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Swell today

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

Haven position?

53° 16.132' N, 006° 5.675' W

Where is that position?

200 metres off the shore southwest of Sorrento Point. It is a start point from which you may find a nice spot to anchor further in.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 400 metres southeast of the anchorage.

What is the story here?

This is a popular anchorage off south county Dublin. It resides to the southwest of Dalkey Island and on the northernmost reach of Killiney Bay, beneath the headland of Sorrento Point.

It is a good anchorage when sheltered from north round to southwest is requires and offers good holding. Navigation is straightforward as it has unimpeded access from the sea but no navigation aids so daylight access is recommended.

Please note this is not a place you would leave a boat unattended for long periods and the steep-to cliffs do not lend themselves to landing a dinghy. However it is a tranquil place where one can escape the hustle and bustle of the nearby capital city, its large harbours, and associated harbour fees.

Why visit here?

Sorrento Point is named after the Italian resort, to which it has a similarity in appearance. Situated at the top of the gradual curve of Killiney Bay, the vivid green of the Irish countryside and the deep blue of the summer sea meet at Sorrento Point. Behind, at a little distance inland, are the mountains of Wicklow, ranged in a series of groups, so as to form a picturesque background. The conical peak of the Sugarloaf and the beautiful long sweep of the coastline recall Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.

All of which make Sorrento Point the perfect place to escape Dublin for peace and quiet in a particularly picturesque location. It is also a perfect place to wait out a tide or foul wind being just outside Dalkey Sound.

If you do manage a shore visit the views of the hills and the sea from Killiney Hill, topped by an obelisk of 1741, are superb.

How to get in?

Sorrento point has easy access. Approaching form the south or east a vessel may come directly in to the listed waypoint.

Approaching from the North you can elect to go inside Dalkey Island or outside via the Muglins Sound (or further offshore). The normal route is between Dalkey Island and Sorrento Point where there is a clear passage with a least depth of 8 metres through it. Any dangers in this route are on the Dalkey Island side with a foul area south west of the Island and also note the rocks extending six hundred metres NNW of the island. Prefer the mainland’s steep-to shoreline keeping out at least two hundred metres as you pass through.

There can however be a funnelling effect to the tide here and it can reach up to 1.5 to 2.5 knots. If you are pressing against a foul tide it may be better to approach via the Muglins Sound.

The Rocks to the east of the Island are known as "The Muglins" and are a different group or chain, the distance between Dalkey and these named the ‘Muglins Sound’. There is a lighthouse on ‘The Muglins’, that could more aptly be described as a distinctive beacon, making it highly recognisable. It is a white conical tower with a red band standing 9 metres Fl 5s range of 11M.

The Muglins beacon – Fl 5s 11M position: 53° 16.524’N, 006° 04.579’W

The Muglins have clear water all round save for one rock with 1 metre over it at low water residing close to the west of the island. The dangers mostly reside on the Dalkey Island side, note the position of Leac Buidhe, to the north of Dalkey Island, and the foul ground extending east of the island itself. You will have to navigate through these in the Muglins Sound but the channel between is at least 300 metres wide with at least 12 metres of depth.

The point has plenty of water and you can find a nice spot to settle into from the above described waypoint. The railway line follows the coast here and recent developments to the infrastructure may have left some construction detritus in the fringing waters so do keep an eye out.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0004
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 +0042, Dublin (North Wall) -0003
Rise: 4.1 – 3.4 springs, 1.5 - 0.6 neaps, mean level 2.4
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.4m MLWN 1.5m MLWS 0.7m

Dalkey Sound’s tidal direction turns on:
Neaps: Dublin high & low water -0130 achieving 1.5 knots
Springs: Dublin high & low water -0200 achieving 2.5 knots

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?

There are no facilities at Sorrento Point and the shoreline in the area of the anchorage is steep-to. Killiney Bay does offer a rock shoreline where you could land if you desired to do so. However this is an anchorage where you would plan to stay aboard.

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:
Dun Laoghaire Port operations VHF Ch.14, Tel. +353 1 2808074

Any security concerns?

Never a known issue to have occurred at Sorrento Point.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, 1415 ‘Dublin Bay’ scale of 1:25,000 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

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