Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

11°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.1 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.1 metres.

Haven position?

53° 47.925' N, 006° 13.277' W

Where is that position?

At the pierhead.

What is the initial fix?

400 metres northeast of Clogher Head

What is the story here?

Port Oriel is a fishing port situated on the north side of Clogher Head, approximately five miles north of the River Boyne river estuary. Although primarily a fishing port yachts come alongside the pier, or raft up to fishing boats, and there is a good anchorage.

Port Oriel is a good anchorage in all winds except those from northwest round to northeast. There maybe a possibility of a swell in easterlies. Access is very straight forward as the harbour is open to the north and there are no immediate offshore dangers. There is a sectored light at the head of the cove.

Why visit here?

Port Oriel, (Irish: Poirt Oirialla) .and the fishing village of Clogherhead (Irish: Ceann Chlochair) offers easy access from the sea and is a convenient stop for a boat making a passage up the east coast of Ireland. Views from the hills from the port and around the village are quite dramatic.
The friendly town, twenty minutes walk inshore of the pier, developed though the centuries safely hidden from the sea marauders. In the nineteenth century the village was known simply as Clogher or Kilclogher while the headland was called Clogher Head. Today the village is called Clogherhead while the headland remains Clogher Head.

Today Clogherhead is a popular tourist destination. The village is also notable for its sandy beach which extends from the lifeboat station, in existence for over 100 years, to the Boyne estuary.

How to get in?

From the initial fix you may come straight in and round the pier head. Expect a one knot current streaming east across the head of the pier as you close in. This eastbound stream is a factor of the pier except for the first two hours of the flood tide.

The recently enhanced harbour area consists of a small drying inner basin from which a pier protrudes 200 metres north from the shore. The inner basin’s entrance can be closed by storm boards in bad weather that is unlikely in the sailing season.

Berthing alongside the pier depends upon the activities of the local fishing boats. At times the harbour could be full of fishing boats whilst at others a visiting boat could have the harbour to oneself. It is hard to predict. The western side of the pier has 2.7 metres at the north end and the depth gradually decreases towards the south where it dries. Prepare long warps if you are not rafting up alongside a fishing boat. The bollards are set apart at some distance. The pier has good recessed ladders to come aloft. Don’t leave the boat unattended for any length if alongside as you may disrupt fishing activities.

The drying inner basin is usually crowded, particularly so at the weekends. If you plan to dry out in the basin the best chance of an alongside berth is during the week. You should contact the harbour master to see it this is possible. At half tide you can expect to find approximately 2 metres at the entrance.

Anchor north of the small slip that resides approximately 100 metres west of the breakwater. You will find depths of around 2 to 3 metres with good holding plus there are four moorings reportedly available in this area. Land the dinghy at the slip and take it out of the water.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0020
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High waters: 01:29, 13:57, Low waters: 07:23, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
HW Dover + 0010, Rise 4.8 – 4.3 metres

What facilities are available?

Diesel fuel is available on the quay in the basin. Fresh water is reportedly available by the toilets at the southern end of the pier - but in my experience I have not located it. There is no electricity available save for three phase provided for the fishing boats. Fresh provisions and stores, and the nearest pub, can be found at the village of Clogherhead (Population in 2002 of 906) twenty minutes walk to the southwest.

The village of Clogherhead is 12 km north of the provincial town of Drogheda that offers more services. Drogheda also offers very good connections to Dublin city, on the Belfast–Dublin main line of the Irish rail network. Drogheda is located close to M1 (E1 Euro Route 1) (main Dublin - Belfast motorway).

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) 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. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Also Port Oriel Harbour Master
Phone: +353 41 22225
VHF: Ch. 16 - Call sign ‘Kilfinor’

Any security concerns?

If alongside you should not leave the vessel unattended so as not disrupt fishing activity.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000. Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’ plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 36 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Richard McGoveran - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details: http://www.sailtraining.ie/

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What other useful information is available?

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 Leinster 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. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, 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’.



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