Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

14°C

Swell today

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

Haven position?

51° 33.650' N, 009° 7.600' W

Where is that position?

In the middle of the harbour approximately midway between Glandore Quay and Union Hall.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is an initial fix 500 metres east of Adams Island.

What is the story here?

Glandore Harbour resides approximately midway between Toe Head and Galley Head on the south Cork coastline and it offers a several anchoring positions in a scenic location.

The harbour offers a vessel complete protection as it is well sheltered from all winds. You may get some roll from southeast winds in the primary anchorage from which shelter may be found by moving over to Union Hall.

On the chart this harbour looks formidable with the rocks in the centre of the entrance. However you will find access is straightforward as they are all well marked with perches and cardinal marks making it highly navigable day or night at all points of the tide.

Why visit here?

Glandore (Irish: Cuan Dor, meaning harbour of the oaks) is a picturesque haven with an active yacht club.

Glandore and Union Hall are flourishing villages in their distinctive ways. Glandore, in summer is a magnet for tourists, yachts and pleasure craft. Union Hall, in contrast is the home port of a thriving fishing fleet. The surrounding area is one of the most beautiful, most scenic areas in West Cork.

Conspicuous is Glandore's beautiful little Church of Ireland (Anglican) Church, Christ Church (Kilfachtnabeg) built on a rock-ledge overlooking the bay. Access to the Church-grounds and the Church is through an arch-way, a kind of mini-tunnel, hewn through the solid rock that is part of the ledge.

Due to its location, Glandore was one of the earlier settlements in the area. In 1215, the Normans built two castles here. Nearby is the famous Drombeg Stone Circle which has been dated to 150 BC. The village has several pubs, serving beer, food, and often there is traditional music.

How to get in?

The conventional wisdom for entering Glandore is to avoid Adam and hug Eve during your approach. The entrance lies between Goats Head, a bluff head 79 metres high headland, on east and the steep to Sheela Pt on west. It is divided into two channels by the 27 metres high Adam Island at the entrance. The preferred entrance is between Adam Island and Goats Head giving Adam Island a wide berth. If approaching from the West you can also take the narrower route (.2 of a nautical mile or 400 metres wide) between Adam Island and Sheela Point. From there steer to pass close to east of the 7 metre high Eve Island.

East side of Eve turn to port on a bearing of approximately 320 degrees. You will see a 250 metre gap between Long Point on the west shore and a green perch marking the first of ‘The Dangers’. These are three separate rocks in the middle of the channel that show at three quarter ebb and you should plan to pass them on the west side. This first marker or ‘Outer Danger’ marker is on the west side with a green triangle topmark Fl (2+ 1) G.10s 4M. Head for the middle of the gap between this and Long Point.

Once between Long Point and the outer marker head up on approximately 330 degrees into the harbour to pass midway between west shore and the dangers. You should be roughly 200 metres off the west shore. You will see the Middle Danger and the Inner Danger each marked by one green perch, with a triangle topmark pass on your starboard side. Also Sunk Rock, about 200 metres north of the Inner Danger, is marked by a light north cardinal buoy. Once past Sunk Rock you will see you are in the main harbour. Please note you can sail between The Dangers but this is absolutely not something a stranger should do.

The village is located on the east side of Glandore Harbour. The harbour is approximately three miles long north to south with the village of Leap at the north end, Union Hall on the west side. Even if you are heading towards Union Hall keep on course for the bay opposite Glandore for at least 300 metres north of Coosaneigh Point (1.25 nautical miles NNW of Sheela Point) to avoid a mud bank which extends from the shore. You can anchor off Glandore, or to afford further protection, you can head up 200 metres north of Union Hall pier and anchor in mud.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0025
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 07:36, 19:53, Low waters: 01:41, 13:56
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
Cobh -0020sp, -0030np
MHWS 3.7m MHWN 3.0m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.7m

Outside the harbour the tide runs,
Dover + 0200 East; Dover -0400 West.

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?

Water on Glandore & Union Hall piers and Union Hall is the best destination for supplies that includes a chandlery. No fuel, but it can be arranged if quantity warrants a road tanker be sent. There is a good shop situated in Union Hall that provides a wide range of essentials and fine foods plus gas, off-licence, atm etc. The custodians are most helpful and are delighted advice unfamiliar visiting sailors with regard to divers, cranes, breakdown/engine repairs/diesel etc. There is an active and welcoming yacht club at Glandore.

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:
Skibbereen Medical Centre 028 23456
Skibbereen Hospital 028 21677
Glandore Harbour Yacht Club Moorings - contact Glandore Inn 021 33468 / 33518

Any security concerns?

Never a security issue known to have occurred in the Glandore or Union Hall.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Charts 2092 ‘Toe Head to Old Head Of Kinsale’ Scale of 1:50,000 covers this sailing area and there is a 1:25,000 projection subset of Glandore in the latest version. Imray C56. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ cover this area.

With thanks to:

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

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