Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

5°C

Swell today

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

Haven position?

54° 10.040' N, 006° 20.290' W

Where is that position?

At the town quay outside the Quays’ Shopping centre.

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?

Newry is a provincial town located three miles up the Newry River from the head of Carlingford Lough inlet. The town is accessed by traversing a canal currently solely used by leisure craft accessed via a single lock near the Warrenpoint Port at high water. Berthing is alongside the town quay.

Up the Newry river, in a secure lock-in canal, Newry offers complete protection. The lock is located one and a half miles from Warrenpoint making it the ideal staging area to await high water. This in turn has the advantage of a deep water shipping channel, that runs the entire length of the Lough, making the port accessible at all states of the tide. However careful navigation is required owing to exceptional currents in the lower Lough and at the entrance where tides reach up to four and a half knots alongside Haulbowline Lighthouse. 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 immediate Warrenpoint area is subject to silting and full of mud and sandbanks. Hence great care should be taken moving outside the marked channel.

Why visit here?

Newry (Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá meaning "Yew at the strand's head", short form An tIúr meaning "the Yew") is the fourth largest city in Northern Ireland that has much to offer the visiting boatman.

First and foremost the canal journey, progressing up the seat of the valley between mountain ranges to the town, is a spectacular boating experience in itself.

The town quay is alongside the Buttercrane and Quays shopping centres in a town that has a reputation as being one of the best provincial shopping towns in Ireland. Hence it offers a vessel one of the most convenient and extensive shopping and provisioning locations on the east coast of Ireland.

Alongside the quay area there are a host of attractions including a variety of pubs and restaurants all within a short stroll. Plus, being one of the provinces oldest towns, it has a wide range of historical interest.

The area well placed at the head of the 'Gap of the North' in ancient times. Through this pass between two ranges of hills the men of Ulster sailed forth to harry the tribes of Leinster in the days of the Fianna legends. The town itself was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery. However, and because of its strategic position, the town of Newry was repeatedly destroyed in the wars for the control of the North.

The present town grew from a garrison plus market and became a port in 1742 when it was linked to Lough Neagh by the first summit-level canal in Britain or Ireland. The Canal continues on beyond Newry towards the River Bann and Lough Neagh; the river, under the name River Clanrye, loops around County Down. It was an ambitious project but as a commercially viable operation its lifespan was short. A railway right alongside the canal for almost its entire length became the preferred method of shifting freight in the 20th century.

Surrounding Newry, is the Gateway to the North, nestled between two areas of outstanding natural beauty which are the splendid Mountains of Mourne in South Down and the Ring of Gullion in South Armagh. It is a beautiful scenic area steeped in history, mythology and legend where you will find plenty to enjoy. The tourist office is the natural first stop to assist you make the most of the area.

How to get in?

The first step in a Newry visit is to contact Newry Tourist Information to obtain approval. Advance bookings must be carried out at least 48 hours prior to arrival. Victoria Lock was automated in 2007 and a council official must open and close the lock gates. Hence this must all be prearranged in advance. Where weekend access is required, notice should be given during office hours. If possible it is best to arrange a transit during normal council working hours as an out-of-hours operation charge could be applied.

Newry Tourist Information Centre, Bagenal’s Castle, Newry.
Tel: +44 28 3031 3170
E-mail: newrytic@newryandmourne.gov.uk.

The Tourism Office will provide you with a booking form and other useful documentation. Their booking form must be completed, signed and returned in advance. Any berthing or transit fees payments may be made in Sterling either on arrival or during your stay at the ‘Albert Basin’ in Newry. After this it is simply a matter of pilotage.

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. This also provides good timing to arrive at the lock for high water if you wish to make it to Newry from the Irish Sea in one go. 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 in this area and yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic.

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 up to the Warrenpoint entry channel - odd numbered buoys to starboard and even numbered red buoys to port. Once inside you will find the waters completely absent of swell making marker identification easy.

After passing Killowen Point you will approach the No. 25 Light buoy marking the entrance to the buoyed Warrenpoint approach channel.

No. 25 Green Light buoy – Fl. G 3s position: 54° 04.200’N, 006° 12.100’W

From No. 25 Light buoy it is a distance of 2.5 miles to the town via the 60 metres wide channel that is dredged to a depth of 5.4 metres. The Newry River Leading Lights leads through the centre of the channel: in-line 310°.

When in the channel it is recommended that you make transit or berthing arrangements with Warrenpoint Harbour Authority by contacting ‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ on VHF channel 12 (24 hrs) or Tel: +44 28 417 73381. Likewise outward bound should notify Warrenpoint Harbour upon departing Victoria Lock Chamber, and entering the Newry River.

