Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

12°C

Swell today

Direction S, height 1.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 1.4 metres.

Haven position?

52° 6.960' N, 010° 21.900' W

Where is that position?

This is the pierhead to the west of Pointanskoh.

What is the initial fix?

This is set outside the centre of entrance of the Ventry Harbour.

What is the story here?

Ventry Harbour is a large bay situated on the southwest corner of the Dingle Peninsula. Featuring a spectacular sandy beach along its western shore the picturesque southeast facing harbour provides an anchorage with a landing pier plus moorings.

Being open to the southeast, it is exposed to a swell from that direction making it a tolerable anchorage. It does provide very good shelter and holding in south through west to northeast winds but is entirely open in east to south-easterly winds. Straight forward access is provided by the mile wide entrance and absence of obstructions within the bay. But a daylight entrance is recommended to strangers as there are no supporting lights.

Please note that marine farming takes place in the harbour area so you should keep a watchful eye out for rafts and pot markers. Breakers occur on a shoal extending from the eastern shore and a mid to western side approach is advised. In strong westerly conditions heavy squalls come down from the surrounding high grounds but only a slight swell is raised and it is nothing that would make an anchorage unsafe.

Why visit here?

Ventry, an Anglicisation of the Irish Ceann Trá, boasts a fine natural harbour with three miles of sandy beach. It is one of the most attractive and safest beaches on the west coast of Ireland.

The bay was once the main port on this peninsula and the surrounding area is steeped in history. Four miles west of Ventry are the dramatic ruins of Dunbeg, in Irish An Dún Beag. This is a 1200 year old Iron Age promontory fort located on the edge of a steep cliff. It is made up of twenty-two-feet thick walls and girded by four rings of earthworks with additional beehive huts standing nearby. An elaborately constructed souterrain, or underground escape passage, testifies to the engineering sophistication of the medieval occupants of this lonely outpost.

Dunbeg is only a part of the Fahan Group that includes four hundred and fourteen clochans, nineteen souterrains, eighteen standing inscribed stones, seven earthen ring forts and two sculptured crosses. Close to Dunbeg is Kilvickadownig, home to other archaeological ruins, including examples of the beehive house and historic graves. This is something all visitors to this area should not miss. Likewise Rahinnane Castle in Ventry parish, that was the residence of the Knight of Kerry. The castle was built on the site of an old ring fort and the Knight of Kerry lived there until Cromwellian times.

In more recent history, on October 4th 1939, German U-Boat U-35 entered Ventry Bay on a mercy mission. It landed 28 Greek sailors off the MV Diamantis that the U-boat had torpedoed.

There are many wonderful walks in Ventry and its surrounds that reside amidst the very famous ‘Dingle Way’ drive. Several locally produced guides and other books are available describing walks in Ventry.

The bays primary use today is that of leisure; providing safe swimming, windsurfing, canoeing, diving and sunbathing and is enjoyed by people of all ages. It also provides a good anchorage for a boatman wishing to escape the bustle of Dingle town in the adjacent harbour.

How to get in?

The ‘Routes: Mizen Head to Sybil Point coastal description’ provides approach information to the suggested Initial Fix. Vessels approaching from the north should select the southbound sequenced description; vessels approaching from the south should select the northbound sequence; other approaches may use either description.

Approaching the Ventry Harbour Initial Fix from the east the harbour will be easily located by residing two miles to the west of the conspicuous Eask Tower. Situated a mile and a half to the east of Paddock Point, the bays eastern entry point, the Eask Tower is set upon the 188 metres high summit of Carhoo Hill with a fingerpost pointing east towards the entrance to Dingle Harbour, and is a primary landmark on this coast.

When coming from the west or southwest the mouth of the harbour cannot in the first instance be clearly made out. When at a distance the contiguity of the back land blends in Parkmore Point. However as you close on the initial fix the two black rocks off Parkmore Point, the bays western entry point, will be seen and then the mile wide entrance becomes clear between Parkmore Point and Paddock Point.

From the initial fix take a northeast course of approximately 304° (T) towards a conspicuous chapel visible on the western side of the harbour.

