Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

9°C

Swell today

Direction S, height 2.2 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 2.6 metres.

Haven position?

51° 31.484' N, 009° 32.520' W

Where is that position?

Shull harbour pierhead.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is on the harbour transit of 346° to Schull through the entrance. It is approximately 500 metres to the south east of Bull Rock, that lies in entrance, and half way between Copper Point Lighthouse (Q(3) 10s 16m 8M) and Joan Salters rock off Cosheen Point.

What is the story here?

Schull Harbour is a south facing inlet upon the peninsula that leads out to Mizen Head and it lies behind Long Island and Castle Island. It is predominantly an anchorage but you may be able to come alongside the very busy pier or raft up to a fishing boat for short periods. Sturdy visitor moorings are also available.

Schull harbour is a good anchorage and although is open to the south it is protected by Long Island and it provides very good shelter. However it can be uncomfortable if a strong swell is running into the bay and in a southerly or south easterly gale it is untenable. Protection from a southerly gale can be found outside the entrance to the north of Long Island (1.5 nm form the pier) and in most reasonable conditions Schull harbour offers very good protection. It would be more comfortable than Crookhaven in easterly and westerly winds. The open harbour affords straightforward access and can be entered on any state of the tide night or day.

Please note the Bull Rock, marked by a light-beacon (port hand Fl 2 R6s) that guards the centre of the entrance. It may be passed on either side but the eastern side is the wider of the two and supported by leading lights for a night entry.

Why visit here?

The village of Schull or Skull (Irish: Scoil Mhuire) lies at the foot of the 1339 ft Mount Gabriel in a remote and scenic location that is regarded as one of West Cork's most popular tourist destinations.

As such Schull is principally a tourist town that comes to life in the summer months when a huge number of tourists and yachtsmen visit. To cater for this there are plenty of activities for the visitor to enjoy. A number of pubs in the area provide a variety of music and there are also many good restaurants.

A particular draw for the yachtsman is Schull's two sailing festivals; The International Sailing Festival for children which is held during the second week of July and ‘Schull Regatta’ is held during the week following the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Schull is also host to Ireland's only Planetarium with Star Shows throughout the summer. There are a number of cheese-making farms which provide an interesting visit also in the vicinity.

Schull is a lovely spot and a must for the passing yachtsman.

How to get in?

Access to Schull harbour is straight forward from anywhere in the bay. The recommended approach to the channel lies between Long Island Point marked by Copper Point Lighthouse and, 900 metres southeast-by-east, Amelia Rock a starboard hand light-buoy marking the rocks West of Castle Island.

Copper Point Lighthouse - Q(3)10s 16m 8M position 51° 30.250’N 009° 32.063’W
Amelia Rock - G Lt buoy Fl. G. 3s position: 51° 29.979’N 009° 31.461’W

From this location you can steer 346° for the entrance that is marked on the charts and that waypoint described above is on this transit. There are leading lights at the head of Schull Harbour that lead in on this baring, but they are difficult to distinguish by day.

If your approach is from Long Island Channel keep north of Cush Spit and then head up to the entrance.

Cush Spit - Q position 51° 30.304’N 009° 33.017’W

The harbour is entered between Coosheen Point and Skull Point (0.55nm apart) divided in half by Bull Rock that you may pass on either side. Bull Rock is well marked by a port hand light beacon and it dries at half-ebb tide.

Bull Rock - Fl (2) R 6s position: 51° 30.758’N 009° 32.205’W

If you pass on the west side make note of Baker Rock that is awash at low water. It lies 300 metres north of Schull Point but after that the west shore is clear. If you pass on the east side make note of underwater rocks extending 200m northwest from Coosheen Point. You should keep at least 200 metres offshore at all points from Coosheen Point.

There is a small pier at the northwest corner of the bay with a depth of 1.5 m alongside the seaward end. This is an area heavy with fishing boat traffic. The head and north side of the pier is in constant use by fishing boats whilst the south side is utilised by the Clear Island tourist boat. You may anchor in the area off the pier but do not impede the approach channel south-southeast of the pier. Anchor in sand / mud with good holding but it can be subject to kelp. It is advised that you dig the anchor in well with engine to both in the harbour and in Long Is Channel.

There are 12 visitor moorings available south of the pier below the modern holiday village.
Schull moorings – position: 51° 31.500’N 009° 32.300’W.
The moorings are rated to 15 tons and are large, coloured bright yellow and labelled VISITOR.

All anchored and moored vessels should carry a light throughout the night.

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 –0040sp, -0015np
MHWS 3.2m MHWN 2.6m MLWN 1.1m MLWS 0.4m

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?

Schull village, situated on the west side near the head of the harbour, has shops with fresh provisions (butcher, baker etc), hotels, bank, pubs, restaurants, and a post office plus a bus service to Cork (a distance of approximately 100km). Water is available from a tap at the root of the pier, gas in the town and you can see the Harbour Master for fuel. Chandlery and sail repairs are reportedly available.

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:
Schull Harbour Master +353 28 28136

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Schull Harbour.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

The large scale Admiralty Charts 2424 ‘Kenmare River to Cork Harbour’ Scale of 1:150,000 covers this area. 2129 ‘’Long Island Bay to Castlehaven’’ and 2184 ‘’Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound’’ Scale of 1:30,000 provide detail. 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:

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

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