Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

11°C

Swell today

Direction W, height 0.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.

Haven position?

51° 28.685' N, 009° 23.930' W

Where is that position?

In lee of Sherkin Island off Castle ruins near the pontoon.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is quarter of a mile due south of the entrance, midway between Beacon & Barrack Point in the white sector of the lighthouse.

What is the story here?

Located off Ireland’s southwest corner Sherkin Island creates a natural mainland harbour between itself, Spanish and Ringarogy Islands plus the mainland. It is adjacent to the busy fishing port plus yachting centre of Baltimore and the location off Dunalong castle ruins provides an anchorage plus alongside pontoon berthing.

In the lee of the island the location provides complete protection, especially from strong westerlies. Winds from southeast round to southwest cause a ground swell that increases in rough weather. It offers safe access at all tides, night or day in all reasonable weather conditions from the primary and preferred southern entrance. The harbour may also be reached from the northwest, coming in around Hare Island and north of Sherkin Island via The Sound. Although more than workable, this requires careful pilotage between islands and rocks.

Please note, although well marked with cardinal and buoys, there are rocks in the middle of the inner harbour plus fringing rocks off both points of the southern approach.

Why visit here?

Sherkin Island historically called Inisherkin from the Irish Inis Earcain is one of about a dozen islands in Roaringwater Bay and a ten minute ferry trip across the water from the mainland harbour of Baltimore.

The island is small measuring 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide (5km x 3km) and is the second most southerly point of Ireland, after Cape Clear Island. It was once a busy island with a population of around a 1,000. Evidence of this has been left behind with a number of archaeological remains to explore on Sherkin including the Mainster Inis Arcain, a 15th century friary, just uphill from the ferry pier, and nearby the ruins of Dunalong, from Irish Dun na Long, Castle, the ancestral seat of the O'Driscoll clan. The busy island population started to decline during the middle of the 19th century due to the Great Irish Famine and never recovered.

Today the island has a permanent population of about 100 which increases greatly during the summer months as Sherkin is a very popular tourist destination. Many of the local residents are active in the fields of art and culture, island crafts, painting, book writing and of course music. The small community has a primary school, two pubs, a hotel, guest house B&B, a community centre and a R.C. Church and that’s about it. The roads on the island are in such a poor state that most residents prefer to cycle or walk, although there is a rural bus service which meets every ferry.

Those who do brave the roads will find the island has stunning secluded beaches. Silver Strand, Cow Strand or Trabawn, with swimming areas ideal for children, should not be missed. The best place for barbeques is Silver Strand where there is a choice of soft grass or warm sand to sit on. Those who do picnic should make sure all litter is removed as Sherkin has no disposal facilities and they are proud of their title as being one of Ireland’s cleanest islands.

A key sailing event is the Sherkin Regatta that is usually held on the third weekend in July. This is the islands busiest day of the year when it is crowded with sea rowers and with much more including children’s activities, music and food stalls all contributing their part to this Sherkin fair.

It is however a must visit location for cruising yachtsman as Sherkin has its own special character, unspoilt charm, tranquil and breath-taking beauty all far removed from the hustle and bustle of life on the mainland. A place where renowned hospitality can be enjoyed, in a relaxed atmosphere, with residents and tourists alike, enjoying informal music sessions in either of the island pubs. Like any other coastal part of Ireland, Sherkin can be affected by heavy coastal gales, but it is also the perfect ‘hurricane hole’ to take refuge from foul weather.

How to get in?

The ‘Route: Cork Harbour to Mizen Head coastal description’ provides approach information to the suggested Initial Fix. Vessels approaching from the east should select the westbound sequenced description; vessels approaching from the southwest round to northwest should select the eastbound sequence; southern approaches may use either description.

