Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

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Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.4 metres.

Haven position?

54° 51.126' N, 005° 47.190' W

Where is that position?

This is set on the 2 metre contour within Ferris Bay's south-western corner.

What is the initial fix?

Half a mile north of Larne harbour and approximately 200 metres East of Larne No. 1 Light buoy (starboard hand) Green buoy, Q (3) 10s. The waypoint is upon the alignment of 184.3°(T) that leads through the centre of the entrance channel. A course of 160°(T) for half a mile from here leads into the southwest corner of Ferris Bay.

What is the story here?

Ferris Bay is situated close east of Larne, upon the Islandmagee peninsula, on Ireland’s northeast coastline. It is an anchorage outside of Larne Lough between the entrance and Islandmagee’s northern promontories.

Ferris Bay is a good anchorage especially in conditions with a southerly quadrant. Conversely any conditions with a northerly component would make the anchorage untenable. In such circumstance it would be advised to move a short distance into Larne Lough. Accessing the bay is straight-forward as it is completely open to the north.

Please note Larne Harbour is Northern Ireland's busiest ferry port with very fast cross channel ferries and shipping. Visiting yachts should take care not to impede this commercial traffic and make ‘Larne Port Control’ aware of your intentions prior to approach.

Why visit here?

Ferris Bay is an alternative anchorage to the very popular Brown’s Bay anchorage set within Islandmagee’s northern promontories. Although a little overgrown, it is a picturesque little bay that overlooks the mainland to the north.

Golfers will find Ferris Bay of particular interest as Larne Golf Club resides upon the peninsula at the bay’s eastern side. The nine hole course has been in existence for over 100 years and is part parkland, part links with views east reaching as far as Scotland. The clubhouse, a short stroll from the landing beach, has full catering and bar facilities where visitors are always welcome.

How to get in?

Directions are provided for northern and southern coastal approaches plus the final approach. If coastal guidance is not applicable, skip directly to the ‘for the final approach’ section.

FOR A NORTHERN COASTAL APPROACH

The northern coast is backed by a rocky mountain range attaining a height of 380 metres, and terminating in Park head a distance of nine miles to the north of Larne. This is a conspicuous headland of a nearly perpendicular 140 metres high cliff near Glenarm.

Closer in to Larne at a distance of 3.5 miles out is Ballygalley Head. This is a round knuckle 89 metres high with a steep cliff; its base is fringed by craggy basaltic rocks. Nearby stands the ruin of the ancient castle of Ballygally. It is possible to wait a tide here and the entire stretch of coast line from Park Head is clear of off lying dangers with good depths close in.

Those approaching from the north or northeast will need to navigate around the Maidens that consist of two clusters of rocks called the West and East Maiden, separated from each other by a deep and wide sound. They reside 4 miles east out to sea from Ballygalley Head, a distance of 4.5 miles from Larne, and are steep-to all round. They are marked by a lighthouse with a white tower and black band on the East Maiden - plus the remains of a West Maiden lighthouse that was taken out of service in 1903.

Maidens Lighthouse - Fl (3) 20s 29m 24M position: 54° 55.748’N, 005° 43.709’W

The bay may be approached on either side of the 0.8 metre Hunter Rock that lies two and a half miles northeast of the entrance. Hunter Rock is marked by North and South Cardinal Light buoys and this well-marked shoal is the only danger here.

North Hunter - VQ position: 54° 53.046’N, 005 45.114’W

South Hunter - VQ (6) + LFl 10s position: 54° 52.691’N, 005 45.284’W

The Initial fix will be found just over half a mile north-northwest of the centre of the bay.


FOR A SOUTHERN COASTAL APPROACH
Approaching from the south Black Head lighthouse resides on the northern extremity of Belfast Lough.

Blackhead Lighthouse - Fl 3s 45m 27M position: 54° 46.016’N, 005° 41.338’W

Belfast Lough’s northern shoreline presents itself as a vertical black basaltic rock cliff face. This extends out to the 63 metre high rounded knuckle at Black Head where the white eight sided tower resides. The headland of Black Head however is not particularly noticeable from seaward owing to Muldersleigh Hill standing behind it rising to a height of 128 metres one kilometre inland. However White Head, residing a mile and a half inside Belfast Lough to the south-southwest, is more easily identified by the 90 metres high white limestone cliffs it presents seaward. Deep water can be found here close in and there are no off-lying obstructions.

To the northward of Black Head, the coast of Islandmagee presents a steep perpendicular cliff, composed of black basaltic rocks, that at ‘The Gobbins’ is 45 metres high, again with deep water close in.

