Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

9°C

Swell today

Direction SSW, height 0.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.5 metres.

Haven position?

52° 16.348' N, 006° 59.745' W

Where is that position?

On the northeastern pierhead.

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?

Cheek Point resides inside Waterford Harbour at the confluence of the Suir and Barrow Rivers approximately 10 miles north from Hook Head lighthouse. The small harbour, channel and immediate vicinity dries out from the shore as much as 200 metres at low water and boats planning to stay here need to take to the mud or come alongside the wall at high water.

Cheek Point offers complete protection from all winds. Access is straightforward as the harbour is adjacent to the Waterford commercial harbour channel that is marked by fully lit buoys and transits all the way. In addition to this Cheek Point’s entry channel is buoyed.

Please note 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 as you approach Cheek Point, into the approach.

Why visit here?

There is an excellent pub serving good food and some small provision shops within walking range at Cheek Point. It is a good lunch stop in a nice quiet location.

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 the Cheek Point. Be careful not to cut the octahedral lighthouse, locally know as the spider off Arthurstown. As can be seen in the below picture this area is shallow and dries out so it is important that you keep to the east of this marker.

At the top of the Estuary Cheek Point resides at the confluence of the rivers Suir and Barrow south of the rail bridge. The harbour has a dredged and marked channel facing east-northeast.

There are a few berthing options to consider with Cheekpoint. On springs you can find up to 1.5, and neaps 0.6 metres just inside the north wall and less as you go further inside the inner harbour. The best options for a short visit is to come alongside the outside of the north wall or the very end of the west side of this wall – see channel in Google image. You will find an extra metre of water on the outside walls. This provides more shore time for tidal visitors but please be sensitive of local boatmen who need to use this serviceable part of the harbour wall.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0025
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 06:31, 18:48, Low waters: 00:38, 12:54
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 00:05, 12:22, Low waters: 07:13, 19:27 (From Tide Times)
Dover -0520, 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

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 Munster 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. Cork 26, Bantry 23, Valentia 24. 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 is a good pub and small shop at Cheek Point. Waterford city is a taxi ride from here. Waterford Airport is within 15 KM offering schedule flights to the UK and mainland Europe.

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:
Contact Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office Tel +353 (0) 51 383166 VHF Ch 16 when manned as this is used by the Waterford Authorities
Port of Waterford Harbour Master 051-74499.VHF ch.16 and 14

Any security concerns?

Never an issue know to have occurred at Cheek Point.

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 chart C57 and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 also cover this area.

With thanks to:

John Carroll, Ballyhack, County Wexford, Ireland.

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