Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

8°C

Swell today

Direction SSE, height 2.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 2.4 metres.

Haven position?

51° 38.032' N, 008° 42.088' W

Where is that position?

Courtmacsherry pierhead.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is approximately at the mid point of the two miles between Wood Point and the Courtmacsherry Buoy (Fl G 3s) that marks the lower point of the spit extending from the north shore.

What is the story here?

Courtmacsherry Harbour is formed by the estuary of the Argideen River which enters Courtmacsherry Bay at its northwest corner. You can anchor off the small town that resides on the south side of the bay or come alongside a harbour pontoon.

Although the bay has some obstructions there is a wide and safe approach path available between Black Tom and Horse Rock that leads up to the harbour entrance between Wood Point and Lisheen Point. The area of concern with Courtmacsherry is a bar upon the entrance that has least water 1.2 metres at LWS tides. In southeasterly or southerly conditions the seas break on the bar making it impassable. Courtmacsherry should not be attempted in any conditions from the southeast or moderately strong conditions from the south. Depending on the draft of your vessel, you may wish to have a quarter of a following tide at the entrance.

Apart from this you can expect normal navigation and once inside the channel is marked by unlit sparbuoys (starboard hand) so it is easily managed and it is all sand so there is nothing hard to hit. Although there is a sectored light on Wood Point with a White sector leading in between Black Tom and Horse Rock, plus the lit Green buoy off the spit, a stranger should not consider entering Courtmacsherry by night.

Once inside you are completely protected although it can be uncomfortable in a westerly gale with wind over tide. Please note there are however strong tides in the harbour.

Why visit here?

Courtmacsherry (Irish: Cúirt Mhic Seafraidh -- MacSharry's Court) is a little sea-front village consisting of a single long street with thick woods on rising ground behind.

The village's main industry consists of commercial and sport fishing and a moderately sized tourist industry thrives during the summer months. It consists primarily of a hotel and a caravan park, catering mainly for visitors from Cork. Entertainment can be found in the several bars and pubs in and around the village. There is also a festival at the end of July - beginning of August with lots of activities and competitions for children and entertainment and events for adults. There is excellent fishing at Timoleague, a town situated two miles farther up the River – navigable only by a small boat - where there are the remains of a fine 14th century abbey, the largest of the religious houses in County Cork.

Historically, and around the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland the major townships in the area were those now known as Timoleague, Lislee, Barryroe and Dunworly. Among the Norman settlers were the De Barrys and the Hodnetts; the former built the castle at Timoleague, and the latter settled in Lislee. The Barrys flourished and gave their name to Barryroe, Rathbarry, whereas the Hodnetts “degenerated into mere Irish”. One branch changing their name to MacSeafraidh (son of Geoffrey), subsequently anglicised to MacSherry or McSharry. Although Barrys and Hodnetts still live in the district, there are no McSherrys. In more recent history, and with a nautical theme, in May 1915, it was the Courtmacsherry lifeboat that rescued survivors of the RMS Lusitania sinking.

The woods (planted by the Earl of Shannon in the late 18th century) continue beyond the village eastwards to Wood Point that you round on entry. Between the village and "The Point" the trees run right to the water's edge and there are several natural bathing coves along the way. The mudflats surrounding the anchorage in the bay are a bird-watcher’s paradise.

How to get in?

The easiest approach to Courtmacsherry Harbour is between Black Tom and Horse Rock. The Light Fl (2) WR 58, 15m, 6M on Wood Point provides a white sector between 315° and 332° that leads in between Black Tom and Horse Rock, but not at night. Pleasure boats approaching from the East side of Courtmacsherry Bay may cross the bay between Inner Barrels (51°37.000’N, 8°37.500’W) and the north shore.

Some useful points to identify before approaching Courtmacsherry Harbour.

Wood Point - Fl (2) WR 58, 15m, 6M - position: 51° 38.000’N 008° 41.000’W

Courtmacsherry Buoy - position: 51° 38.287’N 8° 40.897’W - Fl G 3s
This is moored off the spit extending from the N shore.

Black Tom Buoy - Fl G 5s - position: 51° 36.408’N 8° 37.959’W

Barrel Rock Perch - (Unlighted) - position: 51° 37.006’N 8° 37.298’W

Horse Rock (& Foal Rock) - position: 51° 36.630’N 008° 40.000’W


The sand bar at the entrance is 4 feet or 1.2 metres deep at LWST and best entered on the first third of a following tide if you have any draft. If your arrival is on low water and the depth is a challenge you can anchor in Coolmain Bay, to the west of the marker, where a couple of metres is easily found to await the lifting tide.

The harbour is entered between Wood Point and Courtmacsherry Light-buoy. A shoal bank extends to the North of Wood Point reducing the navigable width in the channel so the light buoy should be kept close to starboard. Beyond the channel is marked by unlit sparbuoys that should also be kept close to starboard. Once past these a line of moorings can be followed up to the village quay.

You can anchor northeast of Ferry point in depths up to 5 metres. Stay at least 200 metres off Ferry Point as there is a shoal (just off the old Lifeboat House) and keep clear of the small boats moored to the west of it as it is shallow. Be aware the area has a lot of weed on the bottom and you need to make certain that the anchor is secure. Due to the strong alternating tides it would be advisable to lay anchors up and down stream covering both tidal runs.

Anchorage may also be found off the quay at Courtmacsherry in depths of 3 to 5m with a sandy bottom. Avoid anchoring in such a fashion as to impede the RNLI lifeboat, that lies afloat, or in the area where local fishing boats are moored as the ground is foul. There is an area to the north of the quay that is kept free of moorings to allow visiting boats to anchor. Again it is advisable to moor with two anchors up and down stream in the strong tides that run through the harbour. There are reportedly visitor moorings to the north of the Pier Head Bar.

You may also come alongside the pontoon that supports two metres on lowest tides and has room for about three yachts. A marina is currently undergoing development and should be available in the 2010 time frame.

What are the tides here?

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

Courtmacsherry tidal streams can be strong
Dover +0035 (Cobh +0600) In-going stream
Dover -0600 (Cobh –0010) Out-going stream

Nearby Kinsale Harbour’s range is:
MHWS 3.9m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.6m

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?

Diesel fuel and petrol, fresh water; provisions are available in Courtmacsherry. There is water and electricity available at the pontoon.

The village of Courtmacsherry situated on the south side of the harbours has most provisions and a post office. The village is about 40km southwest of Cork city, and 10 minutes drive east from the larger provincial town of Clonakilty.

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:
Courtmacsherry Harbour Lifeboat Station,
Telephone (00 353 23) 46600

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel at Courtmacsherry.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

The large scale Admiralty Charts 2092 ‘Toe Head to Old Head Of Kinsale’ Scale of 1:50,000 covers this sailing area whilst Admiralty Charts 2081 ‘Courtmacsherry Bay’ Scale of 1:25000. Imray C56 ‘Cork Harbour to Dingle Bay’ scale of 1:170,000. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail.

With thanks to:

Anthony McCarthy, local yachtsman.

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