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° 45.230' N, 009° 52.666' W

Where is that position?

In the centre of the anchorage off the pier.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 400 meters north of Dog Point, on the 135 degree bearing leading onto the Halftide Rock beacon (800 metres out).

What is the story here?

Ardgroom resides on the south side of the Kenmare River directly opposite Sneem. The land-locked harbour offers an excellent overnight anchorage with protection from all conditions.

However Ardgroom requires highly involved navigation as the intricate entrance, over a rocky 2.4 metre bar, utilises transit beacons that are now grey or obscured by trees and very hard to see - particularly so in the early part of the day with the sun in the east. This makes it a testing exercise for the first visit with daylight and settled conditions a prerequisite.

Please note the harbour is full of rocks, spits and marine farms that are often very close to the leading lines so they must be very carefully followed.

Why visit here?

It is a lovely bay with high ground on the south side and some beautiful views although it has been encroached upon by fish farming.

There is a fine stone circle near the village and other monuments of the past in the vicinity and the area features on the Beara Way Long Distance Walking Route.

Due to the influence of the gulf-stream climate you will see palm trees and bamboo thriving around these parts.

How to get in?

Ardgroom harbour easily identified from the Kenmare River by Dog Point, rising to a height of 62 metres. The entrance resides between Dog Point and Carravaniheen (900 metres to the NW of the point).

From there you simply follow the three sets of leading beacons accurately making sure you pick up the next pair in plenty of time so you don’t overrun the next transit.
Please be aware the shore or back beacon is often obscured by bushes in Ardgroom, that even when cut, tend to hide it from view. You will most likely only see the back beacons when the intersection point has been reached.

Hence here are some helpful waypoints that should help you get into position for alignment. Don’t rely on the waypoints to get you in, use them to help position your vessel only to pick up the beacons and you are advised to come in under power with a good bearing compass and binoculars to hand.

First of all use the above listed harbour waypoint for the initial approach. This will set you up the 135 degree track leading you in onto the Halftide Rock beacon.

The next waypoint is the charted intersection with the first 135 degree beacon leading to Halftide Rock and the second 099 degree beacons leading to Black Rock beacon. It is approximately 80 metres northwest of the conspicuous black beacon by Halftide rock where you should be turning to port.

135 d and 099 leading bearings intersection point – position: 51 45.742N 009 52.441W

The following waypoint is the charted intersection with the second 099 degree beacon leading to Black Rock (white beacon) and the third 026 degree (astern) leading line off Yellow Rock (dark concrete with faded black painted bands) into the harbour. It is approximately 120 metres west by northwest of the Black Rock beacon where you should be turning to starboard.

009 and 026 leading bearing intersection point – position: 51 45.655N 009 51.518W

The following waypoint is the charted endpoint for the 026 degree bearing off Yellow Rock in deep water where you can turn to starboard into the harbour in deep water. You will probably find that you will be forced to turn to Starboard a little sooner than this position due to encroaching on a fish farm string.

026 leading bearing end point – position: 51 45.205N 009 51.862W

From there you just run along the seaward edge of the barrels that keeps you clear of the shallows to the north. There is plenty of water once you are in the western side of the harbour. Anchor to the east of the large new quay. You will find the bottom consists of sand/mud offering good holding but questionable around the shale bank near the harbour.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0053
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)
HW Cobh –0113sp, -0033np
MHWS 3.5m MHWN 2.9m MLWN 1.2m 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?

There are no facilities in Ardgroom Harbour save for a new landing pier.

What emergency contacts are there?

Valentia Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) VHF Ch 24 & MF 1752kHz, with relay stations at Cork (26), Mizen (04), Bantry Bay (23), Shannon (28) and Galway (04). CGR is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel. Alternatively phone 999 (free) Emergency Gardai (police) / Fire / Rescue.

Any security concerns?

Never heard of an issue in Ardgroom.

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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