Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

6°C

Swell today

Direction SSE, height 0.7 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 1.0 metres.

Haven position?

53° 27.238' N, 006° 9.055' W

Where is that position?

Southern point of the Marina’s breakwater at the entrance.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is the most recent Malahide Fairway Buoy (Q Fl) position. Like all markers in Malahide it is subject to change following the frequently shifting bar. Hence the position should only be used as an initial fix.

What is the story here?

Malahide is a small vibrant seaside town in North County Dublin, approximately ten miles north of Dublin city and four miles north of Howth. The harbour resides in a narrow shallow inlet protected on either side by sand hills and its estuary entrance and channel are well marked.

Inside the west end of the harbour there is a large full service marina, where visitor berths are available. Due to the level of boating activity in the area it is no longer feasible to anchor in Malahide.

Once inside the harbour offers complete protection from all conditions. Access is straightforward as Malahide’s has markers that are lit permitting both night and day access. However if you are unfamiliar with the harbour you should only enter in daylight where at half water the channel is clearly visible. The harbours above listed LWS depth of 0.8 reflects the constraints of the sand bar at entry. It is dredged periodically so you are advised to check with the marina regarding the current depth prior to entry. However, if you plan entry two hours after low water most any vessel will progress with ease.

Please note Malahide should not be attempted in any developed easterly conditions, as the sea breaks on the bar. This is particularly the case on an ebb tide that can reach 3.5 knots and causes the sea to stand up on the bar in easterlies. In these conditions you should select Howth harbour.

Why visit here?

Malahide Harbour has plenty to offer the visiting yachtsman, with excellent boating facilities, a wide variety of first rate eating places, nearby sports facilities, plenty of historic interest and Dublin City within easy reach.

Malahide or in gaelic Mullagh Íde means Sand hill of the Hydes and this name probably stems from a Norman founder of the town. The towns origins date back to a settlement evidence of which can be traced back to 6000 B.C. St. Patrick (Irelands patron Saint) reportedly visited the area in 432A.D. In 795A.D the Vikings arrived on our shores followed by the Danes in 897 A.D. The Normans took power in the late 12th century and it is in this time that the town probably acquired its name.

Malahide developed around Malahide Castle as a mainly agricultural and maritime town with fishing and food crops the main industries. By the early 19th century, the village had a population of over one thousand, and a number of local industries, including salt harvesting, while the harbour continued in commercial operation, with landings of coal and construction materials.

The area grew in popularity in Georgian times as a seaside resort for wealthy Dublin city dwellers. This is still evident today from the fine collection of Georgian houses in the town and along the seafront, and Malahide is still a popular spot for day-trippers, especially in the summer months.

Malahide grew from a population of 1500 in 1960 to almost 25,000 in 2006, and is still a rapidly growing dormitory town for the Dublin area. Most of the population lives outside the core, in a series of large housing estates. It is often noted as one of Dublin's more affluent suburbs.

Malahide today is one of the most popular spots in Dublin to eat out offering a wide choice of top quality, world class restaurants offering superb food and an atmosphere second to none.

How to get in?

Boats should proceed to the Fairway Buoy initial fix. It is strongly recommended at that point, or preferably earlier, a visiting yachtsman should obtain channel depth information from the marina. The channel and bar are dredged periodically to 2.3, but a least depth of 0.8 metres LWS was available in 2002. A useful local rule of thumb (for guidance only) is the depth at the Fairway Buoy is approximately 2 metres deeper than the shallowest point in the channel.

Once you are comfortable there is enough depth to support your vessel then proceed up the marked channel between the buoys - leaving them to the appropriate side - up to the Marina entrance. You will find three red and three green perch marks run from Malahide Fairway Buoy to just before the narrowing of the beaches. From there to the marina entrance, the channel is marked by three sets of buoys, bringing the total number of marks to six port and six starboard, marking the channel. If making a night entry you will find each light encountered has a different characteristic.

You will see a transit emerge between a 50 m high church spire and the right hand edge of the Grand Hotel ahead (situated on the south side 1 mile from the entrance) – bearing approximately 266°.

Although the channel is very narrow it is clearly laid out and steep-to so you can pass close to the marks, deeper draft vessels should stay mid channel in the narrows for best water. Observe your depth sounder closely when you approach the start of the moorings to the south of the channel as there is some dredged mud deposits in this area. If you do happen to run aground inside the harbour you will find it is all sand and mud so there is little hard to hit.

Visitors should make arrangements with the marina or the club to avail of moorings. If you elect to use moorings you will find a concrete landing pier and boat slips to land. Once past the moorings area bear around to starboard and then you will see the marina entry to port.

Caution: when berthing be very careful not to get pushed onto the berths in the marina as the current is strong in Malahide and it runs under the pontoons.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 10:33, 22:54, Low waters: 05:34, 17:58 ^{From Tide Times}

Dover + 0030, Dublin (North Wall) +0002, mean level 2.4 metres.
MHWS 4.2m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.1m MLWS 0.5m
Tidal direction
In channel maximum spring tides run at 3 kn flood, 3.5 kn ebb.
Outside; Dover -0600 North, High Water Dover South going, max rate 1 kn.

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 Leinster 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. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. 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?

Malahide Marina is one of the largest Marina 's in Dublin catering for over 350 berths and can cater for vessels of up to 75 metres in length and is dredged to 2.3 metres. The facilities offered at the Marina are modern and well kept with a 30 ton mobile hoist and a hard standing capacity for 170 vessels. All boating necessities are catered for showers, laundry, diesel, gas chandlery, plus you will find ample if modest shopping, pubs and restaurants in the surrounding town.

Malahide is situated 16 kilometres north of Dublin city and is approximately a 15 minute car ride – traffic dependant. The village has excellent public transport with the Dublin city service DART as well as by Dublin Bus. It is also situated just 10 minutes drive, four miles distance, from Dublin international airport.

Road routes such as the M1 and M50 motorways are highly convenient and high speed ferries to the U.K. are within easy reach.

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) 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. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Other useful contacts in this area:
Marina - VHF Chanel M; Phone: +353 1 668 9985
Malahide Yacht Club - VHF call sign Yacht Base Ch M (occasionally); Phone: +353 1 8453372
Gardai / Police: +353 1 6664600; Doctor: +353 1845 5994; Hospital: +353 18377755

Any security concerns?

Marina has secure access.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, British Admiralty 633 ‘’Plans on the East Coast of Ireland’’ has Malahide Inlet Scale of 10,000. Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

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