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° 36.340' N, 010° 8.725' W

Where is that position?

Just inside the 3 metre contour in the middle of the anchorage.

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) South Entrance initial fix
51° 34.822' N, 010° 10.866' W
This position is approx 1,200 metres west of the southern point of Crow Island.

(ii) North entrance initial fix
51° 37.134' N, 010° 9.934' W
This position is approx 1,000 metres north-by-northwest of the northern 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?

Dursey Sound lies at the south-western tip of the Beara Peninsula - to the east of Dursey Island and west of the mainland. It is a narrow rock strewn stretch of water with a tidal race that is open to the Atlantic Ocean on either end. However in very settled weather conditions, with a good anchor watch on account of the strong tide, you can anchor in a patch of sand off the mainland just 800 metres to the south east of the narrows.

Although a possibility to anchor exists, in very settled conditions, Dursey Sound is more of interest to sailors for the short cut it offers in and out of Bantry Bay. Careful navigation is required and in this context it may also present a challenge in boisterous conditions. Exposed to the Atlantic Ocean on either side there can be a large seaway running that is further complicated by shifting and funnelling winds over tide; it should be noted that this is not a foul weather short cut.

Please note, tides in the sound run up to 4 kn at springs and as such it is advisable to go through with a favourable tide or at least before it reaches its maximum rate.

Why visit here?

Dursey Sound is a lovely short cut from Bantry bay to Kenmare bay that saves ten to twelve miles of passage or possibly more - rounding the west side of Dursey island requires one to keep in mind the off lying rocks of the bull, the cow plus the calf rocks and only the bull is lit.

In fine weather it is possible to land on the island at the boat slip in Dursey Sound. Dursey Island (Irish: Baoi Bhéarra or Oileán Baoi) is a peaceful island 3.5M long and 250m high where at its highest point there stands an old watch tower.

As mentioned above the island is connected to the mainland by a cable car. This is Ireland's only cable car, and reportedly the only cable car that goes over open water in Europe. The cable car is one of its main attractions. The island is also well known for the nesting colonies of seabirds.

If you plan to cruise around the island you will find the shores of Dursey Island clear of dangers except for Lea rock off Dursey Head at the south west corner.

How to get in?

From the southern initial fix you can head directly to the anchorage position- listed above - just inside the 3 metres contour. It looks challenging as from sea level it appears you are facing into a sheer cliff – see photo below. However if you take a look at the Google satellite image the sand patch is clearly visible.

When planning a southern approach you should make note of a couple of rocks off Crow Head located on the south west corner of the mainland. Cat Rock lies 500 metres southwest of Crow Head and the Bull’s Forehead rock 300 metres west of Crow Island.

When transiting you need to keep to the west side of the channel as the Dursey Island side has the deeper water. The mainland side has a lot of outlying rocks out to about 100 metres. Key amongst these is Flag Rock (.3 of a metre cover at low water) that resides in the middle of the channel at its narrowest point contracting the fairway to a width of about 70 metres from the rock to Dursey Island shoreline. The fairway is deep, with a least charted depth of 11.6 metres, but it is subject to strong tidal streams that drive eddies and overfalls in the narrows. Be watchful for a ferry crossing the sound to the southeast of the narrows. Once well clear of the narrows you can proceed to the anchorage position.

A vessel approaching from the north may encounter particularly shifty winds plus disturbed rebounding seas coming off the cliffs of Glasfeactula. All transiting vessels should be prepared for sudden changes in wind direction and different winds at either end of the sound. Another particular peculiarity of Dursey Sound is that from either approach, if the visibility is poor, it is very hard to see where the entrance is. It looks like you are heading for a solid cliff face until you get close in. The northern approach is greatly assisted by a cable car that spans the narrow part of the sound. The cable car towers are identifiable from the north and are a good indicator you are in the right spot - or if you are lucky the cable car itself. There is a vertical clearance of 21 metres on the east side of the channel underneath the cable car.

A Narrows cable car waypoint - position: 51° 36.489’N 010° 09.416’W
This position is in the narrows, directly beneath the cable car, on Dursey Island’s 8 metre contour.

There is eight metres off the quay on Dursey Island and you may be able to find a settled conditions berth if you nose around – I have not landed there so cannot advise. There is reportedly a slip and a telephone within 50 metres.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0042
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)
High water Dursey is approximately HW Cobh -0050
Dursey Sound tides
South-going +0415 High Water Dover (Cobh -0450)
North-going -0415 High Water Dover (Cobh +0135)
Max spring rate in the narrows 4 kn, somewhat less at the north and south entrances.

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?

None.

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

Any security concerns?

Not applicable, it is not advisable to leave a vessel unattended in this area due to strong tides and shifting winds.

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. 2495 ‘’Kenmare River’’ scale of 1:60,000 provides more detail. 2495 also includes sections: Dursey Sound scale of 1:12,500, Ardgroom and Kilmakilloge Harbours scale of 1:30,000, Ballycrovane Harbour scale of 1:30,000, Sneem Harbour scale of 1:30,000 and scale of 1:Upper Kenmare River 30,000.
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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