Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

12°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.1 metres.

Haven position?

54° 5.450' N, 006° 15.010' W

Where is that position?

Approximately 500 metres west of the number 22 marker in the Warrenpoint Port channel in a metre of water at LWS.

What is the initial fix?

500 metres due south of Hellyhunter a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.

What is the story here?

Omeath is a small village located at the head of Carlingford Lough inlet upon the south-western shore. There is a jetty from which a passenger ferry operates across to Warrenpoint Port at high water. However the area dries out well beyond the end of the jetty at low water. Vessels either have to take to the ground here or anchor well out in limited water.

Omeath is a good anchorage for shallow draft vessels. Akin to most locations in Carlingford Lough it is exposed to southeasterly conditions where it would be best to take shelter in Warrenpoint Port that is less than half a mile away.

Omeath may be addressed via Warrenpoint Port’s deep water shipping channel, that runs the entire length of the Lough, making it accessible at all states of the tide. However careful navigation is required owing to exceptional currents in the lower Lough and at the entrance where tides reach up to four and a half knots alongside Haulbowline Lighthouse. Consequently a first entrance should be timed to be around slack water and you need a reliable engine should the tide take control.

Please note that an approach to Carlingford Lough is best avoided in any strong onshore winds as it causes a dangerous seaway at the entrance. With a flood tide it makes the entrance highly challenging, but with the southeast ebb tide running out into a strong southeasterly, the entrance is completely impassable. The immediate Omeath area is subject to silting and full of mud and sandbanks. Hence great care should be taken moving outside the marked channel.

Why visit here?

Omeath (Irish: Ó Méith) is a quiet sleepy village on Carlingford Lough. At low tide, the drying shore’s sand and stones with seaweed, makes the area popular with commercial winkle collectors.

Karlingfjord was the name given to the area by the Vikings as the Lough resembled a fjord of their experience. Omeath was reputedly a strong Viking navel base ruled by their leader Horn. Considerable friction characterised his uneasy relationship with the natives of the time.

In more recent time Omeath was a noted Irish speaking area and had its own college until the early twentieth century. Seamus Mac Curtha, one of the most respected regional poets lived in Omeath. However in the 1950’s and 60’s the rich Gaelic tradition began to fade owing to economic migration to England and America.

Steeped in Irish history, and replete with spectacular scenery, Omeath is another quiet sojourn for a shallow draft vessels tour of Carlingford Lough.

How to get in?

Small vessels cannot enter or leave Carlingford Lough against the tide and for a first time visit it is advisable to approach on slack water. This also provides good timing to arrive at the lock for high water if you wish to make it to Newry from the Irish Sea in one go. As slack water only happens twice a day, and most likely once in daylight, here are some cruising distances in nautical miles that may assist in planning your arrival:

Ardglass: 23 nm
Portaferry: 28 nm
Malahide: 38 nm
Dublin: 44 nm
Peel: 50 nm
Holyhead: 64 nm

Carlingford Lough is highly conspicuous as you approach the initial fix to set up for entry. The inlet is eight miles long, with its northeast reach residing between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains. In addition there is a 34 metre high grey granite tower, Haulbowline Lighthouse, standing in the entrance.

The Carlingford Lough Initial Fix is approximately 1 mile from the mouth of the Lough and marks the entrance to deep water shipping channel.

From the initial fix you may come straight in on the leading lights, in line 310° following the outer channel markers until the Haulbowline Lighthouse is past abeam.

Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W

Please be aware the entrance channel is only eighty metres wide in this area and yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic.

When the lighthouse is abreast the course alters slightly to port towards Greenore Point on the south shore - conspicuous for a pine plantation with some buildings.

Then it is a matter of following the well marked mooring buoys up to the Warrenpoint entry channel - odd numbered buoys to starboard and even numbered red buoys to port. Once inside you will find the waters completely absent of swell making marker identification easy.

After passing Killowen Point you will approach the No. 25 Light buoy marking the entrance to the buoyed Warrenpoint approach channel.

No. 25 Green Light buoy – Fl. G 3s position: 54° 04.200’N, 006° 12.100’W

The 60 metres wide channel that is dredged to a depth of 5.4 metres and the Newry River Leading Lights leads through the centre of the channel: in-line 310°.

When in the channel it is recommended that you make transit or berthing arrangements with Warrenpoint Harbour Authority by contacting ‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ on VHF channel 12 (24 hrs) or Tel: +44 28 417 73381.

Yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic in the Warrenpoint channel. At 60 metres wide it is a highly restricted waterway for commercial traffic. Transiting vessels will be channel bound, have right of way, and have no capability to manoeuvre.

Pass the No. 22 Port-hand marker Fl. Red 2s in the Warrenpoint entrance channel and turn off to port. Anchor in a depth of a metre, in mud, about 300 metres east-northeast of the head of the slip. The slip has water on the top half of the tide where at high water you can find about a half metre alongside.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0019
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)
Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0500, Ebb +0020 Dover.
Mean spring range about 3.9 m; mean neap range about 2.5 m
Harbour tidal streams are negligible but the Newry River runs strong

Max tidal rates:
One mile outside the entrance streams are imperceptible.
Buoyed approach channel 3.5 kn,
East of the lighthouse 4.5 kn
Between Greenore and the entrance 1.5 kn
Off Carlingford 1.5 kn
Tides ease off after Killowen Point

The latest monthly Dover and Dublin (North Wall) 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?

Omeath is very small village but has a restaurant, pub, basic provision plus a petrol station. It has good road access located on the R173 regional road approximately 6 km from Carlingford and about 8 km from Newry.

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:
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ VHF channel 12 (24 hrs)
Tel: +44 28 417 73381

Carlingford Marina Telephone: +353 42 93 73073
VHF: Channel 37 or 16, channel 16 - change to channel 06

Any security concerns?

Never an issue know to have occurred in Omeath.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ Scale of 20,000, including the ‘Entrance of Carlingford Lough’ scale of 12,500; and ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000, plus Kilkeel Harbour scale of 5,000. Also Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’.

With thanks to:

Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.

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