths and although this seems a low number, the marina manages to accommodate its guests even in peak seasons. Advance bookings are not taken but you can contact the Harbour Master a couple of days before entry details below.

Kilmore also offers an excellent chandlery marine engineering and lift out capabilities plus two mini supermarkets and a post office. A wide selection of good pubs and restaurants plus a hotel are all within a short walk from the Marina.

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:
Kilmore Harbour Master: monitors channel 9, phone +353 53 912 9955 hmkilmorequay@eircom.net
RNLI, Kilmore Quay’ Mersey Class Lifeboat, phone +353 53 91 29690
Police: +353 53 91 29642 or 91 22333; Doctor: +353 53 91 35296
Chemist: +353 53 91 35655; Customs: +353 53 91 33741

Any security concerns?

Never an issue know to have occurred to a vessel anchored off the Saltee Islands.

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 this sailing area is the large scale British Admiralty 2740 that covers the Saltee Islands & Kilmore Quay at a scale of 1:25,000. Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 77 covers the land area.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

---

Please zoom out to see the 'initial fix' for this location.

How can I get this offshore?

If a mobile signal is available you can access all of our information via a mobile phone's internet browser. We provide a 'Lite' site, Lite In Your Foot Steps using the shorter initials www.liyfs.com, that presents our data in a simplified, speed optimised format. Similarly, if an internet connection is limited or expensive, switching to the 'Lite' site enables faster and more efficient access.

Alternatively print this page's text, illustrations and photos, but without the internet menu, layout, backdrops and Google maps, or economise upon printer consumables and print this page with text only, to get a hardcopy of this location.



Print this haven

Add a review or comment:

Please log in to leave a review of this haven.

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.