Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

12°C

Swell today

Direction SW, height 0.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.

Haven position?

51° 28.147' N, 009° 43.566' W

Where is that position?

Crookhaven harbour pierhead.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 300 metres north of Black Horse rocks. It resides in the centre of the entrance in the white sector of the lighthouse on Sheemon Point.

What is the story here?

Crookhaven Harbour is an excellent anchorage five miles east-northeast from Mizen Head on the south side of the peninsula. The long hooked peninsula encloses a harbour 400 metres wide, two miles long and opens eastward with a depth of ten metres and a sectored lighthouse at the entrance.

There are many areas to anchor and find the best shelter for prevailing conditions, plus there are secure moorings and a pier available. The harbour is a good anchorage that offers shelter in most conditions except for very strong easterly conditions where it may become uncomfortable. However in these conditions you may anchor to the northwest of Rock Island.

Crookhaven provides safe access to a visiting vessel, at all states of the tide, in all weathers, night or day.

Why visit here?

Crookhaven (Irish: An Cruachán) is a picturesque and sheltered harbour for the sailing community.

The town is driven by the seasonal holiday-home tourist influx where its winter population of about forty swells ten fold. Though it may feel overcrowded at peak season the resultant food available in Crookhaven is exceptionally good.

The village and area is steeped in history. There are numerous Bronze Age field monuments in the hills around Crookhaven. The remains of a Cornish Miners Village can be visited with a climb up Brow head – a tender ride to white strand brings you within 1.5 km of it.

In the early part of the 20th Century it was an important shipping port of call between Europe and the United States. All shipping lines had agents to direct cargo deliveries to Crookhaven and ships stocked up with provisions before the Atlantic crossing here. Indeed at that time it was so busy that it was said that you could cross the harbour on the decks of boats and 700 residents made a living from the activity at that time. Marconi came to Crookhaven to try to get his first radio message across the Atlantic. He fitted the first telegraphic equipment to the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse to communicate with the passing ships.

Crookhaven offers the cruising vessel a good safe night stop with spectacular surroundings. It is an ideal place to wait weather or tide to round Mizen Head. I spent my last night there in a howling gale from the west, into the northwest, and both the crew and I slept like babe’s.

How to get in?

Approach from the sea is unhindered and the harbour entrance equally straight forward. Round, and keeping clear of, Alderman Rocks (dries and is 9 metres high) and the Black Horse Rocks that extends half a mile to the east of Streek Head on the south side. Then take a mid channel route between these and Crookhaven Lighthouse on the north side.

Crookhaven Lighthouse is clearly identifiable 20 m one long (2 s) flash every 8 s, red or white depending on direction. It is a 14 m round cylindrical masonry tower, painted white located on Rock Island Point on the north (mainland) side of the harbour entrance.

Crookhaven Lighthouse - Fl WR 8s – position: 51° 28.593’N 009° 42.273’W
Blackhorse Rocks - North Cardinal beacon – position: 51° 28.437’N 009° 41.650’W

Once in the main channel you will find both shores steep-to.

Anchor abreast to Crookhaven village or find a location that offers the best shelter for the prevailing conditions. The bay starts shoaling gradually to its head becoming shallow from Granny Island onwards, holding throughout is excellent sand and mud except in kelp patches.

Eight seasonal visitor moorings are available in Crookhaven:
Crookhaven moorings - position 51° 28.200’N 009° 43.500’W.
The moorings are rated to 15 tons and are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR. A daily charge of €7.50 may be levied.

Caution: if entering at night do not steer for the Crookhaven Light House on Rock Island until the red sector covering Alderman Rocks turns to White. Then tend towards the northern shore. Also be aware of a tidal set through Alderman Sound upon entry, it is also not advised that you cut the corner between Streek Head and Alderman Rocks as it is narrowed by rocks extending from both sides.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0045
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)
HW Cobh –0057sp, -0033np
MHWS 3.3m MHWN 2.6m MLWN 0.9m MLWS 0.3m

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’.

What facilities are available?

Crookhaven village stand on the south side of the harbour, approximately one mile from the entrance. The village has two small piers, both with water taps, and you will find a village post office, restaurants, shops, and three good pubs there. A friendly sailing club offers showers. The nearest airport is Cork Airport.

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

Any security concerns?

I have never heard of a problem in Crookhaven.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

The large scale Admiralty Charts 2424 ‘Kenmare River to Cork Harbour’ Scale of 1:150,000 covers this area. 2184 ‘’Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound’’ and 2552 ‘Dunmanus Bay’ scale of 1:30,000 provide detail. Imray C56 ‘Cork Harbour to Dingle Bay’ scale of 1:170,000. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail.

With thanks to:

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

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