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Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.3 metres.

Haven position?

54° 38.437' N, 005° 31.750' W

Where is that position?

At the entrance to the marina.

What is the initial fix?

400 metres out from the entrance on the 276° preferred line of approach. Tracking in on this bearing should take you to where you may see the orange triangle leading marks in-line 276°.

What is the story here?

Copeland Marina is located on the northeast coast of Ireland two miles south of Copeland Island, that lies outside the entrance to Belfast Lough, and is immediately south of Donaghadee Harbour. It is a very small marina that is fully occupied by local boats. However a few visitor berths are usually available in the sailing season when local boats are away.

The marina has high surrounding walls that offer complete protection. The approach requires careful navigation due to the narrow entrance, between drying rocks, plus there is a sill that can only be crossed at high water.

Please note you should confirm berthing arrangements before entering and do not approach the marina in strong winds or at night.

Why visit here?

Copelands Marina is within a day's sail (and sometimes sight) of the Scottish coast and the Isle of Man. It is an ideal destination to enjoy Donaghadee and the Ard’s Peninsula with the vessel completely protected in the marina from all conditions.

Donaghadee itself is probably best known for its lighthouse and harbour. Being the nearest port to Scotland the harbour was constructed to support the Irish Mail Packet service to Portpatrick, Scotland, 13 km/21 miles to the northeast. Its massive walls and lighthouse were completed in the 1820s by John Rennie, creator of several of London's bridges. His resident engineer was a seasoned marine builder and fellow Scot, David Logan, who assisted Robert Stevenson in building the legendary Bell Rock Lighthouse. The ferry service went back and forth across the narrow North Channel to Portpatrick for decades until it was eventually transferred to Larne in 1849. The two massive stone piers stand today as relics to the former importance of the harbour when it was the terminal.

The other most prominent features of the town is the Motte, or the Moat as it is known. The original mound of the Moat was of Norman origin, when a motte and bailey stood on the site. It was initially used as a defensive structure, and provided an excellent look-out post over the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands. The castellated powder house structure standing there today was built in 1818 to house the explosives required for blasting during the harbour construction. Now, on a clear day the monument provides a good vantage point of the Scottish coast.

The lifeboat station at Donaghadee harbour, where the Trent class Lifeboat currently exists, was founded in 1910 and is one of the most important and decorated on the Irish coast. Notably in January 1953 the lifeboat rescued thirty two survivors in the Irish Sea from the stricken Larne–Stranraer car ferry, MV Princess Victoria.

Finally the town boasts a notable pub Grace Neill's that is supposed to be the oldest pub in Ireland. Opened in 1611, as the ’King’s Arms’, Peter the Great is claimed to be a visitor in 1697.

Donaghadee has changed little in the past century, calmly retaining its charm and character in a fast changing world, thus making for a wonderful visit for the cruising boatman.

How to get in?

Berthing arrangements should be made in advance with the marina manager before planning to visit Copelands Marina:
Manager: Gerald Nicholas.
Copelands Marina Phone: +44 2891 992184 Mobile: +44 7802 36 3382
VHF: Ch 16 ,11, 80
Email - Gerald.nicholas@o2.co.uk

The marina has open seaward access to the south and east but those arriving from the north have to either come up outside the Mew and Copeland Islands or through Donaghadee Sound that resides between the mainland and the Islands.

If you are coming outside the islands, leave Mew and Copeland Islands well clear to starboard and the run into the harbour is straightforward.

Mew Island Lighthouse - Fl (4) 30s 37m 24M position: 54° 41.923’N, 005° 30.824’W

Please make a note of the ‘’Northern Race’’ and ‘Ram Race’ if doing so. These are races that occur at various stages of the tide to the east of the islands and may be uncomfortable in strong conditions.

For those travelling through Donaghadee Sound, the inside coast of the Copeland Island, there is a buoyed shipping channel for vessels using Belfast Lough. A useful set of routing waypoints available in the ‘Route’ ’Bangor, Belfast Lough - Dublin on 12 hours of favourable tide – both ways’.

Arriving from the north Donaghadee Lighthouse, a white tower Iso WR 4s 16m 18/14M, standing on the head of the south pier will be clearly visible on the shore and the marina is 600 metres to the south.

The marina entrance is tight so if you are uncertain it may be an idea to come into the Donaghadee town harbour, covered separately and very straightforward, for a reconnaissance. That way you can seek local knowledge for the marina or survey it personally as it is a short stroll away. If dropping into the old harbour to access the layout do not be tempted to come outside and head directly to the marina. You must head out to sea and then come back in so as to clear the outlying costal rocks that cover at high water.

Arriving at the initial fix will place you 400 metres out from the entrance. The latter inshore half of that distance will be between drying rocks and the final stretch is particularly narrow. Careful pilotage is required and good conditions but you will find it to be very well marked. Marina access is HW +/- 3 hours depending upon your draft – seek advice from the marina manager when making arrangements - to get over the sill.

Track in until you see the two conspicuous orange triangle leading marks that are in line 276°. The front is on the edge of the channel close to the entrance and the back higher up on the shore behind.

Keep the orange triangular marks in line in the entrance channel and once the marina entrance and sill opens turn sharp to port. Then follow the concrete wall on the edge of the channel that leads into the marina.

The fifty berth marina (depending on size of craft) is enclosed inside a former quarry. The original high quarry walls provide the marina with significant protection. You will be directed to a berth on pontoons piles in accordance with the earlier arrangements.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0020
Today's Belfast tides — High waters: 01:11, 13:24, Low waters: 07:09, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
High Water Dover +0025
MHWS 4.0m MHWN 3.4m MLWN 1.1m MLWS 0.5m
3 hours before, after HW the entrance has approximately 1.3 metres
2.5 hours before, after HW the entrance has approximately 1.5 metres
Maximum size of vessel is 15 metres

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 Ulster 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. Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, 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?

Marina berths with water, electricity, toilets, showers and a 20 tonnes capacity crane and some repair work are available locally. Donaghadee is very convenient as shops, pubs and restaurants that serve the local population, in excess of six thousand, are easily reached within a small area local to the harbour. Donaghadee Sailing Club welcomes visitors and is open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The harbour is about 29 km (18 miles) from Belfast and about 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Newtownards. A bus service is available to Belfast that offers connection to any location in Ireland. Likewise flights to domestic and international destinations operate from Belfast City and Belfast International Airports. There are frequent ferry crossings from Belfast and Larne.

What emergency contacts are there?

Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933. An RNLI Trent class Lifeboat is based at the Donaghadee.

Other useful contacts in this area:
Copelands Marina Tel: +44 2891 992184 Mobile: +44 7802 36 3382
VHF: Ch 16 ,11, 80
Donaghadee Harbour Master +44 2891 88 2377 VHF: Ch. 68
Police: +44 2891 88 2526
Doctor on call (outside normal hours): +44 2891 822344
Hospital (Newtownards): +44 2891 812661
(Ulster, Dundonald): +44 2890 484511

Any security concerns?

The marina is a secured area.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1753 ‘Belfast Lough and Approaches’, scale of 37,500:1, including ‘Donaghadee Sound’ scale of 15,000:1 and ‘Bangor Bay’ scale of 17,500:1. Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/ & Gerald Nicholas, Copelands Marina Manager.

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