Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

4°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.6 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.7 metres.

Haven position?

53° 18.235' N, 006° 7.704' W

Where is that position?

200 metres outside the midpoint entrance between the East and West Pier Heads.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 400 metres northeast pf the East Pier head Fl (2) R 10s 16m 17M.

What is the story here?

Dún Laoghaire is a busy ferry port in the South of Dublin Bay with extensive facilities for yachts. The harbour has a commercial 450 berth marina and arrangements can be made with one of the yacht clubs to use their moorings. Anchoring is prohibited in the harbour but you can anchor outside the harbour in Scotsman’s Bay in settled weather conditions.

Once inside Dún Laoghaire harbour you have complete protection from all conditions. An exception to this is the yacht club moorings out in the eastern harbour. They tend to be uncomfortable if not untenable in northerly to northeasterly conditions as a lump comes in the harbour entrance.

The harbour’s 300 metres wide entrance does offer safe access, night and day irrespective of tides in most all conditions. There are no offlying dangers outside the harbour although it is advised that you keep at least 10 metres off the pier heads on entry.

Please note a single issue with Dún Laoghaire is the Highspeed Sea Services (HSS) have right of way. It moves very fast and is obliged to turn to dock in the harbour. As it is a confined space to operate and they have no assisting tugs they cannot give any quarter to a sailing vessel. The bow wash as the HSS lifting and dropping off the plane can roll around the bay as often far south in settled conditions as the Muglins Sound.

Why visit here?

Dún Laoghaire is one of the largest harbours in the country, and base for a major car ferry route to the United Kingdom. Being a large town south of the capital Dún Laoghaire has everything you could need within a short walk from the marina. It also offers public transport access to Dublin and all its resources and tourist attractions. This makes Dún Laoghaire a premier sailing location. In addition Dún Laoghaire has a wealth to interest the visitor. Much more than its friendly pubs and seaside cafe’s it is a town rich in history.

The town had been officially renamed Kingstown in 1821 in honour of a visit by King George IV, but reverted to its ancient Irish name by resolution of the town council in 1921, one year before Irish independence. The name derives from its founder, Laoghaire, a 5th-century High King of Ireland, who chose the site as a sea base from which to carry out raids on Britain and France. 'Dún' is an Irish word meaning 'fort'. King Laoghaire is famous for having allowed Saint Patrick to travel the country and preach Christianity.

The Dublin to Kingstown railway, constructed in 1834, was the first ever railway in Ireland. Other features of the town include the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, and a Martello tower in nearby Sandycove known as the James Joyce Tower. It took 42 years to construct the harbour - from 1817 to 1859 - and it is notable for its two granite piers.

The Irish singer and African activist Bob Geldof was born in Dún Laoghaire and has strong connections with the area. Many famous personalities live in nearby Dalkey, including singer Chris de Burgh and many members of the rock band U2. The Clannad singer, Moya Brennan, also lives in the Dún Laoghaire area.

How to get in?

Once you see the harbour you need to prepare to contact Dun Laoghaire Harbour call sign “Harbour Office” on VHF Ch 14. All visiting yachts must inform the port controller at least 2 hours in advance of arrival, reconfirming at least 1 hour before entering the harbour.

Come up to the listed initial fix. You will see the harbour entrance and its conspicuous towers:
East Pier Head is a 12m Granite Tower, Red Lantern, Fl (2) R 10s 16m 17M.
West Pier Head, 9m Granite Tower, Green Lantern Fl (3)G 7.5s 11m 7M.

Access to Howth is straight forward save for the aforementioned Highspeed Sea Service (HSS). You need to be certain that there is not one coming in or going out as you prepare to enter. The thing to be aware of about the HSS is the rapid turnaround which may catch you off guard. The HSS can turnaround in as little as 30 minutes and there is a tendency to relax once you have seen it enter thinking it is sorted, only to be taken by surprise by its sudden departure. The HSS typically announces its arrival and departure on VHF Channel 14 and emits one short blast on departure. The ferry terminal is at St. Michael’s Pier. Finally allow for some tide across the harbour mouth.

Visiting vessels will most likely be staying in the 450 berth Dun Laoghaire Marina catering for yachts of up to 25m LOA - located behind the Eastern Marina Breakwater. There are three yacht clubs with permanent secretaries and you may contact the yacht clubs regarding using their moorings and facilities. Boats can drop in for short periods onto the club pontoons. Alternatively you can anchor outside the harbour in Scotsman’s Bay in fine weather in 7 metres. The bow wash as the HSS is lifting and dropping off the plane may catch you there. There is plenty of water throughout the harbour except for in the old harbour that dries.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:11, 23:32, Low waters: 06:21, 18:43 ^{From Tide Times}

Dover +0042, Dublin (North Wall) -0003, mean level 2.4
Rise: 4.1 – 3.4 metres springs, 1.5 - 0.6 metres neaps
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.4m MLWN 1.5m MLWS 0.7m
Tidal direction outside; Dover -0130 southeast +0500 northwest

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?

From a boating perspective lift-out, repair, fuel, provisioning, chandlery general shopping etc Dún Laoghaire is a major yachting centre and it has virtually everything.

In addition to this Dublin is nearby via the DART suburban railway, frequent bus service, and has a ferry connection to Holyhead in Anglesey, Wales. Beside the railway station is the terminus of the 46A (Dún Laoghaire — City Centre (An Lár)), the most frequent and heavily used bus route in Dublin.

Dublin international airport is at the opposite side of the city but accessible via public transport.

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:
Dun Laoghaire Port operations VHF Ch.14, Tel. +353 1 2808074
Dun Laoghaire Marina 37/80/M/M2/16
Garda Station: (Police). Corrig Avenue; phone: +353 1 666-5000
Royal St. George Yacht Club phone +353 1 280 1208, Web; http://www.rsgyc.ie/
Royal Irish Yacht Club phone +353 1 284 2194, Web; http://www.royalirishyachtclub.ie/
National Yacht Club phone +353 1 280 5725 Boathouse +353 1 284 1483, Web; http://www.nyc.ie/

Any security concerns?

The Marina facility is secured with swipe card activated locked gates and CCTV surveillance.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, 1415 ‘Dublin Bay’ scale of 1:25,000 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Francis Butler & Burke Corbett local sailors.

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