The Isle of Muck resides close off the black basaltic cliffs of Islandmagee, 5 miles to the north of Black Head. The 37 metres high island is bare, green and presents perpendicular sea facing cliffs to the east. Round the eastern seaward side of the island and keep at least a hundred metres off the north-most point. Please note the island is attached to the shore by a narrow neck of shingle beach that exposes at low water. It is possible to achieve up to two metres at high water springs over the narrow connecting ridge and pass between the islet and Islandmagee shore. However one would need to be paying attention to tides and timing plus a vessels draft to be certain of the requisite depth. Hence we recommend that the island is rounded on the outside.

Upon rounding the Isle of Muck, steer northwest-by-north, for 3 miles alongside Islandmagee’s precipitous cliffs that range from 15 to 31 metres in height. There are no obstructions 150 metres offshore of Islandmagee and outside the 5 metre contour in this area. However give Skernaghan Point, the northern most point of Islandmagee, a berth of 500 metres to avoid a rocky outcrop that stretches out northward from it. Likewise, upon rounding Skernaghan Point, one should keep at least 200 metres off Barr Point en-route to the Larne Harbour Initial Fix north-northwest of Ferris Bay.


FOR THE FINAL APPROACH
Berthing yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic approaching Larne. There are as many as eight thousand ship movements a year here, twenty four hours a day. Most ships head directly to Scotland by passing south of the Maidens. Occasionally vessels, that are awaiting berthing space in Larne, do pass to the north and then inside the Maidens.

When approaching it is recommended that you make ‘Larne Port Control’ aware of your intentions who will advise all mariners on ship movements, weather, tide, etc. The call sign for the Port of Larne is 'Larne Port Control' on VHF Ch. 14, telephone 028 28 872179.

From the initial fix close to No.1 Green buoy, Q (3) 10s and set on the Larne Harbour leading lights, in line 184°, set a course of 160° (T) for half a mile leads into the southwest corner of Ferris Bay. The disused Ferris Point Lighthouse will be clearly seen on the starboard bow moving progressively abeam as the vessel moves into the bay and arrives in the anchoring position. The head of the bay shelves so stay well offshore of the beach. Find a location to make the best of the prevailing conditions and anchor in very good holding sand. Landing by dinghy on the sandy beach.

Please note, vessels operating around the northern Islandmagee promontories should keep at least 200 metres off Barr and Ferris Points in addition to the aforementioned 500 metres off Skernaghan Point. The anchorage is close to where the ferries entering and exit Larne Harbour and are subject to a wake from the commercial ships. Although vessels will close in and travel slowly here, one should be prepared for a sudden ‘wake’ roll from these vessels.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0004
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 +0100, Belfast + 0005
MHWS 2.8m MHWN 2.5m MLWN 0.8m MLWS 0.4m

Tidal streams Isle of Muck
HW Dover -0445 South going; HW Dover +0115 North going; Spring rate 6 knots

A useful eddy runs in a southeast direction along the coast to the northwest of the Isle of Muck during the second half of the main north going stream. Please note that a race and overfalls occur one and a half miles east of the Isle where the north going eddy collides with the main south going stream.

Tidal streams outside of Hunter Rock run in line with the general direction of the coast. Inside Hunter Rock the streams gradually shift to run across the entrance to Larne Lough.

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?

Ferris bay has road access and the Larne Golf Club facilities where full catering and bar facilities are available, and visitors are always welcome, but little else. All other facilities are available in Larne Harbour half a mile distant. The Islandmagee passenger ferry (+44 28 27 3785 for timetable) will take you to the mainland. Alternatively Brown's Bay, one mile to the east, has a basic shop and a post office.

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. Auxiliary coastguard stations and lifesaving appliances are maintained at Portmuck and Larne.

Other useful contacts in this area:
Port of Larne
VHF: Ch. 14 'Larne Port Control', Phone: +44 28 872179.
Phone: +44 28 2827 7204; VHF: 37
Doctor: +44 28 275331; Police +44 28 272266

Any security concerns?

Never a problem known to have occurred in Ferris Bay.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’ and 2724 ‘North Channel to the Firth of Lorne’ scale 200,000:1 plus 2198 ‘North Channel - Southern Part’ scale of 75,000:1 is a good planning chart for the area. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 1237 ‘Larne Lough and Approaches’ scale of 10,000:1. Also Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’ Chart C64 ‘Belfast Lough to Crinan and Islay’ plus Northern Ireland Ordinance Survey No. 9 at a scale of 1:50,000 for inland details.

With thanks to:

Terence Stitt, Portmuck Harbour Master.

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