Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

7°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.7 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.9 metres.

Haven position?

52° 14.407' N, 006° 57.226' W

Where is that position?

At the end of the pier

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?

Arthurstown resides upon Waterford Harbour’s eastern shore seven miles north of Hook Head lighthouse and directly east of Passage East. It is a small quay with a stone bottom, that is not ideal to dry out upon, and the area dries out beyond the pierhead. However working the tides at high water springs you can come alongside at up to 2-3 metres at the end of the pier.

This is an exposed quay and should only be considered in settled conditions. Arthurstown is open to everything from northeast round to northwest and it is particularly bad in a northwesterly. In these conditions you should go further upriver or select Dunmore East. Although protected from the south the pier becomes awash in very strong southerly conditions especially at high water. Fishing boats do weather out a southerly there but are completely inaccessible when the pier is awash.

Access is straightforward as the harbour is less than 100 metres from the Waterford commercial harbour channel.

Please note 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.

Why visit here?

Arthurstown is a quaint holiday village, with a pleasant beach and offers a quiet spot to stop off. There is a pub a short stroll from the pier and there is a coastal walk from Ballyhack. However the car ferry traffic uses this route from Wexford and it can be busy. Arthurstown does have excellent road access and makes for an ideal set down and collection point.

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 the initial fix follow the Waterford channel markers up until you see the highly distinctive Octahedral marker on the port side - see picture. Once you see this marker that is locally known as the ‘spider’ Arthurstown is on starboard. If the tidal height is correct for your depth turn into Arthurstown pier. A few fishing vessels use the pier and have priority access so please do fit around their schedules.

The tide runs strong in this area and it needs to be factored into your transit.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 10:33, 22:54, Low waters: 05:34, 17:58 ^{From Tide Times}

Dover -0535, 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 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?

Apart from a pier with a high tide slipway and excellent road access there are no other services available in Ballyhack.

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:
Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office: VHF Ch 16 when manned
Tel +353 51 383166
Port of Waterford Harbour Master: VHF ch.16 and 14
Phone: +353 51 74499, Mobile +353 87 7931705

Any security concerns?

There are no reported security issues in the area.

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 charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 covers the land area.

With thanks to:

John Carroll, Ballyhack, County Wexford, Ireland.

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