Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

16°C

Swell today

Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.3 metres.

Haven position?

54° 2.580' N, 006° 10.930' W

Where is that position?

The end of the east pier that is lit; Oc.R.4s 5m 3M

What is the initial fix?

500 metres due south of Hellyhunter a south cardinal buoy Q(6) +FL1.15s. From here the line of the entrance’s leading light beacons may be picked up.

What is the story here?

Carlingford Harbour is a small tidal harbour located on the south-western shore of the beautiful Carlingford Lough inlet, about five miles from Haulbowline Light House that marks the entrance. The harbour dries beyond its pierheads and is only suitable for vessels that can take to the hard. Outside the harbour there is a popular anchorage where good depths may be found.

This location offers good protection but can be exposed to northeasterly conditions when it would be more comfortable at another location in the Lough. However a good measure of protection is afforded to all vessels drying out behind the harbours protective piers in all conditions.

Pilotage up and down the Lough is facilitated by a deep water shipping channel that runs the entire length of the Lough. Although the channel is well marked, access and pilotage requires careful navigation, a good chart and lots of light owing to exceptional currents in the Lough and at the entrance. Tides reach up to four and a half knots alongside Haulbowline Lighthouse and buoys take on the appearance of boats here with heavy bow waves. Consequently a first entrance should be timed to be around slack water and you need a reliable engine should the tide take control.

Please note that an approach to Carlingford Lough is best avoided in any strong onshore winds as it causes a dangerous seaway at the entrance. With a flood tide it makes the entrance highly challenging, but with the southeast ebb tide, running out into a strong southeasterly, the entrance is completely impassable. The key with Carlingford Harbour is to proceed up to No. 18 Red Buoy - even though you will be passing the town. If you try cut across you will most likely wind up on the Carlingford Bank.

Why visit here?

Carlingford (Irish: Cairlinn – Cairlinn) takes its name from a shortened form of Cathair Linn literally translated as "City of the Pool".

The Normans recognised the Lough's strategic significance of this vital stretch of water to the Gap of the North and inland Ulster. They were determined to secure it by constructing two castles at its mouth on the southern and northern shores, at Carlingford and at Greencastle. A further measure was the construction of a fort at the present day site of Narrow Water Castle.

Carlingford Castle, by which the Normans controlled access from the sea on the southern side of the Lough, dominates the present medieval town. Rising above the Lough it offers magnificent views to the north, south and east. The castle was built by the great Norman lord Hugh de Lacy, but after King John of England spent the summer of 1210 the castle became known as King John's castle.

Carlingford Castle appears to have remained in English hands during the post-mediaeval period. Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, tried to take the castle in a surprise attack in 1596. The castle changed hands several times over the following centuries, was fired upon by retreating Jacobite forces in 1689, and functioned as a hospital during the period leading up to the Battle of the Boyne.

With such a centrepiece it is easy to see how Carlingford is one of Ireland's best preserved medieval towns. Much of this heritage and atmosphere remains today in the castle surrounds; the narrow streets, lanes and squares enticing visitors to discover the various shops and crafts outlets in this walled town. Highlights includes The Mint - in 1467 Carlingford was granted a charter to mint its own coinage, the Tholsel - a two storey building where the town laws were passed and where visitors can see the cramped prison cell where criminals were kept before their execution. The heritage centre in the old Holy Trinity parish church also is worthy of a mention. Details for all are available in the Tourist Information Centre in the town.

In addition to the medieval there are plenty of festivals and events happening in the village during the summer months. The town also provides a tranquil, intimate base from which to enjoy the Cooley Peninsula. Here you will find excellent coastal and mountain walks with breathtaking scenery. It is an ideal stepping stone to explore the other anchoring locations in the Lough itself.

How to get in?

Small vessels cannot enter or leave Carlingford Lough against the tide and for a first time visit it is advisable to approach on slack water. As slack water only happens twice a day, and most likely once in daylight, here are some cruising distances in nautical miles that may assist in planning your arrival:

Ardglass ~ 23 nm
Portaferry ~ 28 nm
Malahide ~ 38 nm
Dublin ~ 44 nm
Peel ~ 50 nm
Holyhead ~ 64 nm

Carlingford Lough is highly conspicuous as you approach the initial fix to set up for entry. The inlet is eight miles long, with its northeast reach residing between the lower slopes of the Mountains of Mourne and the Cooley Mountains. In addition there is a 34 metre high grey granite tower, Haulbowline Lighthouse, standing in the entrance.