From the Baltimore Harbour initial fix waypoint, situated a quarter of a mile south of the entrance, head directly north towards the entrance. The narrow 400 metre wide southern entrance is not easily made out at any distance from the cliffs. But on closer approaches the conspicuous 50 metres high white beacon, locally known as Lot’s Wife, on the east point known as Beacon Point, plus a white lighthouse on Barrack Point on the west of the entrance with sectored lights; Red 168° - White 294°-038°, will clearly point it out.

Barrack Point – light tower Fl (2) WR 6s 40m W6M, R3M position: 51°28.330’N, 009° 23.650’W

Once these points have been identified come straight in and up the centre of the entrance that should be plainly visible on closer approaches. The entrance channel is deep, with a least charted depth of 6.2 metres, and approximately 80 metres wide, between a rocky ridges extending from Barrack Point and Beacon Point. Keep well off the western side on approach. The area, to the south of the Barrack Point Light House, has an outcropping of rocks extending almost 150 metres south with Wilson Rock, HW 0.1 metre, awash at its southernmost point.

Proceed through the centre of the entrance continuing north to leave the Loo Rock marker, a starboard Light Buoy Fl.G.3s, on the eastern side of the entrance, to starboard. The rock is located in a north-easterly direction from the buoy, nearly one-fourth of the distance across from the eastern to the western points, and uncovers at low water spring tides.

Loo Rock – starboard buoy Fl G 3s position: 51° 28.438'N, 009° 23.458'W

Within the entrance a conspicuous ruin of an abbey will be seen on Sherkin Island with a road leading down to the quay to Abbey Strand where the island ferry docks.
Caution: A good look out should be maintained for the ferry that crosses from Baltimore to Abbey Strand. This crosses every hour in summer and every two hours in winter so it may cross your path on entry.

The anchorage is 200 metres along the shores of Sherkin Island off the Dunalong Castle ruins. Anchor in 3 to 4 metres of water on mud and sand off the jetty.

Alternatively berth on the pontoon belonging to nearby Islander’s Rest Hotel where fees will apply. The Seahorse Marina is available from mid-April to mid-September (weather permitting).

Caution: Do not anchor between Tramadroum and Abbey Strand, half a mile west southwest on Sherkin Island to avoid the telegraph cable. There is another cable 200 metres further north by northwest as best seen on a chart.

The submerged Quarry Rock with 1.8 metres over it at low water resides opposite the anchorage, 400 metres northeast from the Loo Rock so do not coarse around the opposite shore. The harbour itself is situated one mile north of the entrance. The principal dangers within the harbour are the Quarry, Lousy, and Wallis Rocks.

Quarry Rock, is 400 metres northeast from the Loo Rock, with 1.8 metres over it at low water. Lousy Rocks, half a mile within the entrance, and near the middle of the harbour, uncover on last quarter ebb, and are marked by a conspicuous 12 metres high south cardinal beacon on the south-eastern rock. The ground is both foul and shallow for about 200 metres to the north and west of the perch, but the eastern side is clear. Wallis Rock is a small patch nearly midway between the Lousy Rocks and the town quays of Baltimore, slightly nearer to the former. At low water there are 1.8 metres over it. Its position is marked on its south side by a port hand light buoy.

There are other ledges of rocks in different parts of this harbour, but their contiguity to the shoreline, or distance from the anchoring grounds, makes a description of them unnecessary but Admiralty 3725 will make these clear.

The northwest end of Baltimore Harbour may also be entered and exited from the south half of Long Island Bay through The Sound. The approach, between the islets and rocks at the head of the bay is narrow and intricate and requires good visibility for pilotage. The ‘Routes; Baltimore Harbour North Entrance’ entry shares a set of waypoints for this approach.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0015
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 07:36, 19:53, Low waters: 01:41, 13:56
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
More accurately Cobh -0025sp, -0005np, or alternatively -0605 Dover;

MHWS 3.5m MHWN 2.9m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.6m ML 2.1; Duration 0610

Tidal streams enter and leave the harbour through both the south and northwest entrance, The Sound, meeting and separating near Lousy Rocks.

