Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

9°C

Swell today

Direction S, height 2.2 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 2.8 metres.

Haven position?

51° 48.730' N, 010° 15.870' W

Where is that position?

The anchorage to the north of Horse Island.

What is the initial fix?

In the centre to north side of the entrance into Ballinskellig Bay.

What is the story here?

Ballinskelligs Bay is a large southwest facing bay upon Kerry’s Iveragh peninsula and is situated to the north of Scariff and Deenish Islands. The bay provides an anchorage to the north of an island in the entrance and other options in alternate conditions.

Although the bay is open to the southwest, and thereby exposed to a heavy sea from the prevailing quarter, a tolerable anchorage can be found just north of Horse Island in Ballinskelligs Bay.

Normal navigation is required for access as, apart from some immediate offlying rocks fringing both entrances, a centre path up to the anchorage at Horse Island has no obstructions.

Why visit here?

Ballinskelligs (Irish - Baile na Sceilge meaning homestead of the rocks) is another location to enjoy the magnificent Skellig Ring between Waterville and Valentia Island. The area boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland with its wild rugged coastline, scattered islands, vast mountains, high passes, and miles of golden beaches and turquoise water.

The rocks that lend the bay its name are Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl) and Little Skellig, an ancient monastic colony which lies off the coast from Ballinskelligs. This area has a unique historic connection to the monks that lived on Skellig Michael. The town is also the site of an attractive beach and ruins of a priory of Augustinian Canons, now in ruins, and the remains of a Mac Carthy castle.

Being in the Gaeltacht (Gaelic speaking) region it has its own Irish College, where children come in summer to learn the Irish Language.

How to get in?

Ballinskelligs Bay 2.25 miles wide northwest opening entrance resides between Hog's Head and Horse Island, that lies close offshore on the northwest side. It will be clearly visible as you approach the initial fix.

From the Initial fix head to the north towards Horse Island. When passing the island keep at least 250 metres off the eastern side to avoid the offlying Bullig Rock (awash) that resides close east of the island.

Round Horse Island once clear of the extending northeastern finger and come into the protected north side where you will find local boats. Be careful not to stray further to the north as a 400 metre drying ledge extends from the western shore called Reenduff approximately 800 metres north of the island.

You can come in as close to the north side of the island as your vessels draught permits. A little to the south of local lobster boat’s permanent mooring if possible is an ideal place to drop anchor. There is a lot of kelp in the area but the water is clear and it is no problem finding a sandy spot. The holding is good and it is remarkably free of swell in south-westerly conditions here.

Alternatively, and in very settled conditions, a day anchorage can be found in four metres plus and sand off Waterville - 3.25 miles east by northeast across the bay. Note the position of Bay Rock (with 1.2 metres of cover) traversing between these anchorages and the Blue Boy cluster of rocks just south of the Waterville anchorage.

Also in southerly winds there is reported to be a sheltered anchorage in deeper water at the southeast entrance to the bay and to the north of the 162 metre high Hog’s Head.

If operating in the Hog's Head area note the position of two visible rocks called the Pigs 300 metres northwest of Hog’s Head Island and a reef that resides 200 metres west of the Pigs.

Anchoring in the centre of the bay is pro¬hibited owing to the existence of submersed telegraph cables.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:11, 23:32, Low waters: 06:21, 18:43 ^{From Tide Times}

HW Cobh –0119sp, -0039np
MHWS 3.6m MHWN 2.7m MLWN 1.2m MLWS 0.4m
There is little tidal stream in Ballinskellig Bay.

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?

There are no facilities around Horse Island save for a pier at Ballinskelligs to land a dingy. There are some basic necessities plus a butcher in Waterville. This is a long run in exposed water by dinghy so it is best approached by road or in settled conditions where you may temporarily anchor off as mentioned above.

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

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Ballinskelligs Bay.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

2495 ‘Kenmare River‘ Scale of 1:60,000 covers Darrynane plus ‘Sneem Harbour’ scale of 1:30,000, plus ‘Dursey Sound’ scale of 1:12,500, ‘Ardgroom and Kilmakilloge Harbours’ scale of 1:30,000, ‘Ballycrovane Harbour’ scale of 1:30,000, ‘Upper Kenmare River’ scale of 1:30,000.

Imray C56 ‘Cork Harbour to Dingle Bay’ scale of 1:170,000 and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 84 also cover this area. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail.

With thanks to:

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

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