Yachts should take care not to impede commercial traffic in the Warrenpoint channel. At 60 metres wide it is a highly restricted waterway for commercial traffic. Transiting vessels will be channel bound, have right of way, and have no capability to manoeuvre.

As access to Victoria Lock is tidal you may want to berth in Warrenpoint as a staging area for your canal transit. Alternatively delayed boats, that have missed the tide on their prearranged journey to the Lock Chamber, may have to stop at Warrenpoint and should immediately inform the council – see below booking details.

Berthing possibilities include coming alongside the pontoon that is placed against the inner side of the breakwater that has recently been made available all year round. The area immediately alongside the pontoon is dredged to a depth of 1.4 metres LWS. The remainder of the harbour area adjacent to the pontoon dries so come straight in and out alongside the pontoon. Visiting boats should use the inner half of the pontoon, leaving the outer part for the ferries to Omeath - in the Irish Republic. You may also anchor directly off the end of the pontoon.

The older part of the harbour has a ‘Town Dock’, at the northwest end of the basin, with four to five visitor berths that support 2 metres LWS. This is available to pleasure craft during the summer season and reserved for fishing vessels at other times.

The area upriver of Warrenpoint dries at low water so the arrival time at the ‘Victoria Lock’, the entrance to Newry canal that is located approximately two miles beyond the port of Warrenpoint, should be around high water.

Victoria Lock – position: 54° 07.583’N, 006° 18.330’W

At this time you will find the current fast flowing and broadly in line with the direction of the river - its rate easily seen on the navigation buoys. Unfortunately this area of the river, between Victoria Lock from Warrenpoint Harbour, is not charted on British Admiralty 2800 – the key local chart. However it is well buoyed and presents little problem to anyone with basic maritime knowledge.

The Lock gates are operable one hour before to one hour after High water, but council limits their use to daylight hours so it is most likely you will only have one chance a day to enter.

Once in the canal there is 3.3 metres of depth for just over two mile passage up to Newry’s ‘Albert Basin’. There is no air draft, or height restriction, for vessels entering Victoria Lock chamber or Albert Basin. However a maximum boat speed of 4 knots should not be exceeded at any time in the canal.

Once through Victoria Lough it is simply a matter of enjoying the canal passage up the valley between the mountains.

Berthing is by tying-up to mooring bollards, or rafting up, alongside Newry Canal’s harbour area, the ‘Albert Basin’, that provides a 186 metre long deep water Quay for visiting craft. The turning capability in Albert Basin is ample. In the past the canal was used by commercial coasters so boat sizes of up to 60 metres can be accommodated in Victoria Lock chamber and turned in Albert Basin.

What are the tides here?

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

Tidal Streams
Flood starts Dover -0500, Ebb +0020 Dover.
Mean spring range about 3.9 m; mean neap range about 2.5 m
Harbour tidal streams are negligible but the Newry River runs strong

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
Tides ease off after Killowen Point

What facilities are available?

Newry is the fourth-largest city in Northern Ireland, the eighth in Ireland, and the "Basin" is situated in the heart of Newry’s retail centre. This making the Basin one of the best locations for provisioning and shopping in Carlingford Lough area, if not the best on the east coast. Electricity and water supply points are available along the quay, located on the wharf, but their use is subject to prior approval and a charge will apply.

Newry also has excellent Railway connections with the rail station, just off the Camlough road, offering cross border services on the Dublin-Belfast line – with international airports in both cities. Plus a major new bus station with a comprehensive bus service. Newry is on the main M1/A1 route from Dublin to Belfast. It is 34 miles (60 km) from Belfast and 67 miles (108 km) from Dublin.

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

What emergency contacts are there?

Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933

Other useful contacts in this area:
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority : ‘Warrenpoint Harbour Radio’ VHF channel 12 (24 hrs)
Tel: +44 28 417 73381
Email: info@warrenpointharbour.co.uk

Any security concerns?

The Albert Basin is an open quay with unrestricted public access at all times. Newry & Mourne District Council accepts no liability for vessels berthing there. Boat owners are responsible for the security measures. However the basin is opposite the Quays Shopping Centre, that operate CCTV with security staff.

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; and ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000, plus Kilkeel Harbour scale of 5,000. The river leading up to Victoria Lock from Warrenpoint Harbour is not charted on BA2800 but is well buoyed and lit, presenting little problem to anyone with basic maritime knowledge. Also Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’.

With thanks to:

Brian McJury, Warrenpoint Harbour Master.

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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 Ulster 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. Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, 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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