Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

14°C

Swell today

Direction SSE, height 0.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.3 metres.

Haven position?

52° 58.983' N, 006° 2.050' W

Where is that position?

At the end of the East Pier at the harbour entrance beneath the pier head light. This is a 7 m round cast iron tower with lantern, painted white with a red horizontal band at the base; 11 m flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction, visible for 13M.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 300 metres directly north of the entrance.

What is the story here?

Wicklow is a small harbour situated 1.5 miles northwest of Wicklow Head upon the mouth of the Vartry River protected by two piers 120 metres apart.

Complete protection may be found in Wicklow Harbour. In most conditions the favoured location for visiting boats is to come alongside the East Pier of the shallow outer harbour. However a heavy swell develops in the outer harbour strong northeasterly to easterly winds. In these conditions you can proceed into the Vartry River where a place will always be found alongside the South Quay – or more than likely rafted up alongside fishing boats. Here you are assured shelter from all conditions.

Wicklow offers secure access night or day, on any tide and can be entered in all conditions and there are no immediate offlying dangers.

Why visit here?

Established by the Vikings, the name Wicklow comes from the word "Vikinglow", the Garden of Ireland, as it is now known, provides an abundance of things to see and do for the visiting yachtsman.

The dominant feature is the Wicklow Mountains and their foothills. These are the largest highland area of Ireland with the highest summit being Lugnaquillia (926 m/3039 ft). This is an unspoilt wilderness of towering mountains and hidden valleys with fantastic views out to the Irish Sea and north to Dublin – Dublin’s famous River Liffey rise within the county. The county's interesting ruins and many deep glens, especially Glendalough, are suitable for tours and arrangements to visit the area can easily be made from the town via the tourist office.

The Black Castle you see above the town south of the East Pier, was built by the Norman Maurice Fitzgerald on land provided by Strongbow. A major pitched battle was fought in the Black Castle grounds in 1599 where the English planned to eliminate the Irish. The two groups initially met at Deputy's Pass and the English retreated to the castle where the battle finally ended in a heavy English defeat.

Wicklow today is a tourist city. A popular attraction is Druid's Glen, a golf course which has hosted the Irish Open on many occasions. The town also boasts the Regatta Festival in August.

Wicklow also hosts Ireland's premier offshore yacht race The Round Ireland. This is the second longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar. The first race took place in 1980 with only thirteen boats. Since then, held biannually, the fleet has grown steadily, attracting a record 60 entrants from all over Ireland and the British Isles in 1992.

How to get in?

Approaching from any direction Wicklow Head to the south of the harbour is a good mark, with its active lighthouse, plus two disused lighthouses on the summit providing clear day markers.

Wicklow Head Lighthouse - Fl (3) 15s 23M position: 52° 57.947’N, 005° 59.889’W

There is also a light buoy marking an outfall pipeline situated almost a mile northeast from the shore.

Wicklow Outflow Buoy - Fl (4) Y 10s position: 52° 59.541’N, 006° 01.295’W

The harbour opens to the north and is entered between the heads of East Pier head Fl WR 5s 6M and West Pier head ISO G 4s. Two large silos stand on the Packet Quay inside the harbour and will appear in the middle of the entrance as you approach from the north. At night the Packet Quay has a light on a metal column Fl WG 10s 5m 6M.

Visiting yachts are expected to berth on the East Pier, where the wall is boarded, as the Commercial Harbour is often busy with unloading ships or fishing vessels. You may have to raft up depending on how busy it is but you will always find a place. As mentioned above permission may be sought from the Harbour Master in the event of northeasterlies to berth upriver on 0404 67455 (Mon-Fri 9-5).

Anchoring in the harbour is not permitted as it is space constrained by the fairway and established moorings and you are likely to foul your ground tackle. You are welcome to anchor outside the harbour in sand and mud in 2.5 metres just to the north of the West Pier. This is an excellent anchorage protected from everything except north-easterly or easterly conditions (the weather in this area is predominantly south to westerly winds). Be aware when anchoring that there is of the outfall pipeline tending to the north east. It enters the sea 200 m to the northwest of the West Pier and the seaward end of the outfall is indicated by the light buoy mentioned above.

The shore is steep-to shelving rapidly at the waters edge so you can come close in. Do note the closer in, the more the holding is in gravel and sand.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0019
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)
Dover -0010, HW Dublin (North Wall) -0019sp -0200 np, mean level 1.7
MHWS 2.7m MHWN 2.3m MLWN 1.1m MLWS 0.7m

Tidal direction from Dalkey Island to Wicklow Head
Dover +0545 NNE-going 3.5 kn (Dublin +0515)
Dover -0015 SSW-going 3 kn (Dublin -0045)

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 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’.

What facilities are available?

Visitors are welcome to Wicklow Sailing Club where male and female toilets/showers (for a small fee) and a handicapped toilet are available. The clubhouse is situated on the South Quay, adjacent to the RNLI station. The bar is open seven nights a week during the summer months (Jun/Aug) and from Thursday to Sunday the rest of the year, usually from 8.30pm. Live music, meals or snacks are often available there, plus in the town any night of the week.

Gas Oil available, other fuels by prior arrangement, water available at Packet Pier and North Quay. There are three major supermarkets within ten minutes walk from the East pier so it is an excellent location to provision. You can usually find resources for rigging, engine and hull repair.

Wicklow is a provincial town where there are shops, banks, an internet cafe, dentist, doctor, hospital, chemists a range of restaurants to choose from and a good Tourist Office to assist you to make the best of your time. Dublin & Rosslare are serviced by train and bus and the International Airport is 40 miles away. All of which is three to four minutes walk from the East pier.

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

Other useful contacts in this area:
Harbour Office (office hours): +353 404 67455 Outside office hours: +353 404 69466
Port: VHF Ch 02 14 16
Wicklow Sailing Club: +353404 67526
Police: +353 404 67107 / 67287; Ambulance: +353 404 67109
Doctor: +353 404 67381; Fire: +353 404 67371

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Wicklow. However as with any provincial area secure and lock up your vessel if leaving it unattended.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1 and 1468 Arklow to the Skerries Islands Scale of 100,000:1, British Admiralty 633 ‘’Plans on the East Coast of Ireland’’ includes Wicklow Scale of 10,000, Imray chart C61 plus Discovery Ordinance Survey maps 56 & 62 cover this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Frank Murphy, Local sailor and member of Wicklow Sailing Club.

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