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° 29.600' N, 009° 17.580' W

Where is that position?

Between the mainland and Bullock Island off the small pier.

What is the initial fix?

This is an initial fix 200 metres southeast of the entrance. Nose in north-eastward from this waypoint and you will find the entrance.

What is the story here?

Barlogue Creek resides less than four nautical miles to the east of Baltimore between Toe head and Spain Point, tucked in to the northwest of Gokane Point. It is a small inlet with a very narrow (150 metres and decreasing) entrance behind which resides the beautiful Lough Hyne.

It is a tolerable anchorage in settled conditions. However once inside the narrow entrance you could spend the night as it is very snug in anything but for conditions from the south and south east.

Please note it is hard to distinguish from the sea and you need to be close in to find it.

Why visit here?

Barlogue Creek is a beautiful and secluded place to drop anchor for a night. However it is Lough Hyne that resides behind it that is the principal draw for this anchorage. The outstanding beauty of Lough Hyne caused it to become Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve in 1981.

Lough Hyne was probably a freshwater lake until about 4000 years ago, when rising sea levels flooded it with salty ocean water. The lake is now fed by tidal currents that rush in from the Atlantic through Barlogue Creek. The end of the creek is known as "The Rapids." The lake's small size, only 0.8 km by 0.6 km, creates an unusual habitat of highly oxygenated yet warm seawater that sustains an enormous variety of plants and animals, many of which are not really native to Ireland. A wide variety of environments such as cliffs, salt marsh, beach, and areas of greatly varying water movement add to the area's biodiversity. Some of the seawalls around the lake and The Rapids were built as relief work during the Great Irish Famine.

Scientific investigation of the area began in 1886 when Rev. William Spottswood Green first recorded the presence of the Purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. More studies commenced in 1923 and continued throughout the 20th century. Several laboratories were constructed near the shores of the lake, supporting research into topics such as sea grass beds, marine invertebrates, and biodiversity.

The area is a tourist draw. The ruins of Saint Bridgit's Church are on the shores of the lake, as well as St. Bridgid's well, in which the imprints of her knees are rumoured to be visible in the rocks. Castle Island is located in the center of the lake. The island contains the ruins of Cloghan Castle, once a fortress of the O'Driscoll clan. Although the island is in the center of the Marine Reserve, it is not part of the protected area.

Finally I recommend a climb up Mount Knockoumah. A footpath leads up from the north of the lake and the 40 minute climb is rewarded with stunning views down into Lough Hyne and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Extracts from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia.

How to get in?

The problem will be to locate the entrance. Approaching from the east you can almost align the Stags South Cardinal Q(6) +L Fl 15s with Gokane Point on a bearing of 309°. Three nautical miles from the south cardinal on that bearing leads directly into the entrance. Alternately you can work in to the northeast 200 metres from the listed waypoint and pilot in all the way by eye.

The entrance lies between Carrigathoma (Lalawn Point) on the west and Bullock Island on the east – not the wider entrance to the east of Bullock Island that leads to the exposed Tranabo Cove. Tend towards the western shore on entry as there are outlying rocks south of Bullock Island. Once inside keep a mid channel course between the island and shore. Anchor off the small pier avoiding where possible the fouling seaweed.

Do not go in too far as it shoals quickly once you northwest of the Bullock Island nor go around the back of the island, to try get into Tranabo Cove, as this whole area to the north of the island is very shallow and dries.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0018
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)
Nearby Baltimore’s tides are:
Cobh -0025sp, -0005np
MHWS 3.5m MHWN 2.9m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.6m

Lough Hyne ‘’The Rapids’’
Dover +0315 the ingoing stream (Cobh -0320)
Dover -0305 the outgoing stream (Cobh+0245)
Spring rate can be up to 5kns in the scour at half tide.

Between Toe Head and the Stags:
Dover +0200 east going (Cobh-0435)
Dover -0400 west going (Cobh+0150)
Spring rate approximately 2kn off Toe Head.

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 is nothing in Barlogue Creek save for a new landing pier with road access. The market town of Skibbereen is approximately 7km from here.

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:
Baltimore Harbour Master - Telephone 087 235 1485
VHF Ch.16 & 09
RNLI Lifeboat - Telephone 028 20 143
Skibbereen Medical Centre 028 23456
Skibbereen Hospital 028 21677

Any security concerns?

Never a security issue known to have occurred in Barlogue Creek.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

2129 ‘Long Island Bay to Castlehaven’ Scale of 1:30,000 covers this area. Also Imray C56. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’

With thanks to:

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

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