The Carlingford Lough Initial Fix is approximately 1 mile from the mouth of the Lough and marks the entrance to deep water shipping channel.

From the initial fix you may come straight in on the leading lights, in line 310° following the outer channel markers until the Haulbowline Lighthouse is past abeam.

Haulbowline Lighthouse - Fl (3) W10s 17M position: 54° 01.196’N, 006° 04.740’W

Please be aware the entrance channel is only eighty metres wide here and yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic in this area.

When the lighthouse is abreast the course alters slightly to port towards Greenore Point on the south shore - conspicuous for a pine plantation with some buildings.

Then it is a matter of following the well marked mooring buoys - odd numbered buoys to starboard and even numbered red buoys to port. Once inside you will find the waters completely absent of swell and thus marker identification easy.

Continue up the Lough to the No.18 Port Hand Channel Buoy Fl R(4) 8s although as already mentioned it takes you past Carlingford Harbour, easily recognised by the town and old castle. Carlingford Bank resides between the channel and the town up to No.18 buoy. The northwest end of Carlingford Bank needs to be rounded before a final approach can be made and hence you should not cut in before the No.18 marker.

Take the No.18 buoy to Port and upon rounding steer a new course of approximately 170° for a mile and that will take you down on to the east pierhead at the harbour entrance

As you progress south you will come by the anchorage area with private moorings between the town and Marina that is approximately 500 metres beyond the pierheads north-northwest of Carlingford. Good holding is to be found here in mud with depths 2 to 3 metres clear of the established small craft moorings and shellfish beds.

At neaps a draft of 1.7 metres can be supported 300 metres north of the east pier or 1.4 metres 200 metres north.

The harbour is enclosed by a quay on the west side and a pier to the east that dries at low water. The north facing entrance is 180 metres wide between lit pierheads; the northwest quay Fl G 3s 3M, east pier Oc R 4s 3M.

Depth alongside the quay is 2.7 metres at HW and soft mud at low water that is not suitable for keel vessels to dry out upon.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0019
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)
Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0500, Ebb +0020 Dover.

Max tidal rates:
One mile outside the entrance streams are imperceptible.
Buoyed approach channel 3.5 kn,
East of the lighthouse 4.5 kn
Between Greenore and the entrance 1.5 kn
Off Carlingford 1.5 kn

What facilities are available?

Carlingford town, although hardly bigger than a village, has a surprising array of excellent facilities such as hotels, restaurants, pubs a post office, a reasonably good supermarket, newsagent, launderette, water, fuel, gas and a host of tourist facilities. A launching slip is available at high tide upon the east pier.

Dundalk Sailing Club telephone +353 42 937 3238 is active during the season at weekends providing limited meals, showers and a bar. Carlingford is just over an hours’ drive from Belfast and Dublin.

Useful transport contacts in this area:
Dundalk Train Station + 353 42 933 5521
Dundalk Bus Station + 353 42 9334075
Newry Bus Station + 44 28 30623531
Newry Train Station + 44 28 30269271

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:
Carlingford Marina Telephone: +353 42 93 73073
VHF: Channel 37 or 16, channel 16 - change to channel 06.
Email: cmarina@iol.ie

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ VHF Channel 12 (24 hrs)
Tel: +44 28 417 73381

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have happened off Carlingford.

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. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ Scale of 20,000, including the ‘Entrance of Carlingford Lough’ scale of 12,500; ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000; Kilkeel Harbour scale of 5,000.

Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Thomas Cunningham - Harbour Master for ‘Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission’

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How can I get this offshore?

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Alternatively print this page's text, illustrations and photos, but without the internet menu, layout, backdrops and Google maps, or economise upon printer consumables and print this page with text only, to get a hardcopy of this location.

What other useful information is available?

The latest monthly Dover and Dublin (North Wall) 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’.



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