Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

17°C

Swell today

Direction SW, height 0.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.

Haven position?

52° 37.363' N, 008° 59.504' W

Where is that position?

Lake’s Quay where the boat club pontoon is.

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) Shannon Entrance Initial Fix
52° 32.528' N, 009° 46.944' W
Shannon Entrance - Ballybunnion North Cardinal Marker Lt Buoy, VQ Fl. Racon 6m

(ii) Deel River Entrance Initial Fix
52° 38.609' N, 009° 0.572' W
200 metres to the northwest of the River Deel tributary entrance.

Please note: Initial fixes only set up their listed targets. Do not plan to sail directly between initial fixes as a routing sequence.

What is the story here?

Askeaton resides on the south shore of the well-marked Shannon estuary in the River Deel tributary. The entrance to the River Deel is approximately thirty miles from the mouth of the River Shannon and is about five miles beyond Foynes Island. It provides a club pontoon and moorings.

Tucked away in the Shannon estuary and further protected up the Deel River, Askeaton provides complete protection from all conditions. However access requires normal navigation as it is restricted by draft and not supported by illuminated markers. For those planning a visit from the sea it is also subject to the challenges of the Shannon currents.

Please note, bad races may be encountered at the Shannon river entrance during the ebb tide with strong winds from south through west to northwest. The Deel River channel is only accessible, depending upon draft, approximately an hour after low water through to high water.

Why visit here?

Askeaton (Eas Géitine in Irish) is primarily attractive to boatmen for its safe berth and excellent repair facilities. But a town of more than five centuries history has its own allures making the short walk very worthwhile.

Situated on the banks of the River Deel, with an ancient bridge of five arches connecting the opposite sides of the town, it boasts many historic structures. There is a Franciscan Friary in the town dating from 1389 where you may find an almost perfectly preserved cloister within the friary ruins.

The castle of the Fitzgerald lords, set on a rocky island in the river Deel, dates from 1199. The castle was defended by the Spanish during the Desmond Rebellions. It was finally abandoned to the English crown forces in 1580 after the fall of Carrigafoyle Castle. The fleeing Spanish defenders blew out its walls as part of a tactical retreat. The banqueting hall within the castle is very well preserved and of great historic value.

Additionally, you can find the remains of a 13th century church where the remains of the poet, Aubrey de Vere are buried.

The River Deel was once a good salmon fishery but now is mainly fished for brown trout.

How to get in?

The initial fix will take you to the Ballybunion North Cardinal that marks the mouth of the Shannon. The area is approximately 11 miles wide lying between Loop Head and Kerry Head and you should give both heads a good berth.

Loop Head Lighthouse - Fl (4) 20s, 23M - position: 52° 33.672’N, 009° 55.938’W

As noted above, strong winds south through west to northwest can cause bad races during the ebb tide at the Shannon entrance. The ebb tide sweeps out in a south-westerly direction. If you have to enter enduring the Shannon ebb tide or foul conditions the best point of entry is on the north shore to the east of Loop Head. This area is free of off-lying dangers, affords some swell protection and avoids the strongest run of the tide.

The inner entrance to the river lies between Kilcredaun Head, with a lighthouse, to the north and Ki1conly Point on the south where the entrance narrows to approximately 1.75 miles wide.

Kilcredaun Head Lighthouse - White tower Fl 6s 41m 15M - position: 52° 34.809’N, 009° 42.613’W

From there on up to Foynes and beyond the main channel is marked by buoys and transits. Here is a useful list to help you identify most of the primary markers with positions for the outer estuary markers:

Ballybunion North Cardinal Lt Buoy -VQ Fl. Racon 6m - position: 52° 32.528’N, 009° 46.944’W

Kilstiffin Red Can Lt Buoy - Fl R 3s - position: 52° 33.801’N, 009° 43.843’W

Kilcredaun W Lt Buoy - Fl (2+1) R 10s - position: 52° 34.440’N, 009° 41.196’W

Tail of Beal West Card Lt Buoy - Q (9) 15s - position: 52 34.393’N, 009 40.746’W

Carrigaholt Red Can Lt Buoy - Fl (2) R 6s - position: 52° 34.921’N, 009° 40.504’W

Beal Spit W Card Lt Buoy - VQ (9) 10s - position: 52° 34.820’N, 009° 39.972’W

Beal Bar N Card Lt Buoy - Q - position: 52° 35.181’N, 009° 39.222’W

Doonaha Red Can Lt Buoy - Q (3) R 5s - position: 52° 35.460’N, 009° 38.493’W

Letter Point R Can Lt Buoy - Fl R 7s - position: 52° 35.440’N, 009° 35.884’W

Asdeer Red Can Lt Buoy - Fl R 3s - position: 52° 35.093’N, 009° 34.545’W

Rineana Red Can Lt Buoy - Q R - position: 52° 35.593’N, 009° 31.241’W

Scattery Island Lighthouse - W Tower Fl (2) 7.5 s, 15m, 10 M - position: 52° 36.347’N, 009° 31.067’W

From this point in it is simply a matter of following the inner estuary markers up past Foynes Island plus Aughinish Island and terminal – do note that you may experience a large amount of commercial traffic passing the Aughinish Island terminal.