This passes Parkmore Point’s two black rocks, called Reenvare, that are always above water standing visibly on the rocky foreshore off the point. They are clear of danger, and may be approached up to a distance of 200 metres. Paddock Point, at the eastern side, resides upon the end of a long line of diminishing cliffs.

There are depths of 14.6 to 21.9 metres between Parkmore and Paddock Points decreasing to 7.3 to 8.2 metres about a mile within the harbour. The western shore of the harbour is shallow, but otherwise clear of danger.

On the east shore, nearly half a mile to the north of Paddock Point, a sunken ledge extends about 0.3 mile offshore with 2.9 metres of water over it. The sea breaks heavily upon this ledge and it should be avoided. The 304° (T) towards a conspicuous chapel clears this shoal.

Progressing into the harbour Pointanskoh Point, with the caravan park above it, will be seen and then Coon Pier and slipway immediately west on the south side of the bay. Anchor about 200 metres north of the slipway in three metres or closer as with your preference.

The sand is hard in Ventry Harbour and you may have to make efforts to dig the anchor in. There are moorings in this area also. Coon pier dries out but it is a good slipway with steps making it a good landing point.

Other popular anchorages include off the beach west of the church or in the northeast section of the bay, beneath the village, if protection requires working around prevailing wind conditions.

There are two visitors' moorings reported. One on the village side of the bay, in Ventry Harbour, and one near Coon pier.

Ventry Harbour village moorings – position: 52° 07.700’N, 010° 21.400’W

Ventry Harbour Coon pier moorings – position: 52° 07.100’N, 010° 21.900’W

The moorings are rated to 15 tons and are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR.

You can also find a quay at Ballymore plus a boat slip and winch below Ventry village.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0055
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)
More accurately HW Cobh -0111sp, - 0041 np, or alternatively +0540 on Dover

MHWS 4.0 m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.0m MLWS 0.0m
ML 2.1m; Duration 0605
If approaching from the north here are the Blasket Sound tides:
The tide starts running North at Dover –0120 or Cobh +0430
The tide Starts running South at Dover +0440 or Cobh –0035

What facilities are available?

At Coon pier there is nothing but the slip to land upon. If you anchor off the village you will find the above mentioned pier and winch plus some small shops including a petrol station. During the summer, the local pub and cafe offer a choice of good food throughout the day and evening. Dingle is about five miles to the east on the R559 and there is an occasional bus service.

What emergency contacts are there?

At Coon pier there is nothing but the slip to land upon. If you anchor off the village you will find the above mentioned pier and winch plus some small shops including a petrol station. During the summer, the local pub and cafe offer a choice of good food throughout the day and evening. Dingle is about five miles to the east on the R559 and there is an occasional bus service.
What emergency contacts are there?
Valentia Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) VHF Ch 24 & MF 1752 kHz covers this costal area. Cork (26), Mizen (04), Bantry Bay (23), Shannon (28) and Galway (04) 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. Valentia (MRSC) may be called on +353 669 476 109
HM telephone 066-9151629, Email dinglemarina@eircom.net Communications: VHF Ch.16 and CH 80 and via Valencia Radio.

Other Useful Contacts
HM: +353 66 9151629
Marina: +353 87 9254115, e-mail, dingle@eircom.net, VHF Channel 80
Valentia Radio (Ch 24 28) will relay urgent messages to Dingle HM.

Any security concerns?

Never a problem known to have occurred to a vessel in Ventry Harbour.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Chart 2789 ‘Dingle Bay and Smerwick Harbour’ scale of 1:60,000, including ‘Continuation of Castlemaine Harbour’ Scale of 1:60,000 and ‘Smerwick Harbour’ Scale of 1:40,000 covers this area. Admiralty Chart 2790 ‘Ventry and Dingle Harbours’ scale of 1:15,000 covers the ‘Blasket Islands’ Scale of 1:37,500 provides more detail.

Imray C56 & C55 scale of 1:170,000 overlap here. Ordinance Survey of Ireland, Discovery Series Map ref No. 70 Kerry, scale 1:50,000.

With thanks to:

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

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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.

What other useful information is available?

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’.



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