Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

11°C

Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.4 metres.

Haven position?

52° 38.567' N, 006° 13.417' W

Where is that position?

The end of the south pier at the harbour entrance.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint 1000 metres east of the pierheads.

What is the story here?

Courtown Harbour resides on the northeastern county Wexford coastline approximately ten miles south of Arklow. It is a small basin entered through a channel and is more suitable for medium and shallow draft vessels.

Once inside the basin the harbour affords good shelter. There is however an uncomfortable surge in anything from a force three from northeast round to southeast, and particularly so on an easterly.

Access requires normal navigation as there are no obstacles directly offshore – save for the yellow outfall marker just south of the harbour. However the 11 metre wide and 200 metre long channel that must be entered between two pierheads is narrow and the water either side is shallow; so a failed entrance is most likely to end up on the shore.

Please note Courtown Harbour should not be attempted in conditions from northeast round to southeast in any conditions in force four or above. Strong north-westerlies do produce a roll across the mouth of the harbour that is manageable but be cautious. Courtown harbour has no navigation lights and should not be attempted in dark.

Why visit here?

Courtown Harbour has open access to the Irish sea. It is south of the Arklow bank and north of the Blackwater bank providing approximately eight nautical miles of clear water. This makes it a great Irish landing point or point of departure for the UK. It is also a great point to optimise the tides.

One hour south of Courtown is the Rusk Channel and at high water Dover this starts to run South at up to 3 Knots. So Courtown is an ideal place to optimise the south flowing tide – see also Cahore.

Courtown itself is a major tourist destination with all the associated food, bars and restaurants plus a special focus on children’s amusements.

A petrol station is within a short stroll that also hosts a well provisioned supermarket. In summer an hourly bus runs between Courtown and Gorey where a Dublin / Rosslare Harbour train and bus service is available. There are many taxi firms available servicing the area.

How to get in?

From the initial fix come directly west and find the two pierheads that the vessel enters between. They project east from the harbour and are on the south side of the basin – see photos.

For best entry, line up the pierheads so you can see directly down the channel. Slow move forward gauging the run of the current on the vessel, that may reach 2 knots on springs, then come straight in.

In most circumstances you will find the harbour easily accessible and very pleasant. The channel is dredged regularly in the summer, the above stated meter LWS may vary as a result. Is unlikely to be dredged during winter where the draft may reduce to half a metre LWS.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0340
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High waters: 00:29, 12:49, Low waters: 06:18, 18:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 00:05, 12:22, Low waters: 07:13, 19:27 (From Tide Times)
HW -0300 Dover, range (HW) 1-0.4m.
Offshore tidal streams, max rate 2 kn.
Dover +0430 north-northeast
Dover -0200 south-southwest

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 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?

Courtown Harbour is a public harbour with free berthing available alongside the wall. This works well in Courtown as the tidal range is so limited the line adjustment is a light or negligible task. Occasional local boat owners depart their moorings and you are free to contact Courtown Sailing club members to ask permission for a short stay. If it is possible, they are very obliging.

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

There is no harbour master in Courtown Harbour.

Any security concerns?

Courtown Harbour has had very few if any issues with vessels alongside the wall. However on busy bank holiday summer weekends you may get some mischievous youngsters about. A wise precaution is to loop your shore lines back into the vessel so they cannot be undone from the quayside.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty 1787 ‘Carnsore Point to Wicklow Head’ covers this area in a scale of 1:100,000. Imray chart C61 plus Discovery Ordinance Survey maps 62 & 69 also cover this area. The excellent ‘’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides pilotage.

With thanks to:

George Mahon, Courtown Harbour sailing Club.

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