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° 31.600' N, 009° 10.200' W

Where is that position?

Midstream southeast of Castletownshend slip.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is one nautical mile SSE in the white sector of Reen Point’s small white framework tower’s sectored light.

What is the story here?

Castle Haven is a river inlet that resides 8.5 nautical miles west of Galley Head and is approximately midway between Glandore and Toe Head. The haven provides a completely protected anchorage with safe access at all states of the tide, night or day.

Please note Castle Haven can be difficult to identify when approaching from the sea. The coastline here appears like a single rock face and the entrance is difficult to define. Also the sea can be turbulent outside the haven and some swell can be experienced inside in southerly or south-westerly winds. However as you progress upriver you can find protection from most any weather condition.

Why visit here?

Castletownshend (Irish: Baile an Chaisleáin) Castle Haven’s primary village, is well worth visiting by the passing boatman. It is a picturesque old-world village consisting mainly of one very steep street lined with large, graciously designed, stone built houses that date back to the 18th century. The street leads up from the harbour, oddly halted half way by two trees in the middle of the road.

The village developed around a small 17th century castle built by Richard Townsend – the unusual name being derived from the merge of Castle Haven & Townsend.
Castle Townshend, by the harbour is still home to the Townshend family whose descendents reside in the castle.

In addition to this it is well worth making a visit to the beautiful little St. Barrahane's Church, at the seaward end of the village overlooking the town. It is particularly noted for three small stained glass windows by Harry Clarke, one of Ireland's most famous stained glass artists. St Barrahane's Church also is the venue for Castletownshend’s annual Festival of Classical Music. Remarkable for a small quiet provincial village the festival was first organised in 1980 and has continued each year since with an aim to promote classical music.

Finally, the village has three pubs, one that claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland; Mary Ann's Bar.

How to get in?

Come in from the initial fix and you will eventually see the gap that is Castle Haven opening up to the northwest. Alternatively steer in with Horse Island (with a conspicuous tower on the east side) to port and Skiddy Island to starboard. Night entrance is assisted by a sectored light on a small white framework tower at Reen Point - at the east side of the entrance. This Fl WRG Los, 9m, W5M, R3M, G3M. Green sector covers Skiddy Island, Red sector covers Horse Island and Black Rock and the White sector leads in. Enter Castle Haven midway between Reen Point and Battery Point and from there you can continue up centre channel and anchor off Castletownshend.

Be aware that there is a heavy telephone cable across the harbour from the slips on either side (just North of Reen pier) and you need to keep clear of this.

There are a couple of locations to anchor. The first is the primary anchorage that is 300 metres south of the first castle. The second is further upriver around the corner in front of the second ruined fort and Cat Island where the fishermen go. You may encounter problems digging in the anchor in mid channel due to weed.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0025
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)
Cobh -0020sp, -0030np
Dover +0605
MHWS 3.7m MHWN 3.0m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.7m

Outside the harbour the tide runs,
Dover + 0200 East, Dover -0400 West.

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?

Like any small village you will find a post office, a few provincial shops a couple of restaurants one that is particularly good plus three pubs. Water is available from Reen pier and the recently renovated town slip. Vessels may berth alongside the jetty on the opposite side to clean off. Skibbereen, a larger provincial town is 6km away, will have all stores available.

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:
Skibbereen Medical Centre 028 23456
Skibbereen Hospital 028 21677
Gardai (Irish Police): 021 36144
Doctor: 021 23456
Hospital: 021 21677

Any security concerns?

Never a security issue known to have occurred in the Castle Haven area.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Charts 2049 ‘Toe Head to Old Head Of Kinsale’ Scale of 1:50,000 covers this sailing area. Imray C56. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ cover this area.

With thanks to:

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

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