Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

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Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.5 metres.

Haven position?

53° 35.100' N, 006° 6.480' W

Where is that position?

At the westernmost end of the Skerries pier where the light stands Oc R 6s.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is to the northwest of the Perch buoy marking Cross Rock. Those approaching from the north or north-east can come down on this initial fix directly.

What is the story here?

Skerries Bay is situated on the Dublin county coast 12 nautical miles north of Howth. Four islands lay off shore - Shenick Island, St Patrick's, Colt and further out Rockabill.

The bay has a pier that extends 150 metres west of Red Island, a former islet now joined to the mainland, and it dries out at low water save for the outer 60 metres where a depth of just under a metre remains. Mooring possibilities include anchoring in the bay, picking up moorings or coming alongside at the outer extreme of the south side of the harbour wall.

A tolerable anchorage can be found in Skerries Bay with good holding. Good shelter is available for off shore winds - from south west round to east. It is however completely open to anything from the west round to the northeast. Due to the amount of moorings crowding the bay anchoring has to be well offshore. This reduces the amount of protection available, due to the extended fetch making it uncomfortable, and makes for a long dinghy ride to shore. You may however be able to secure moorings further in from the sailing club.

Medium draft vessels can come alongside the pier, or more likely, a fishing boat in the harbour as it is common practice here. Just be aware that you may be moved along at short notice so this is only suitable for a short visit and you will need to keep an eye on the depth. The inner harbour dries but its flat sandy bottom is particularly suitable for bilge keel vessels.

Access is straightforward and the harbour has a sectored pierhead light and a buoy marker off the coast.
Please note in any northerly conditions or general heavy weather you should select Howth harbour.

Why visit here?

Skerries (Irish: Na Sceirí, meaning a group of small coastal islands) is a prosperous fishing town with much to offer the visiting boatman. The name comes from Skerry, derived from the Norse word meaning a small coastal island, and Skerries being a group of them.

The town has many amenities which are enjoyed by both resident and visitor alike. The long sandy beaches, (patrolled by life-guards in the summer months) and secluded harbour are awash with pubs and restaurants that include the sailing club. These offer excellent eating and drinking locations ready at hand.

The three islands off shore indeed one of which one of which, Shenick Island, may be reached at low tide for walkers but great care must be taken when the tide turns. Since 1987 the island has become a wildlife reserve. In fact there are lots of walks around Skerries whether they are along the strand, up around The Head where seals can be seen bobbing in the water. Close by Ardgillan Demense offers another series of walks through wooded parklands or open spaces with good views of the sea.

The Skerries Mills is one of the areas best tourist attractions and is well worth a visit. Restored by Fingal County Council as a local amenity and tourist attraction. There are two fully restored and working windmills, watermill and a museum and coffee shop.

Visitors to Shenick Island will find a Martello tower along with Red Island, one of a number of defensive towers erected during the Napoleonic era along the Irish coast. The other islands can only be visited by boat and many trips run out from the harbour during the sailing season if you wish to take a guided tour. The outermost island, St Patrick's Island, is so called because this is where the Irish patron saint is reputed to have landed and begun his mission to convert the country to Christianity.

Every year motor-bike racing comes to Skerries with the annual road races which are extremely popular. These races have been held for over fifty years. An 18 hole golf championship course is also in the area. Skerries sailing club also hosts both National and World sailing events.

How to get in?

Great care should be taken in all approaches to the Skerries to steer well clear of the islands, including Red Island, due to the rocky foreshores and sandy banks extending out some distance.

If approaching from the east, Rockabill Lighthouse (white tower, black band) provides an excellent landfall.

Rockabill Lighthouse - Fl WR 12s position: 53° 35.811’N, 006° 00.297’W

If approaching from Rockabill make certain to pass to the north of the islands paying particular attention to Cob Rocks that lay 400 metres north of Colt Island.

Pass to the north of Red Island and "Perch" a red light-buoy marking Cross Rock.

The Perch Red Buoy – Fl R 10s position: 53° 35.305’N, 006° 06.488’W

From there the light on the pierhead Oc R 6s, bearing between 103° and 154°, leads into the bay towards the anchorage. Do not turn into the harbour until the bearing to the pierhead bears less than 154°. Watch out for lobster pots in the approaches.

You can approach Skerries Bay from the South through the islands but this is more involved. Skerries Sailing Club shared a list of waypoints and directions to assist passage planning through the Skerries Islands. These are available on inyourfootsteps.com Ireland routes.

If planning to enter and dry out alongside the harbour wall check the grounding area is clear as large stones are reportedly scattered about in the vicinity. Be respectful of the needs of the fishing fleet if you come alongside.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0018
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High waters: 01:29, 13:57, Low waters: 07:23, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
Nearby Balbriggan is Dover + 0015, Rise 4.4 – 3.6m

Tidal streams
Close inshore the ebb starts at -0030 Dover and runs for 7 hours, Springs rates of 1.5 kn between islands. Between Rockabill and Skerries they run NNW and SSE at LW and HW Dover.

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?

Water is available at the inner end of the pier, diesel from a filling station about a mile away, provisions from several excellent shops in the town.

Skerries Sailing Club affords facilities to visiting boatmen including moorings.
Phone: +353 1 8491233
VHF: CH72 is usually monitored during the sailing season.
Web: www.skerriessailingclub.com

The airport and ferry ports are quickly and easily accessible from Skerries. Dublin Bus operates a public transport system for Skerries to the centre of Dublin and a rail service that runs seven days a week. The train runs between Dublin city centre and Drogheda/Dundalk.

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:
Skerries Sailing Club VHF CH72; Phone: +353 1 8491233 Web: www.skerriessailingclub.com

Any security concerns?

You should secure the vessel if leaving it unattended.

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’’ includes Skerries at a scale of 1:10,000, 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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