Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

14°C

Swell today

Direction W, height 0.8 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 1.0 metres.

Haven position?

55° 25.739' N, 007° 14.532' W

Where is that position?

This is the approximate anchoring location off the mouth of the inlet on the southwest corner of the island.

What is the initial fix?

It is 400 metres southwest of the bay and 600 metres south-southwest of the lighthouse. A bearing of 45°(T) from the initial fix will lead into the anchoring location.

What is the story here?

Portachurry is a rocky inlet situated beneath Inishtrahull’s commanding lighthouse on the islands southwest corner. The island resides approximately six miles northeast of Malin Head off Ireland’s north coast. A temporary respite deep water anchorage can be found here in the mouth of the inlet.

Portachurry is a stay-aboard anchorage that only offers protection from northerly winds. Holding can be poor off the rocky inlet. Access requires careful navigation as the surrounding inlet is fringed with rocks and the area is subject to strong currents, standing waves and tidal races.

Please note the tides in Inishtrahull Sound reach up to 4 knots in springs a few metres off the shore. A three hundred metre wide race guards the entrance to Portachurry during all the ebb and standing waves exists in any wind over tide condition. The entire area of Malin Head becomes uncomfortable in any conditions over force 4. This is acutely the case in wind-over-tide conditions that sets up steep waves very quickly in Inishtrahull Sound. When wind-over-tide condition exists with a north-westerly the Malin Head area should be entirely avoided.

Why visit here?

Inishtrahull island is best visited via Portmore, situated on the north side of the island, and the Portmore entry covers the island and its history.

However Portachurry is also a traditional Inishtrahull landing place as the southwest facing inlet here leads into a jetty, steps and a slip. But landing here is said to be a problem. It is exposed to swell and as such it is not recommended. However in very settled conditions or light northerlies, in the absence of swell, it provides another alternate approach to dropping off a shore party.

Moreover, in an area fraught with complex tides that very quickly produce standing waves with the least provocation, the anchorage in the mouth of the bay could be very convenient for crews looking for a respite from northerlies or a tide wait location.

Conversely, in an auspicious weather window, where conditions invite, it provides the cruising boatman with another alternate Inishtrahull anchoring location.

How to get in?

WESTERN APPROACH A western approach from Malin Head to Lough Foyle will find a rugged Atlantic coastline. Malin Head, the northern most point of Ireland, is a low 70 metre high rounded hill with a square derelict concrete tower on top. The shoreline here is bold, jagged and fringed by outlying rocks that are steep-to and always visible. With the exception of Scars Rocks, lying about 400 metres west of the headland and always visible, there are no off-lying obstructions. A berth of 300 metres or more clears all dangers here but it gets more challenging once Malin Head is rounded.

Careful advance planning is required as this corner of Ireland has to be treated with the utmost respect. Here the Atlantic Ocean collides with the runs of the Irish coastal tide amidst two rocky island groups, the Garvan Isles and Inishtrahull.

The Garvan Isles reside to the east of Malin Head and to the north of Slievebane Bay where Malin Harbour resides. These are a collection of barren islands ranging from 15 to 22 metres in height and are surrounded by sunken rocks and shoals and they can be passed a mile to the starboard – please note the position of the outlying Doherty Rocks.

Inishtrahull is situated three miles northwest of the outermost Garvan Isle across the sound. It is nearly a mile long and is made up of two rounded hills joined by a stretch of low ground with a lighthouse at its western end.

Inishtrahull Lighthouse - Fl(3)15s 59m19M position: 55° 55 25.864’N, 007° 14.628’W

Portachurry is a small inlet on the southwest side of the island. Boats closing on Inishtrahull from the southwest round northwest to North should approach the island through the sound on the southern side of the island. The north side of the island should be entirely avoided owing to the off-lying ‘Blind Rocks’ shoal patch extending 300 metres north of Inishtrahull. Portachurry resides on the shoreline to 200 metres or so south Inishtrahull Lighthouse making it conspicuous from some distance.

EASTERN APPROACH Approaching from the east there is open water all the way to Inishtrahull and as with the western approach described above the anchorage should be approached from the sound to the south of the island.

Those taking an offshore approach will find Inishowen Head provides the principal landmark. Backed by high hills the bold precipitous and considerably indented Inishowen Head terminates the Lough Foyle’s mountainous north shore. The abrupt precipice is free from dangers extending more than 300 metres offshore and it is well marked.

Two miles to the northeast of the head is the Lough Foyle Buoy, a safe water pillar buoy.

Lough Foyle Buoy - L Fl 10s position: 55° 15.322’N, 006° 52.616’W

Inishowen Lighthouse will also be clearly visible. It is situated half a mile southwest of Inishowen Head upon Dunagree Point.