After Aughinish Island the key marker that will assist in locating the Deal River entrance is the distinctive Beeves Rock lighthouse upon Sheehan Rock.
Beeves Rock - Fl.WR 5s12m 12/9M - position: 52° 39.016’N, 009° 01.320’W

Beeves Rock lighthouse will be visible from Aughinish Island and the above listed ‘Deel River Entrance’ initial fix places you approximately midway between Beeves Rock lighthouse and the Deel River entrance.

The entrance is on the south shore marked by a red and white perch with a weak flashing light. This is a private marker maintained by the boat club that does not conform to any navigation standards - likewise the channel afterwards is marked by five gallon drums.

Although there is a light on the entrance the river cut is not a place to attempt at night unless you have been there before a few times by day and seen it at low water.

Be certain of your approach as there are unmarked rocks port on the either side of the entrance. Carrigeenavaun on the starboard plus Weavers Rock to port where the perch resides (plus you will pass Horse Rock and Wide Rock off Courtbrown Point as you go upstream). These are only visible at half tide and you would not see then at high water so a good chart is essential – Admiralty chart 1549 noted below plus you can see the outlying rocks in the Google map below.

The channel has LWS 1.7 metres is shallow and winding but marked with red port hand marker five gallon drums. If you stray off the line you will find it shelves steeply onto mudbanks that may not present much danger to the vessel. However, upon a falling tide it could get very messy.

You will first approach a set of moorings by the fishing boats and small yachts and a deeper hole up where the yachts are moored. Likewise slightly further up at the club pontoon there appears to be two metres in mud at LWS. There are no facilities at the pontoon.

If you contact a boat club member or Cyril from the boatyard they can organise a key to the boat club jetty if you could make note to return the courtesy with a touch of generosity.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Galway +0059
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)
HW Dover -0515 Dover, +0050 Galway
MHWS 5.2m MHWN 4.0m MLWN 1.8m MLWS 0.3m
Spring range 4.9, neap range 2.2

Shannon Entrance
The flood (in going) stream starts at +0100 Dover at 2.5kn
The ebb (out going) stream starts at -0515 Dover at 4kn

Once inside stream rates vary at different points of the estuary. If you take it that the flood starts approximately 5 hours before, and the ebb 1 hour after HW Galway this will be a good simplification for the Askeaton passage.

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?

Asketon prime attraction is its fully equipped boatyard with specialist services, including GRP repairs and crane. It is one of the most competent, helpful and friendly boatyards in the area. You may have to wait for enough water to come alongside the boatyard but the facilities are excellent.

Askeaton town is a thirty minutes walk where you will find basic provisions plus a restaurant. The town is located on the N69 with good contacts to surrounding area plus an infrequent bus service to Limerick.

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

Other useful contacts in this area:
Foynes Harbour Master: VHF frequency: Ch 16, 11, 14, 68, 71
Telephone +353-69 73103, +353-87 2560427
Outside of office hours +353-87 2542266
Ryan & Roberts Boatyard - Cyril Ryan +353 87 4179 128

Any security concerns?

There are no known problems in this rural area.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

For Shannon navigation the large scale Admiralty Chart 1819 ‘Approaches to the River Shannon’ scale of 1:50,000 covers the approaches. Then 1540 ‘River Shannon - Shannon Airport to Limerick’ scale of 1:12,500, 1547 ‘River Shannon - Kilcredaun Point to Ardmore Point’ scale of 1:20,000 including Kilrush Creek 1:10,000, 1548 ‘River Shannon - Ardmore Point to Rinealon Point’ scale of 1:20,000, 1549 ‘River Shannon - Rinealon Point to Shannon Airport including Foynes Harbour’ scale of 1:20,000 - Foynes Harbour 1:7,500.

Imray C55 ‘Dingle Bay to Galway Bay’ scale of 1:170,000, Ordinance Survey of Ireland, Discovery Series Map ref No. 63 / 64. Scale 1:50,000. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail. Information, maps etc. on Shannon navigation is available from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.

With thanks to:

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

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