Between Cape Clear and Fastnet Rock the tides are estimated to be:
Dover +0215 East (Cobh-0420)
Dover -0400 West (Cobh+0150)
Spring rate approximately 2 to 2.5 kn maximum. Watch out for confused tides and eddies off Blananarragaun.

What facilities are available?

The Seahorse Marina provides water and electricity at the pontoon; food and refreshment 50 metres above at The Islander's Rest hotel. Please note the marina does not offer any waste collection. Sherkin Island has two good pubs and a restaurant. General stores are available across the harbour in Baltimore but may be limited. You can however catch a bus to take you to the larger provincial town of Skibbereen (approximately 10km) where a wider range of provisions are available.

Ferries sail from Baltimore to Schull further along the coast, to Sherkin Island, and to the more remote Cape Clear Island.

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

Other useful contacts in this area:
Baltimore Harbour Master - Telephone 087 235 1485
VHF Ch.16 & 09
RNLI Lifeboat - Telephone 028 20 143 or 0208 20174
Gardaí / Police 028 20102
Ambulance 028 21677
Skibbereen Medical Centre 028 23456
Skibbereen Hospital 028 21677

Any security concerns?

Never a security issue known to have occurred off Sherkin Island.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Charts 2129 ‘Long Island Bay to Castlehaven’ Scale of 1:30,000 and 3725 ‘Baltimore Harbour’ Scale of 1:6.250 cover this area. Also Imray C56. The Discovery Series Sheet Number 88, scale of 1:50,000, covers the shore.

With thanks to:

Gareth Thomas, Yacht Jalfrezi.

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How can I get this offshore?

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Alternatively print this page's text, illustrations and photos, but without the internet menu, layout, backdrops and Google maps, or economise upon printer consumables and print this page with text only, to get a hardcopy of this location.

What other useful information is available?

RTE provides a highly simplified national and provincial outlook. More detail can be found from Met Éireann’s (the Irish National Meteorological Service) eastern Atlantic 24 hour synoptic, the current Irish sea area forecast and Irish observations.

The UK Met Office also provides a shipping forecast plus visible satellite and infrared satellite imagery to enable close observation of approaching frontal systems. This movement information makes it easy to predict when a weather event will affect a location thus providing an accurate estimate as to when the typical Irish sharp veer, off the back of a cold front, will arrive. Another useful resource is the 21st Operational Weather Squadron that provides Atlantic and European synoptics.

XC Weather provides a local view of wind conditions direct from and array of reporting station manned along the British Isles. Three hour historical info plus expected wind direction and strength for the next couple of days are available on this site and it is possible to interpolate between stations.

Wind guru is an international surfing site that provides a view on eighty five beaches around the coast of Ireland. It offers wind and wave information plus meteorological data such as temperature, wind speed and direction. The sites wind, wave height and direction information enables a good picture of a seaway, wave against wind or tide etc., to be understood.

Whilst off-line national weather information is broadcast as follows:

Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel)
Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth.
Cork 26, Bantry 23, Valentia 24, Shannon 28, Clifden 26, Malin Head 23, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, Rosslare 23, and Mine Head 83.

RTE Radio 1 Sea area forecast: 24 / 48 hour outlook and gale warnings rounding the country in a clockwise direction from headlands to headland.
FM 88.90 MHZ or MW 567khz/529m and 729khz/412m.
Weekdays 0602, 1253, 1823, 2355; Sundays 0633, 0755, 0855, 1253, 1823, 235

BBC Radio 4 Sea area forecast:
LW 198khz/1525M. VHF92.4/94.6MhZ
Daily 0048, 0535 (0542 on Sundays, 0556 Saturdays), 1201,1754.

Precise monthly Dover, Dublin, Cobh, Limerick, Rosslare, Sligo, Bangor, Donaghadee, Derry, Portrush tides are posted by the National Environmental Research Council.



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