Inishowen Lighthouse - Fl (2) WRG 10s2 8m 18/14M position: 55° 13.556’N, 006° 55.749’W

Once Inishowen Head is abeam the coast to Dunmore Head is a distance of 8 miles in north by northwest direction. The passage is characterised by 100 to 200 metre high cliffs that are backed by high inland hills. Ashore Portkill, Kinnagoe and Tremone Bays offer alternate anchorages with beach landings in offshore winds but no facilities. The coast is steep-to and free from danger with 20 metres of water a quarter of a mile off. A berth of 300 metres off the shore clears all dangers in this area.

Culdaff Bay is passed next between Dunmore Head and Bunnagee Point. Keep at least three hundred metres off Bunnagee Point to clear Bo Rock that resides immediately northeast of the point.

The area to the north of Culdaff Bay is locally known as The Rue where the coast progressively rises in height for the final two and a half miles north to Glengad Head. All dangers will be cleared by staying 200 metres or more off the shoreline here.

Glengad Head is a bluff headland with a remarkable hill near its extremity. From here it is best to head out directly to Portachurry on Inishtrahull south western point a distance of approximately six miles.

FINAL APPROACH The Portachurry Initial Fix is 400 metres southwest of the bay and 600 metres south-southwest of Inishtrahull lighthouse on the summit of the hill that makes up the western side of the island. A bearing of 45°(T) from the initial fix will lead into the anchoring location.

The final few metres require eyeball navigation and close observation to stay clear of drying rocks that fringe the shore plus find an anchoring location. Anchor in 10 or 11 metres in the mouth of the inlet.

The narrow southwest facing inlet leads to a jetty with 1.5 metres plus a slip and steps. However landing here is not recommended as it can be exposed to swell.

Please note the stream through Inishtrahull Sound on its south side of the island runs at full strength within three metres of the southern shoreline and thirty metres to the southwest of Portachurry. A three hundred metre wide race guards the entrance to Portachurry during the entire ebb where standing waves are frequently seen.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Galway +0100
Today's Galway tides — High waters: 07:34, 19:44, Low waters: 00:54, 13:04
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
High Water Dover -0500 or approximately HW Galway +0100
Local HW is Dover –0500, Galway +0100
MHWS 3.3m MHWN 2.5m MLWN 1.6m MLWS 0.4m

Direction of stream Inishtrahull Sound
HW Dover start +0315, end -0115, ESE going, max speed 4 kn for 8 hours.
HW Dover start +0015, end +0315,WNW going, max speed 4 kn for 3 hours.

There is little slack at the start of the flood. However at the start of the ebb, from HW Dover -0115 to +0015, there is an hour and a quarter of slack water although this is reduced to half an hour in springs.

A rougher seaway tends to exist west of the Garvan Isles than to the east. If a choice of approach is available, bound inwards or out, keeping east of the Garvan Isles is most likely to be the more comfortable.

Closer into Inishtrahull there is a circular eddy with a whirlpool during most of the west-northwest going tide or flood. It commences shortly after LW and that gets very strong in springs, from HW Dover +0100 to about +0430. The stream through Inishtrahull Sound on its south side runs at full strength to within 3 metres of the southern shore and 30 metres off Portachurry at the southwest corner. Also at Portachurry a 300 metre wide race stands immediately offshore here during all the ebb.

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 fdetermine 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?

There are no facilities on Inishtrahull and landing is not recommended at Portachurry as the location is subject to swell.

What emergency contacts are there?

Malin Head MRCC/CRS (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre / Coastal Radio Station) VHF Channel 23 or 1677 kHz covers the west and northwest coasts of Ireland from Slyne Head to Inishowen Head. Donegal Bay VHF Ch 04, Clifden VHF Ch 26, Belmullet VHF Ch 83, Glen Head VHF Ch 24 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. Malin Head MRCC/CRS may be contacted directly on +353 77 70103

Other useful contacts in this area:
Londonderry Harbour Master: VHF Ch 16 and 14 ~ Call sign "Harbour Radio"
Phone: +44 28 71 861113; Mobile: +44 780 1032387
Malin Head Radio Station has a very positive attitude to interaction with leisure craft.

Any security concerns?

This is a stay-aboard anchorage where it would be unsafe to leave a vessel unattended. This aside, never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel anchored in this isolate location of the uninhabited Inishtrahull.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 2811 ‘Sheep Haven to Lough Foyle including Inishtrahull’ scale of 37,500:1. Admiralty 2697 ‘Lough Swilly’ scale of 25,000:1 that includes Culdaff Bay at a scale of 10,000:1.

Imray chart C64 ‘Belfast Lough to Crinan and Islay’ and Chart C53 ‘Donegal Bay to Rathlin Island’ meet in this area. Discovery Ordinance Survey map No. 3 at a scale of 1:50,000 for inland details.

With thanks to:

Bill McCann, Londonderry Harbour Master.

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